Federal, state and local resources and organizations you need to know to start and grow a small business in Florida. Resources are authenticated by a professional librarian.

1. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week
Getting Down to Business
Business Resources to Help You
Succeed in Florida
Presenter: Marion Hayes
Economic Development Division
Neighborhood Services Department
Manatee County Government
June 19, 2-4 pm, Central Library,
Bradenton

2. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small Business
Week
http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/

3. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
The Myth About Small Business
“…nine out ten small businesses fail …
Success rates are actually fairly high”, says
the US Census Bureau shows
“Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corporation, Aug
2012”

4. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
The Reality is that …
• 69% - at least two years
• 51% - at least five years.
• 49% - five years or more
• 34% - ten years or more
• 26% - at least fifteen years
“Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corporation, Aug 2012”

5. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week

6. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Knowledge is Power
Misinformation is common in all walks of life,
including business. These statistics should provide
you with the much-needed confidence, since the
odds favor success.
Go to the Small Business Administration and other
reliable sources AND don’t accept rumors!!”
“Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corporation, Aug 2012”
http://web.sba.gov/faqs/faqindex.cfm?areaID=24

7. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Debunking the Myths
 101 Small Business Myths
 SBA Small Business Myth-Buster
 Forbes Debunking the Myths …
 2013 State of the Business Owner
 Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.
 SBA Small Business Survival

8. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week

9. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Take-a-way
 business readiness tests
 ideas for a start-up business
 questions before starting a business
 steps to starting a business

10. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week

11. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Take-a-way
 templates for small business
 databases for small business
 websites with business resources
 library services and materials
 creative thinking games / techniques

12. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week

13. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
First Things First
Before starting a business
1. Research / Knowledge
2. Life / Family Plan The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People (stevencovey.com
3. Test Yourself

14. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Is Entrepreneurship
for You?

15. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Take the test
Is entrepreneurship for you?
1. USA Today Skills Test *****
2. SBA Small Business Assessment Tool *****
3. Start up Nation 5 Qs Readiness ****
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/startup/week2-etype-test.htm
https://eweb1.sba.gov/cams/training/business_primer/assessment.htm
http://www.startupnation.com/business-articles/9580/1/startup-readiness-assess-5-questions.htm

16. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices

17. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Activity #1: Take the test
Is entrepreneurship for you?
Activity 1: Read the 20
questions on your handout. They
will help you assess whether you
are ready to start or extend an
existing business.
https://eweb1.sba.gov/cams/training/business_primer/assessment.htm
http://www.sba.gov/content/20-questions-before-starting-business

18. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Take the USA Today E-Type
Test
!!! After the workshop !!!
Activity 2: Go to the USA Today Skills
Test, complete the survey and find out
what e-type entrepreneur you are.
Go to:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/small
business/startup/week2-etype-test.htm

19. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Be Inspired

20. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
CREATIVITY TECHNIQUES
1. Brainstorming – Different!
2. Lateral Thinking - Divergent
3. Creativity Games – “Roleplay”
4. Scenario Planning – “W?hi?ch?”
5. Mind Mapping – Tenticles (Buzan)
pp. 50-52
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16263/1/Marion_Hayes_Thesis.pdf

21. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
!!! After the workshop !!!
Tapping your creativity
Activity: Identify a problem scenario and
identify the business dilemma. Use 1 of the 5
creativity techniques to arrive at a possible
solutions(s)
Source: Six thinking hats (DeBono Consulting)
Free brochure:

22. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Source: http://www.debonoconsulting.com/Six_Thinking_Hats.asp
!!! After the workshop !!!
Activity: Identify a different dilemma, gather a group together and assign different
hats. After 15 minutes, discuss the posible scenarios / solutions.

23. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Activity #2 How to Use a Mind Map
Source: Ned Parks, New Directions Learning & Development, c2010; www.nedparks.com
Activity: Choose something you want to plan/set goals for, e.g.
project, business, family or life plan, retirement. Use the mapping
technique to do a rough or “mud map”.

24. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Write E-Books

25. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Big Ideas for Small Business
 Top 10 Stay-at-Home Businesses
 5 Riskiest & 5 Safest Start-up Businesses
 Pop-Up Shops or Stores (Pittsburg)
 50 Great Small Business Start-Up Ideas
 Six Ideas for Mobile Food Businesses
 2013 Best Franchise Satisfaction Awards
 The Entrepreneur Success Stories (Videos)

26. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Project Pop-Up Downtown
Project Pop Up: Downtown [Pittsburg]:
is a program of Pittsburg Mayor, in conjunction with the Urban Redevelopment
Authority, Department of City Planning and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Over 90 artists, entrepreneurs, and non-profits submitted proposals to
activate Downtown storefronts. Finalists were invited to “pop” into
Downtown for limited engagements. These finalists received grants with
which they will occupy currently vacant stores in Downtown
throughout 2012.
Click here to see a map of these projects.
http://www.downtownpittsburgh.com/about-pdp/pdp-initiatives/project-pop-up

27. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices 5 Riskiest and 5 Safest Small Businesses
http://www.allbusiness.com/startups-risky-business-ideas/15561619-7.html

28. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Knowledge
is Power
Example: Researching Your Market
•Reduce business risks
•Spot current and upcoming problems in your industry
•Identify sales opportunities
http://www.sba.gov/content/do-your-market-research

29. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Florida Business Guide (State
of Florida $9.95)
http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx
?tabid=134

30. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Medical
Transcription

31. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Step Guides #1
•SBA 10 steps to starting a small business
•South Florida SBA: Small Business Resource - download
•MCG Business Assistance Resources (Brochure) – download
•MyFlorida.com - Starting a Business in Florida - Official Portal
•Florida Chamber Getting started in Business
•American Fact Finder – US Census – Based on census only
•American Community Survey – US Census – Ongoing survey
Florida Business Guide
(State of Florida $9.95)

32. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Step Guides #2
• www.StateofFlorida.com
• www.sunbiz.org - Florida Division of Corporations
• Start-up Kit - Florida Dept. of Revenue
• http://www.myflorida.com/taxonomy/business/ - Official website
• http://dor.myflorida/dor/info_business.html
•County Business Patterns – US Census
• How to start a business in Florida - Official website
• Florida Business Guide (State of Florida $9.95)
Florida Business

33. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Tools & Templates
• USF SBDC: Business tools & templates
• SCORE Manatee: Templates & Tools
• Microsoft Office: Business Templates
Q: Do I need to create my own paperwork from
scratch? (Plans, reports, Plans … etc)

34. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Mobile Food
Vendor ??

35. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Know Your Industry #1
• www.thomasnet.com
• www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html
• Services that require a DBPR license
• Florida Regulated Industries Guide
• MCLS Business Databases !!!! Free access 24/7 with card & pin]
Q: Need a license? Industry demand/supply? Local
suppliers of materials/parts?
 AtoZ Databases
 Business Economics and Theory
 General Business File ASAP
 ReferenceUSA
 Morningstar
 Small Business Collection
 Small Business Resource Center
 Value Line

36. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Know your industry #2
“Wealthy to spend more on experiences, not stuff :…
Wealthy shoppers plan to refrain from scooping up
expensive handbags, shoes and other discretionary
items even as the economy recovers and the stock
market soars, a new study finds. People are less
interested in watches and more interested in building
lasting memories”
“Wealthy to spend more on experiences” by Shan
Li, LA Times, Florida Trends Afternoon Pulse, June
11, 2013
Q : What are current trends in my industry,
business, the economy?

37. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices

38. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Know your economy
Q : For small business owners & investors
National
•U.S. Bureau Census Economic Indicators
•Wells Fargo Monthly Economic Outlook (Qtly)
•Brookings Metro Monitor (Qtly)
•Kiplinger Economic Outlook (Monthly)
•Wells Fargo Annual & Monthly Economic
Outlook
•Federal Reserve Archive (Current & retro.)
Florida / Regional
•Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity (Labor
Statistics)
•Florida Chamber Scorecard (new)
•Florida. Office of Economic & Demographic
Research (EDR)
•UCF Florida & Metro Forecast, December
2012.
•UCF U.S. Economic Forecast, March 2013
Manatee County
•Fishkind & Associates, Bradenton Herald, Jan
2013
•Fishkind & Associates, Jan 2013
•Florida Trend Economic yearbook 2013
•Florida Trends Daily Pulse !!!
•SRQ Daily [Archive] !!!
• Biz (941) Daily [Archive] !!!
•Bradenton Herald
•Herald Tribune
•Manatee County Library Sources
•Morningstar [Library Card ID + PIN]
•Value Line [Library Card ID + PIN]
•Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/
•Google Finance http://www.google.com/finance#
•Hoover’s http://www.hoovers.com/
•D&B Directories www.mymanatee.org/library

39. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-
business/preparing-your-finances/understanding-basics
SBA Tips on Financing Your Business

40. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Financial Assistance
Q : What loans, grants, etc are out there?
TYPE SUGGESTED SOURCE
• Personal: Savings, trusts,
investments
Budget, assets, liabilities, life plans, 401K, plans,
insurance, trusts, investments
• Government assistance, grants,
etc.
Catalog of federal Domestic Assistance
• Small business loans SBA Loan Program
BusinessUSA.gov
Florida Small Business Development Center
• Taxes and credits Florida Department of Revenue
IRS Small Business & Self-Employed Tax Center
• Federal, State, County, City, DDA
incentive programs
Manatee County Government
Bradenton Downtown Development Authority
City of Bradenton
Enterprise Florida
Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity Portal

41. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices

42. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Financial Assistance
Q : What loans, grants are out there?
TYPE SUGGESTED SOURCE
Commerce Business Daily (US
Dept. of Commerce)
Access all government-wide Federal
procurement opportunities > $25,000.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance
a full listing of all Federal programs available to
State and local governments
BillNelsonSenate.gov Helps Florida individuals, businesses,
organizations, and groups throughout source
and apply for grants.

43. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Manatee County at Your Service
• Economic Development http://www.mymanatee.org/econdev
• Community Development Areas (CRAs)
http://www.mymanatee.org/home/businesses/economic-development/cra.html
• Purchasing Division http://www.mymanatee.org/vendor - to
register as a vendor
• Neighborhood Services http://www.mymanatee.org/neighborhood
• Hurricane Preparedness http://www.mymanatee.org/hurricane
• Community Development Block Grant
http://www.mymanatee.org/cdgb
• The Library System http://www.mymanatee.org/library
www.mymanatee.org

44. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices

45. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Working Together- Local
SEE HANDOUT IN WORKSHOP PACKET

46. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Working Together- State
SEE HANDOUT IN WORKSHOP PACKET

47. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Working Together- Federal
SEE HANDOUT IN WORKSHOP PACKET

48. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Your Library #1
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (stevencovey.com
• New York Times Bestseller Lists (New York Times)
• 10 Best Business Start-up Books (UK Independent)
• MCLS Catalog: 658.041, 158, # of editions, reviews
• MCLS Business Databases !!!! 24/7 access card & pin
• Topic: Catalog:
• Format: MCLS Home
Download Audio
Book for Commute

49. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Your Library #2
Research Librarians + Resources
= **Answers **
Ask a librarian your business
question!
Visit: See hours/address for six locations www.mymanatee.org/library
Phone: (941) 748-5555 ext 6310 (2nd Floor Reference Desk)
Email: reference@mymanatee.org
Chat: Ask-A-Librarian http://www.askalibrarian.org/

50. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Your Library #3
• What is the typical customer in my zip - 34205?
• Is there any funding I can apply for?
• What is the value of this antique comic / chair?
• How can I select the best point-of-sale system?
• How do I optimize my Google search?
• Taxes owed by a home-based dog-walking business?
• Are there small business loans to apply for?
• Research Librarians + Resources = **Answers **
• Website: MCLS Home, Events Calendar
• Databases: Access Business Databases 24/7.
Ask a librarian your business question!

51. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Your Library 4
SEE HANDOUT IN WORKSHOP PACKET

52. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Your Library #4
 AtoZ Databases
 Business Economics and
Theory
 General Business File ASAP
 ReferenceUSA
 Morningstar
 Small Business Collection
 Small Business Resource
Center
 Value Line
•MCLS Business Databases !!!! Free access 24/7 with
card & pin]
•Best Rankings (Insurance)
SEE HANDOUT IN WORKSHOP PACKET

53. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small Business
Week
http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/

54. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
20 Marketing Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know
http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/docs/20_marketing_tips.asp
Facebook Marketing [Facebook Page]
https://www.facebook.com/marketing
Marketing Your Small Business for Dummies [Cheat Sheet]
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/marketing-your-small-business-for-dummies-cheat-sh.html
Start-up-Nation: Create Press & Write:
http://www.startupnation.com/steps/76/3867/4/1/website-press-articles.htm
22 Ways to Promote Your Business for Free
http://www.slideshare.net/NiciElmore/22-ways
20 essential Search Engine Optimization Tips For Small Business
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-45140154/20-essential-search-engine-optimization-tips-
for-small-business-owners/
Linkedin’s Timeless Guide to Small Business Success
http://learn.linkedin.com/small-business/episode-1/
Last but not least: Marketing
YOUR
BRAND
HERE

55. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Activity #6
•Hands-On
•Questions

56. ManateeCountyUtilitiesDepartmentManateeCountyNeighborhoodServices
Celebrating
Small
Business
Week