Small Business Resources
New Clients
We are here to help you and we look forward to assisting you with your business endeavors. In order to request assistance from the Northwest Small Business Development Center, we would like to gather some information from you. Please complete the form by clicking on the link below to be contacted by the NwSBDC.
Be sure to explore the rest of our website to find valuable small business information!
Questions?
Give us a call at
(218) 755-4255
Our office in Bemidji is equipped with a full library of small business resources. These resources range from sample business plans to
Visit our Resource page to view online small business documents and websites that may assist you with your small business endeavors.
-Christopher Goodrich, Shorty's Painting
DID YOU KNOW?
The NwSBDC provides an average of 12 hours of NO-COST consulting per client!
We have access to legal advice by professional lawyers at NO-COST!
NwSBDC consultants offer advice on business plans, financing/capital, marketing, start-up, buying/selling a business, management, international trade, and much more!
"The Minnesota SBDC was very helpful to my business in controlling costs, industry research, and helped me understand many things about running a business that I didn't know about or didn't know I could
do that way."
1103 Roosevelt Road SE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | email: jmeyer9@cord.edu | call: (218) 755-4255
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of grants are available for starting up a new businesses? What about grants for businesses started by women, minorities or other protected classes?
Grants are extremely hard to get. Generally speaking, the Federal and State government does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although the Federal government does offer a wide variety of loan guarantee programs through the Small Business Administration (SBA). While the SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Despite these facts, there is a large industry of companies selling useless grant "information" to unsuspecting businesses and individuals. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Where do I find information on grants?
The two websites that the Federal government lists grants are: www.recovery.gov and www.grants.gov. Please realize that there are many websites available on grants however these two are the only websites that the United State government supports.
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Question or Comment?
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Question/Comment:
Where can I find more information on SBA loans (ARC loan, 7a, 504)?
Please visit the extensive information provided on the SBA website.
Do I really need a business plan?
A business plan is a powerful document that can help a business owner plan out the details of their business. The business plan assists with both long and short term goals as well as gives the business owner (and lender) insight to the projections of the business.
My business is struggling and I need a loan. What do I do next?
The next step is to organize your financials and contact the bank that holds your business's account. Each lender approaches business loans differently. We advise that you contact your bank to find out what information the bank needs. Most banks will want some or all of the following: equipment/supply list, balance sheet, previous years financials, previous years tax statements, profit and loss statements, cash flow projections, business plan, funding request, collateral if applicable, legal documents and what you plan to use the loan dollars for. Once this has been completed, you can contact the NWSBDC for additional loan packaging assistance.
How do banks decide to approve a loan?
There are many considerations that the bank will look into. One of the consideration could be the five C's of credit.
Question: I want to start a business where do I begin?
Please visit our workshop page and register for our introduction to business classes.
Still have questions?
Call (218) 755-4255 or complete the form above.
