Home Community How Do I ... ? Find loans or grants Start a home-based business Register a business name Search or register a corporation Obtain a business license Get info on employment laws Bid on government contracts Get more answers Join Us on ... Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube | This Week's Highlight Updated Federal Agency Contact List at Business.gov Did you know that the Business.gov team updates a list of federal agency contacts every year? These are individuals who can help small businesses with compliance questions. We’ve just updated the list, so if there is an agency for whom you have a small business question, visit the Business.gov Federal Compliance Contacts and Resources page. Recent Articles in the Community Small Business Matters Get More from Your Team - 5 Employee Incentive Program Ideas that Pay Off No longer regarded as a frivolous and unnecessary expense, employee incentive programs are now widely accepted as justifiable and beneficial - boosting morale through engagement and reward, stimulating productivity, and encouraging a collective participation in the success of the business. Here are five ways to introduce employee incentives into your day-to-day business strategy. Read more... Hiring Interns - 6 Tips for Setting up an Internship Program Setting up an internship program for your small business is a smart and rewarding way to recruit talent. It's also a proven way to nurture potential full-time employees. But how do you go about recruiting interns? Here are six tips to help guide you through the recruitment, management and regulatory facets of setting up an internship program. Read more... Business Law Advisor Registering as a Woman, Minority, or Veteran Owned Business - Is it Necessary? Are you a woman, minority, or veteran and own your own business? If so, you likely wondered how and where to register your business. To clear up the confusion, we'd like to set the registration record straight for these business types. Read more... PLLCs - Information for Licensed Professions Some states require licensed professionals to form PLLCs, or professional limited liability companies. Read on to understand what professions may need to register as a PLLC, and the steps to do so. Read more... New E-Commerce Alert from the FTC: Selling Internationally Selling products or services in the international marketplace is a viable option for businesses looking to expand. With this in mind, the FTC published a guide, Electronic Commerce: Selling Internationally, for business owners that are selling their services overseas via the world wide web. Read more... Small Business Cents Grant Program for Non-Profit Housing Providers for Homeless Veterans The Department of Veteran Affairs' Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program provides funding to community agencies and nonprofits that facilitate housing or supportive services for homeless Veterans. The funding program has two opportunities for non-profits, including a grant and a per diem award. Here's the lowdown on how it works, who's eligible, and how to apply. Read more... The Industry Word Three Ways to Protect Your Business While You're on Vacation A recent Discovery Small Business Watch poll revealed that 40% of small business owners have not changed vacation plans because of the economic recession, which is up from 38% last year. If you're planning a getaway that does not include your iPhone or laptop and you usually do many of the business chores yourself, get your business prepared from a legal, financial, and practical perspective for your absence so you can enjoy a worry-free vacation. Read more... BRANDING... It's Not Always Just Business, Sometimes its Personal A recent Ohio Growth event at Columbus State featured panelists who were chosen for their successful leverage of their personal brand to drive their businesses. Afterwards, many attendees were confused: what in the world did discussion of one's personal brand have to do with business branding? Surprisingly, this blogger says, the connection is quite logical. Read more... | For More Topics, Visit the Discussion Boards: | |