Micro Loan Program

Micro Loan Program Resources

Herberger Business School

Business Plan Resources

• MasterCard Small Business
  • http://www.mastercard.com/us/business/en/smallbiz/BusinessEssentials.html
  • http://www.mastercard.com/us/business/en/pdf/plan.pdf
• Business Plan Examples and many other business tools
  • http://www.bplans.com
• Business Plan Overview
  • http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.rockford.edu/resource/resmgr/docs_communityed/samplebusinessplan.pdf
• SBDC Business Plan Template
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/AWESOME%20SBA%20business%20plan%20template.pdf
• How to write a Business Plan (SBA)
  • http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/How%20to%20Write%20a%20Business%20Plan.pdf

Marketing

• Marketing Plan
  • http://www.usbankconnect.com/files/tools/SB%20Marketing%20Plan_FINAL.pdf
• Google Website Guide
  • http://www.gybo.com/minnesota/index
• Google Analytics Guide
  • http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/microsites/google-analytics-guide/

Financials

• SBA Income Statement for Business Plan (Excel)
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/SBA_AUTOMATED_Income_Statement_for_business_plan.xls
• SBS Balance Sheet for Business Plan (Excel)
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/SBA_AUTOMATED_Balance_Sheet_for_business_plan.xls
• SBA Cash Flow Document for Business Plan (Excel)
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/SBA_AUTOMATED_Cash_Flow_Doc_for_business_plan.xls
• Sample Cash Flow Statement (Excel)
  • https://asbtdc.org/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=2001
• Business Financial Calculators
  • http://www.bplans.com/business_calculators/

Business Structures

• Description of Business Structures (SBA)
  • http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/choose-your-business-stru
• Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) – Filing online (Cost is $155.00)
  • http://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/

Business Taxes

• Tax Guidance (SBA)
  • http://www.sba.gov/content/business-structure-and-tax-implications
• Minnesota Sales and Use Tax Instruction Booklet (rev. October 2011) – very helpful in understanding business taxes
  • http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/Forms_and_Instructions/sales_tax_booklet.pdf

Business Registration

• Registering a business name in Minnesota
  • http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=92
• Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online - no need to file a Form SS-4
  • http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Apply-for-an-Employer-Identification-Number-(EIN)-Online

Legal Advice

• Legal Corps
  • http://www.legalcorps.org

Logistics Advice

• UPS Small Business
  • http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/bussol/browse/cat/small_bus.html?WT.svl=SolExp

Credit Reports

• Obtaining your free credit report
  • https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
• Resources to access FICO credit score (fees may apply)
  • http://www.myfico.com/Products/Products.aspx
  • http://www.equifax.com/home/en_us
• Grade your credit score
  • http://www.debt.org/credit-score-grader

Debt Management Tools & Advice

• Learn how to manage personal and business debt
  • http://www.debt.org/small-business/
  • http://www.debt.org/small-business/obtaining-credit/
  • http://www.debt.org/small-business/sources-financing/

Other Resources

• St. Cloud SBDC Resource Page
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/forms.asp
• The Minnesota SBA Resource Guide
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/SBAmn_resourceguide.pdf
• A Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota
  • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/documents/2012GuidetoStartingaBusinessinMN.pdf
• SBA Startup kit
  • http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/getready/serv_mark_getinstartd.html
• Toolkit resources and articles for building a small business
  • http://www.toolkit.com