Business author Fred Hess is telling all – revealing little known sources of free government help for small businesses. Everything from advice, counseling services and publications, loans, loan guarantees, financial incentives and much more, all free for the asking. Hess has just finished updating the 6th edition of his book revealing 100 of his "secret" sources for getting free help from Uncle Sam. He gives the names, addresses and details on government sources that specialize in small business assistance. "Many small businesses are eligible for free assistance, services, even loans, and grants," says Hess, "but they have no idea how or where to find this free help. Uncle Sam offers everything from advice to assistance for women business owners wanting to sell to NASA, to grants, loans, and financial incentives." Included in the sources are 100 government agencies that purchase from small businesses and government programs that offer financial help, services, export assistance, publications, free help for women and minorities, loans for teenagers, special help for handicapped business owners, etc., all listed with names, addresses, telephone numbers and descriptions for easy reference. New in this 6th edition is live website links that can take you directly to the referenced site being discussed.
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Fred Hess. Free Help from Uncle Sam to Start or Expand Your Business
Acknowledgments
About the Author
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 - Success Stories about Some of Uncle Sam’s Citizens
CHAPTER 2 - Assistance and Information
Office of Business Liaison
Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
CHAPTER 3 - New Products
Manufacturing Extension Programs:
CHAPTER 4 - Selling to the Feds
CHAPTER 5 - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, but…
CHAPTER 6 - Financial Help
CHAPTER 7 - International Trade
CHAPTER 8 - Women, Minorities, and Disadvantaged
CHAPTER 9 - Odds and Ends
Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management
Arbitration
Relationship Development & Training
Grants Program
Publications about Services and Programs
Appendix 1 - Small Business Development Centers
Appendix 2 - Small Business Administration Field Offices
Appendix 3 - Quick Reference Guide
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To my wife, Jeanne, who endured the long hours. To Bill Alarid, for his great advice and counsel. And finally, to the excellent workers on my oDesk team for the research work, editing and cover design.
The true entrepreneur is a bit of a gambler, but a concerned and calculating gambler. The more knowledgeable he or she is, the greater his or her chances of survival. Knowledge, then, is the ace in the hole. Money? Sure, that’s important too. Money is vital as a lubricant, but it’s not the driver that steers the vehicle. The entrepreneur is the driver, and it is knowledge and all the human characteristics that make up the complex and somewhat mysterious entrepreneur, that first of all motivates him or her.
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Alone, and with two children to support, Vhay pulled out all stops in the search for money for the ice cream operation. Bank after bank turned her down as a credit risk. Then the Money Store Investment Corporation took a chance on Vhay and provided her with an SBA-guaranteed loan of $170,000. For the first time, she had working capital, was sole owner, and recorded her first profit.
At first Vhay employed 10; today she employs 52, most of whom are teenagers outfitted with their first job as ice cream barflies. Annual sales grew to $700,000 from $420,000 in six years.
