How do I get a business loan?

Different types of financing are available to small business owners. The major items that most lenders will require when you apply for a loan are: Legal papers to establish ownership of the business; Description and history of the business; Resumes of owners and managers of the business; current personal financial statements of proprietor, partners, officers, and major stockholders of the business; Business plan; Tax returns for the previous three (3) years; Current and projected financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, Profit & Loss Forecast, etc.) of the business; List of proposed uses of the loan; List of assets and debts of the company; List of collateral of the company. You should include any additional documents that might be useful in establishing the quality of the business in terms of management, experience, credit worthiness, and ability to repay the loan. Workshops to help you with locating and applying for financing are available from the SBDC. We also have publications and one-on-one consulting available. Please contact the office directly (phone, fax or email) for more information.

Do you give out Small Business Administration loans?

The UCF SBDC does not give out financing. We can help you locate sources of financing, and assist you with applying for it, however. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and loan guarantees, are handled through the banks. You must go through the normal application process for a loan, and you must supply all the pertinent records required, as listed above. Please go to http://www.sba.gov/financing/ for more information.

Is the SBDC the same as the SBA?

No, the Small Business Development Center is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, but we are two separate entities.

What are the basic skills you need to run a business?

The basic skills include a working knowledge of recordkeeping; financial management; personnel management; market analysis; breakeven analysis; product or service knowledge; federal, state and local tax knowledge; legal structures; and communication skills.

What kind of registration and licenses are generally required to start my business?

There are different specific requirements in each different location, county and state, but a few basics are:

Local - An occupational license from your city, and county is usually required. In addition, you have to meet any zoning laws, building codes or similar regulations. Information on requirements can usually be obtained at the local City Hall or Occupational License Bureau. Their phone numbers are listed in the "Government" listings of the phone book.

State - If your business is not a corporation and the business name is not your exact, given name, you'll have to file a "Fictitious Name" registration. For more information on this, go to http://www.sunbiz.org/corpweb/inquiry/ficmenu.html. Call (850) 245-6058 or write Fictitious Name Registration Section, Division of Corporations, Department of State, P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314 for information on how to do that in Florida. Inquiries can also be sent via email to corphelp@mail.dos.state.fl.us. You will probably also need a sales and use tax number. More information on this tax can be found at http://www.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/sales_tax.html. For Central Florida, this may be obtained from the State Revenue Department, Maitland 200 Building, Suite 150, 2301 Mailtand Center Parkway, Maitland, FL 32751, (407) 475-1200.

Federal - An employer's identification number should be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service. This can be done online at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97860,00.html. Or you may complete an SS4 application and call (800) 829-4933 or mail the form to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operations Holtsville, NY 00501. Tax forms and publications may be completed or downloaded online at http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html or ordered for delivery by U.S. Postal Service by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Can you help me if my business is set up as a not-for-profit business?

Because of the funding guidelines for the SBDC, we are not able to assist those businesses that are established as not-for-profit.

Do you have to be in business to use the services of the Small Business Development Center?

No. You only have to be considering the idea of opening a business or researching the feasibility of a proposed profit making venture.

Do I have to attend the seminars offered by the SBDC before I can receive individual counseling?

No, however, attending the seminars is highly recommended if you have never run a small business before. The seminars can provide the basic information and will clear up many questions. After attending the seminars, if you have more specific questions, our counselors are more than happy to meet with you and answer those questions on an individual basis. Before scheduling an appointment with a counselor, we ask that you complete our Request for Counseling form.

Do you need a lawyer to start a business?

No, but it is usually a good idea to get the best advice possible, including that of an attorney, accountant, banker, and insurance agent. For a list of some professionals in the Central Florida area that work with small businesses, go to our Professional Service Providers Resource Network (coming soon).

Are there any "grants" available for my start-up business?

Generally speaking, grants given to business start-ups are very rare. Information on possible grants may be obtained at your local public library in the following publications: "Getting Yours", "Directory of Research", "Government Assistance Almanac", and "Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Grants."

SBA's grant programs generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments in an effort to expand and enhance small business technical and financial assistance. Other federal grant programs generally support non-profit organizations, and state and local governments and are not given directly to small businesses. A list of Federal Grant programs can be found on SBA's web site at: SBA Federal Grant Resources.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous operators sell manuals, workshops and other materials on how to obtain "free money."

Other information on "free money": Home Business Grants: Is There Really Free Money Available for Your Home Business Needs?

Will the SBDC do a feasibility study for me?

The SBDC cannot do a feasibility study for you, but we can advise you on the process. Feasibility studies are normally conducted by a firm to determine whether or not a business idea will work. Market research and feasibility studies are offered commercially through over 25 Market Research firms in Orlando. Also, the information used to complete such a study is often the same as the information needed for a Business Plan. The SBDC offers a monthly workshop on Business Plan Writing, as well as individual counseling to answer your specific questions for your company's plan. Visit our Seminars page for a schedule.

What are your hours of operation?

The SBDC at UCF's normal hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday.