New SBA.gov Debuts – Get Help For Your Small Business

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I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek behind the curtain of the new and improved Small Business Administration (SBA) website late last year and I can tell you, I was very pleased with what I saw. The site has since gone live and it does not disappoint. Finally, it is a resource that will be helpful to both people who are thinking about starting a business and those who have been managing a small business for a while. Let’s just say the old site didn’t quite meet that objective.

When you first arrive at the site, you have different options. You can select from the menus and work through a path of information to find what you are looking for just like any other website.

Or you can personalize your visit. I really like the option called SBADirect which allows you to customize your visit based on your specific situation. SBA Direct allows you to personalize your browsing experience based on your business type, geography and needs. SBA Direct then delivers relevant and targeted information on all aspects of running a business such as the steps involved in getting started, business growth strategies, and how to stay compliant with current laws and regulations. SBA Direct also provides information on the available SBA programs that can help you succeed, including financial assistance, exporting and government contracting opportunities, counseling and training.

SBADirect can help you quickly find resources that are close to your location too — like an SBA counseling office or SCORE counselors.

I think they have their finger on the pulse of what small businesses need. According to SBA Administrator Karen Mills, “Transforming the SBA into a proactive, responsive and ‘customer-centric’ organization that better serves the needs of the nation’s more than 29 million small businesses is an exciting, yet enormous effort.” It would be worthwhile to pay a visit to the SBA Blog to learn about current happenings at the SBA.

There’s more in store as we move through this year. They plan on improving the community aspect of the site so it’s not just a place to visit and get information. Stay tuned for those details. In the meantime, you might want to connect to the SBA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

What do you think? Have you visited the new SBA.gov site? Do you find it useful?