WASHINGTON (April 30, 2007) – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has introduced a new online training resource for budding entrepreneurs to provide the fundamentals of starting a small business. The “Small Business Primer Strategies for Success” online training is a free course designed to assist individuals who are thinking about starting a small business or who are in the early stages of running a business.
The primer is a self-paced assessment tool that focuses on three key areas to help small business owners determine their business readiness, provide an overview of basic small business principles and introduce them to key SBA resources for small business counseling and training. The assessment tool is highly recommended and useful for those who have considered starting a business or thought about what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur.
The primer is available through the SBA’s Small Business Training Network, a “virtual” campus of business courses, trainings, education resources, learning tools and information assistance.
The business topics reviewed include business planning, legal aspects, financing and marketing. In addition, the course provides links to more than 40 targeted resources and small business tools, such as a business plan template and an automated balance sheet guide. The course also offers direct access to online counseling through SBA’s SCORE program, as well as to other SBA resources partners including the Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SBA district offices.
Participants that complete the online training have an opportunity to receive a course completion certificate from the SBA. To evaluate your business readiness, go to www.sba.gov and click on “New Free Online Course.”
(Source: SBA)
