In good times and in bad, the federal government always has service and product needs that can turn into a steady business for you. It may be time to develop a government-focused strategy for your business. As you learn more about the various types of federal needs, you may find that your company is a good match for doing business with the government.

Small businesses have a significant competitive advantage with the U.S. federal government. The U.S. government has set aside dollars specifically for small businesses (Refer back to a series of blogs I wrote on government contracting starting on 9-10-08, for more detail on working with the federal government).  Now, if you are a small business AND a minority owned business, there are even more advantages available to you.

The Business.gov website provides a lot of information on minority owned businesses.  One federal program that helps members of minority groups start their own businesses is called the 8(a) Business Development program. The purpose of the 8(a) Business Development program is to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and federal procurement market. Participants stay with the program for 9 years from the date of the SBA’s approval letter for admission into the program. Admitted companies must maintain program eligibility during their tenure and inform the SBA of any changes that might adversely affect their participant status. Take a look here for more information and to find out if you qualify for the 8(a) Business Development program.

Other federal resources for minority owned businesses include a program called the HUBZone. HUBZone is a program sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration that helps businesses in historically underutilized areas gain access to federal procurement opportunities. The intent is to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed geographies by establishing preferences and providing access to business opportunities within the federal government.

Take a look at Business.gov and find out more about how you can develop a government growth strategy during a stormy economic time.  And, don’t forget to review my earlier blogs on contracting so that you can get started right away!

Women have come a long way since the days when people assumed a women-owned company was a small, home-based candle or macramé business bringing in under $10,000 a year. Today, women-owned businesses span industries and sizes, from the smallest home-based business to among the largest corporate giants.

Even with these strides, however, there are still gender-based barriers – particularly for women entrepreneurs.

SBA Resources

The Small Business Administration’s Business.gov provides a single go-to page that offers a list of resources specifically for women business-owners.

While there are many helpful links on this page, I want to point out one in particular: The Office of Women’s Business Ownership. This page, provided by the SBA, is chock-full of resources for women business owners, from success stories to grant information to a state-by-state listing of women’s business centers. This is a fantastic resource – spend some time taking advantage of all the information provided.

Making a Difference

Taking things even further, it behooves women business owners to get involved in helping all women business owners break down barriers and ensure the business playing field is fair and equal. If you want to make your voice heard, there’s the National Women’s Business Council.

The National Women’s Business Council is, according to the group, “a bi-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.”

The group promotes women-owned business issues in both the public and private sectors.

If you want to get involved, now’s the time. The group is having a “Town Hall Meeting” in San Francisco on November 6. The goal of this meeting is for women business owners to speak directly to Council members about their priorities, challenges and concerns. During this particular meeting, women business owners are expected to discuss topics that include affordable healthcare, access to capital, procurement, taxes, education and workforce development, and micro enterprises.

For more information on this meeting, go to www.nwbc.gov.

For women specifically looking to bring their businesses into the federal contracting space – a good move in an uneasy economy – The National Women’s Business Council has an additional resource site called WomenBiz.gov. This site has a wealth of information from basic contracting first-steps to a page full of nearly 100 additional links connecting you to any kind of additional information you might need.

So, no matter what you’re looking for – to get assistance or to make more of a difference – the resources above should start you on your way.

Tracy Johnson for Business.gov

A little while ago, we explored Federal Resources for Disabled Entrepreneurs for individuals with disabilities that want to start their own business.  What if you are a small business owner considering hiring a disabled person?  What things do you need to know?  What risks must you consider?  And what advantages may you be eligible for because of this hiring choice?

Regulations

The U.S. Department of Justice has a Guide to Disability Rights Law which provides a nice overview of Federal civil rights laws for people with disabilities.  Business owners should be especially familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission outlines frequently asked questions and gives do’s and don’ts for what to do before and after giving a job offer.  The EEOC also defines what qualifies as “reasonable accommodation” and helps the small business owner determine what measures need to be taken to meet this requirement.  Similarly, the Department of Labor has their version of Myth Busters regarding employee persons with disabilities.

HR Tools

After you have hired a person with a disability, there are government resources you can lean on for ongoing human resource assistance such as:

U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy

This office also has the JAN- Job Accommodation Network

Cornell Employment and Disability Institute

DisabilityInfo.gov Employer Resources

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program

Incentives

So, we’ve provided a lot of resources for how to stay in compliance, how to hire and manage people with disabilities, and where business owners can go for help, but now for one of the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities- tax incentives!

There are tax incentives available to help employers cover accommodation costs for employees and/or customers with disabilities, making your business accessible for everyone.  The IRS also has disability-related provisions and even tax incentives for complying with the ADA-Wow! A tax incentive for complying with the law? Aren’t we supposed to do that anyway?  Don’t complain.  Know the rules and make sure you get the credits and incentives your business is eligible for!

Additional Resources

Business.gov

EarnWorks

Tracy Johnson for Business.gov

Are you a disabled person considering starting a business?  Read this before you open up shop as there are government resources set-aside specifically for you!

The government recognizes that people with disabilities have specific challenges when starting a business that other small business owners may not face.  Because of this, the government has created special assistance programs to help small business owners with disabilities start, grow and manage their business.

Starting Up

Disability Info is one online resource for Americans with disabilities.  The site provides targeted resources for the self-employed and entrepreneurs.  The site points to organizations such as the APSE and Disabled Businesspersons Association for support and networking.

Commerce has a program entitled the Chamber of Commerce for Individuals with Disabilities that offer online courses and business plan wizards for disabled individuals wishing to start a home-based business.

The Department of Labor similarly offers a video training guide on self-employment for Individuals with Disabilities.  Complimentary resources include a full transcript and flow chart.

Universities often are a good resource for small business owners as well.  The University of Virginia’s START-UP USA program offers a wide variety of training seminars for free online including audio and transcripts.

Financing Your Business

Know your tax provisions!  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission outlines all disability related tax provisions for your convenience.  Additionally, the Attorney General’s Office has compiled a “Tax Pack” as a part of the Americans with Disabilities Act including information on accessibility regulations, legal documents, and tax assistance contacts.

Most of us have a choice as to whether we want to file our taxes ourselves or seek assistance.  For a person with disabilities, often assistance in filing taxes is necessary.  The IRS has provided tax forms in Braille and Text Formats as well as a Talking Tax Form for additional assistance.

Additional Resources

There are also some very credible non-government resources recommended by Business.gov.  One of the most helpful practice for small business owners is networking, and there are several groups that bring together business owners with disabilities to discuss you specific challenges and solutions with other business owners that have been there before.  The following groups are worth joining:

• Business Leadership Network, Disability at Work
• Chamber of Commerce for Individuals with Disabilities
• Disabled Businesspersons Association
• The National AgrAbility Project

What if you are a small business owner considering hiring a disabled person? Read Small Business and Disabilities, Part II.