Starting a Business

STARTING OR GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

There are numerous resources available to gather information on starting or growing a business. We urge you to check out these sites for further assistance.

Local Resources:

  • WWBIC –They provides business loans and access to fair and responsible capital, quality business and financial wellness training, and one-on-one coaching with a focus on women, people of color, veterans, rural and lower wealth individuals.
  • Fox Cities Economic Development Partnership – provides information on business resources, regional profiles, community lifestyles and available buildings and industrial parks.
  • SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) – They provide free service providing business counseling and mentoring to entrepreneurs. SCORE counselors are business professionals with backgrounds ranging from small business owner to corporate executive.
  • Small Business Development Center (Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh) – A no cost small business consulting services for existing and startup businesses. This includes financial, marketing and business planning assistance.
  • Venture Center – Help with startups and small businesses streamline operations, refine their vision, and launch effectively through training and mentoring, minimizing costly mistakes.
  • E-Seed Training – This is a 15 week entrepreneurship training series, assists start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs in developing management and planning tools for their new business ventures.
  • Allconnect now services your area as a local utility resource. Allconnect.com is integrated with over 200 utility providers making it easier to compare the providers in your area. We have also added our new internet speed test so you can see just how fast your home internet really is.

State Resources:

  • Better Business Bureau – Their mission is to foster marketplace trust by ensuring buyers and sellers can rely on each other. They achieve this by exposing scams and fraud while recognizing ethical businesses.
  • UW Business Resource Directory – the most current listing of contact information for business related services available at every UW campus and at Wisconsin Technical Colleges.
  • WI Department of Labor lists all posters that are required for businesses in Wisconsin. Print copies right from this site and SAVE money.
  • WI Department of Workforce Development is a single website to access the full range of business information: Environmental issues, Business Development Resources, Statistical Data, Health and Safety, Building Standards and Permit Information, Tax Essentials, Human Resources and Employment, Quality Improvement.
  • WI Department of Commerce offers a variety of financial assistance programs as well as some training and educational programs. Programs include loans, tax credits, grants, government procurement, technology advancement, marketing and educational.
  • WI Small Business Development Center – serves 11 counties in NE Wisconsin by providing low-cost workshops, seminars and free counseling to aid small businesses in Northeast Wisconsin.
  • WI Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax is a site to get answers to questions on taxable vs. non-taxable sales and filing requirements.

Federal Resources:

  • BizFilings is a virtual warehouse of small-business knowledge ranging from model business plans to sample company policies. Plus an online advice column.
  • Small Business Administration – Provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their business.
  • Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource is an A-Z listing of small business related topics.
  • U.S. Department of Labor lists federal required posters for small businesses and other employers that must be placed in businesses.
  • American Institute of Small Business – their mission is to teach potential and current small business owners the necessary skills needed to successfully start and grow their own business.
  • Labor Market Projections – Now available on the Office of Economic Advisors website at you can find updated Wisconsin Projections data. Information is included for 90 industries and 765 occupations. For each occupation, the data also contains wage information and typical education and training paths. There are several tables that sort industries and occupations by various criteria such as new job creation, total job openings and education/training path. Also tables are available for customers wishing to focus specifically on health care or information technology occupations.
    Digital.com – A lot of useful articles including basics like how to come up with a name and business planning to creating a website, getting customers and finding sources of business finance.

Other Resources: