The AICPA has joined the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), an independent agency of the federal government dedicated to helping Americans start, build, and grow their small businesses.

As CPAs and trusted advisors assisting your clients or employers through each stage of their business life cycle, you will benefit from the strategic alliance between the SBA and AICPA when you leverage the valuable SBA library for your firm or organization and your clients. This site will continue to evolve over time, so be sure to check back for additional tools and resources to help you with your business and your small business clients.

The SBA offers a myriad of tools and resources, and we’ve culled through these volumes to identify two primary categories that will serve as excellent starting places when preparing to use them internally or share them with your clients: Resources for Start-Up Businesses and Resources to Help Manage Existing Businesses. 

Resources for Start-Up Businesses:

For those that are just getting started or thinking about starting a new business, you may consider the following resources:

• Small Business Planning
• Financing and Loans
• Licensing and Permits

Resources to Help Manage Existing Businesses:

For those organizations with established small businesses, the following tools and resources may be of benefit:

• Business Management, Leadership, and Human Resource Tools
• Using Information Technology
• Financial, Revenue Growth, and Loan Information
• Planning a Business Exit Strategy

A Guide to the U.S. Small Business Administration

A new booklet for member CPA’s describes how small businesses can take advantage of the many tools and resources the SBA has to offer.

SBA Tax Savings Resource Center – Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

The SBA created a Depreciation Calculator and an On-Line Seminar that demonstrates how business owners can maximize tax savings as a result of the new act.

 SBA Environmentally Friendly Loan Programs

The SBA is Green!  Two loan programs targeted for environmental capital assistance are offered by the SBA.

If you don’t find the tool you need in these resources, the SBA site at http://www.sba.gov/ has many other articles and tools that may cover the specific category you or your client may be seeking.  If you encounter a great tool, article, or presentation on the SBA site that you feel would benefit other CPAs, their firms or organizations, or clients, please feel free to contact us at 1 (800) CPA-FIRM or e-mail us at pcps@aicpa.org.

Enjoy the new benefits available to you via this important alliance with the SBA!

DISCLAIMER:  This publication has not been approved, disapproved or otherwise acted upon by any senior technical committees of, and does not represent an official position of, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. It is distributed with the understanding that the contributing authors and editors, and the publisher, are not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services in this publication. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.