SBA

Counseling and Training

Get Street Map & Driving Directions to Local SBA Counseling and Training Resources 

SCORE: "Counselors to America's Small Business" 

More than 10,500 volunteers provide training and one-on-one counseling at no charge.

Illinois Entrepreneurship Network Services

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide one-on-one business counseling and management assistance to small businesses. SBDCs help clients access marketing information, identify and apply for business financing and connect clients with the right business education and training opportunities.

The International Trade Centers (ITC) provide information, counseling and training to existing, new-to-export Illinois companies interested in pursuing international trade opportunities.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) assist existing business owners in doing business with the federal, state and local governments by providing one-on-one counseling, technical information, marketing assistance and training.

The NAFTA Opportunity Centers (NOC) provide specialized assistance to firms seeking to take advantage of trade opportunities in Mexico and Canada made possible by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

For additional information about Illinois Entrepreneurship Network services, please visit IEN.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers

USEACs  offer a full range of federal export programs and services from a number of federal agencies under one roof. Many locations have new-to-export programs called E-TAP.

SBA Classroom

The Small Business Classroom is an on-line resource for training and informing entrepreneurs and other students of enterprise. The classroom is designed to educate and provide interactive business guidance on a variety of topics to many types of students. Besides "traditional" small business clients, the on-line classroom will benefit high school and college students, individuals with time and travel limitations, people with disabilities, international business resources and others.

Women's Business Centers 

SBA's network of more than 60 Women's Business Centers (WBC) provide a wide range of services to women entrepreneurs at all levels of business development. Not near a Women's Business Center, check out the online Women's Business Center at women online.