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FREE help? Is that possible? Yes. A number
of organizations offer free help with practice startup. The assistance
is available both in person and online.
Here are five sources of free information:
• Chamber of commerce.
When you have determined what city you want to practice in, go to
the local chamber of commerce. It is a great source of information
about the community.
The chamber can provide you with demographic
information about the city, with information about areas that will
be developed in the next few years, and about neighborhoods that
might be good places for your office. It might even be able to steer
you towards referrals of professionals, including banks, who are
chamber members.
While you’re at the chamber’s
headquarters, don’t forget to sign up as a member; you’ll
be able to network with other chamber members, and it looks good
for you as a professional.
Small Business Development Center
(SBDC). These centers are set up by local colleges and universities,
in conjunction with the SBA, to assist small business owners with
startup and operating questions. College instructors and other advisors
can help you with your business plan and other startup planning
ideas. Check online for the nearest SBDC at www.sba.gov/sbdc.
The Small Business Administration
(SBA). The SBA was set up after WWII under the U.S. Department
of Commerce to promote and assist small business owners.
While the SBA is most known as a source
of loan guarantees to banks for business startup and operating funds,
local SBA offices are great sources of assistance. They can help
with information packages that provide a list of places to go for
help with startup.
Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE). Connected to the SBA, SCORE consists of business
people who can give you lots of one-on-one assistance, to help you
with the preparation of your business plan in particular and with
other startup planning.
Universities. Don’t
overlook the business department of your local college or university.
You may find a professor who loves helping people start businesses
and who will devote some time to helping you with the financial
part or the marketing section of your business plan.
In addition, five online sources offer a
great deal of information on business startup. Note that most of
these sources include advertising, and all are generic, not specifically
for chiropractic practice startup.
• StartupNation (www.startupnation.com).
This site includes a page entitled “10 Steps to Startup Success,”
which has free worksheets and checklists.
• About.Com (http://entrepreneurs.about.com).
The entrepreneur section is part of a much larger Web site; it has
many good articles about startup.
• Idea Cafe (www.businessownersideacafe.com).
Another good generic site, it has articles and information for business
startup.
• FindLaw (http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com).
This site provides information on legal aspects of business startup,
from legal forms of business to employment law.
• Nolo (http://www.nolo.com
). Nolo has been in business for many years with the stated goal
of helping people deal with the legal complexities of life without
the need for attorneys. Although the site does sell products relating
to business, it also provides free information on business issues.
Sign up for their newsletter to see what we mean.
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