2023 marks an exciting time for the retail community. Following a historic period of growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Retail Federation expects retail sales figures to remain positive in the year ahead. And it’s not just big box chains that stand to benefit. Independent retailers are also in a position to achieve success.
July is Independent Retailer Month, a time to celebrate the important role that independent retailers play in their communities. It’s also a great time to take the next step if you’ve been thinking about starting your own retail operation. The SBA is here for you with resources that you can leverage to build your own unique brand from the ground up.
Business Guide
Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal actions. The SBA is here to help with a step-by-step guide which includes information about writing a business plan, funding your business, picking a location, and more. The SBA also has resources to help you manage your business which include topics like hiring employees, growing your business, marketing tips, cyber security best practices and disaster preparedness.
Funding Programs
SBA funding programs can help you start or grow your business. The SBA guarantees loans by working with participating lenders, reducing their risk and increasing the likelihood that your loan will be approved. Through Lender Match, the SBA connects emerging small business owners with more than 800 participating SBA-approved lenders throughout all 50 states and territories. Once you’re an established business that needs more capital, the SBA can also help you acquire more funding.
Local Assistance
You don’t have to start your business alone. SBA partners with organizations around the country to provide training, opportunities, and funding to communities across the U.S. SBA resource partners include:
- Community Navigators: The Community Navigator Pilot Program is an American Rescue Plan initiative designed to reduce barriers that underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs often face in accessing programs to recover, grow, or start businesses. Community Navigators connect small businesses to critical resources and assistance including access to capital, contracting, business development and more.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBDCs provide free face-to-face business consulting on a variety of topics and are typically hosted by universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private sector organizations. At nearly 1,000 locations across the U.S., SBDCs also offer low- or no-cost training and counseling.
- Women’s Business Centers (WBCs): WBCs provide free, to low-cost counseling and training and focus on women who want to start, grow, and expand their small business. There are more than 130 WBCs across the U.S. that help women entrepreneurs navigate the unique challenges they may face when starting a business.
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs): VBOCs provide business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. Twenty-eight VBOCs stand ready to provide military community entrepreneurs with the training, counseling, and referrals they need to succeed.
- SCORE: SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow. If you’re interested in learning from someone who has been in your position before, SCORE can help.
The SBA wishes everyone a Happy Independent Retailer Month! If you’re thinking about joining the retail community, visit sba.gov/starting.