Where Can I Get Help for My Business?
Small business owners face many challenges in staying afloat, yet they play a vital role in the community. Where can the owner turn for financial help, for marketing guidance, or even deciding whether or not to sell the business? Following are a number of important resources that can help with these questions and more.
Get free counseling at the Small Business Development Center office located at William Rainey Harper College. A counselor will be happy to sit down with you and offer suggestions based on your particular business problems and needs. Contact a business counselor at 847-925-6072. Check out the latest Business Development Center offerings.
The Small Business Administration offers a large variety of online training programs for small business management.
SCORE, the “Counselors to America’s Small Business”, offers free counseling services provided by retired business executives. The nearest location is the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, 1401 Oakton St. 847-824-4200.
“How-To” help guides from Inc.com
The State of Illinois provides online information at a number of sites, including:
Illinois Registration and Tax information for business
Business Services/Publications and Forms @ Cyberdrive Illinois
State of Ilinois Business Portal
Click on the Site Map link to see the many useful links for starting, running, changing, and even selling a business in Illinois. There is a link to forms as well.
Consider the support provided by membership in organizations and associations:
National Association for the Self-Employed
National Association of Women Business Owners (Chicago Chapter)
Mount Prospect Chamber office. Phone 847-398-6616
Downtown Merchants Association
Finally, contact Business Reference Librarian, Isabelle Flemming, at the Mount Prospect Public Library iflemming@mppl.org or 847253-5675, to learn of other resources or to set up a one-on-one training session in the use of library databases or gain business research tips.
