The U.S. Small Business Association is a veritable gold mine of information on small business issues. Recently, they unveiled an updated online course list that is available to everyone . . . and it’s free.

Located at SBA.gov, the courses cover topics such as starting a business, business planning, business management, finance and accounting, marketing and advertising, government contracting (a very good place to look for lucrative contracts), small business retirement, e-commerce, international trade, and federal tax training. Among the classes offered are some specialized classes from Trump University (yes, that Trump), and a guide to winning specialized classes from the government. (I’m definitely going to take these government contracts classes after reading this past week about how our government awarded lucrative contracts to Dell, John Deere, and other large companies in a snafu that has independent auditors chomping at the bit; if changes are coming in the field of government contracts, I am so there. See here and here.)

The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) is a government-sponsored agency created in 1953 to “aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.” The SBA “recognizes that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future, and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace.”

In a nutshell, the SBA “helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. . . . There are those who argue that big businesses, profiting from ‘economies of scale,’ can produce far more efficiently than small businesses.  But small business is where the innovations take place.  Swifter, more flexible and often more daring than big businesses, small firms produce the items that line the shelves of America’s museums, shops and homes.  They keep intact the heritage of ingenuity and enterprise and they help keep the ‘American Dream’ within the reach of millions of Americans.  Every step of the way, SBA is there to help them.” 

If you’re wondering if there are any other programs out there for small business owners that are either free or low-cost, there are. Check with an employment services agency (contract or temp) about HR issues, check with your credit union or bank for classes or seminars available on finance issues, and inquire at the community college or learning centers in your area on classes about business plans or marketing courses. Even if you don’t learn from the SBA, make sure you find out about the scope of their services. It may save you a lot of time and heartache in the long run.

There are reports that the Small Business Administration’s business loan that was most popular with those seeking financed has fallen 19 percent. The recent economic downturn has had an effect an on the availability of small business loans, but the news is not all bad.

Some would-be business owners have had to go to several banks before getting a loan. If you are using your home as collateral, some banks are less than willing to help because of the shakiness of the housing market.

Those of you who are seeking business loans should know that banks are expecting higher down payments and plan accordingly. This is a challenge, but it is not an impossible hurdle.

People with strong credits ratings are getting loans. At least one expert feels that the standards had been rather lax. So what seems like a tightening may be a return to the status quo. When you do get a loan, you’ll know that you are in a good position to succeed. Strong businesses help the economy, so that may not be such a bad thing.

Visit www.sba.gov to learn about loan prequalification and read about loan requirements.

Business owners are crying foul over the state of California’s plan to offer an electric car maker a sweet deal as an incentive to keep business in that state.

Tesla will not have to pay state sales tax on the machinery it will use to build its Model S car. With this tax break, the company will be able to save 7 to 9 percent for each piece of equipment it buys for making the Model S.

Naturally other small businesses are not pleased that the state of California is giving Tesla this type of break. They feel as if this kind of tax should be offered across the board.

According to one state government official, California can offer specific incentives to certain companies. This official offered some insight into just how complex these decisions can be: the government must weigh many factors such as whether or not the incentive will take away from important public programs and whether or not they are rewarding a company for something they would have done anyway.

In the case of Tesla, it seems as if the state government was very concerned that the manufacturer would take their business to another state. So they put forth a serious effort to keep them in California.

As we prepare to celebrate the day our country declared its independence, this is good time to remind people that the SBA has loans to help U.S. citizens operate their own businesses independently.

Last year, the SBA started the Patriot Express program to provide support for veterans. These loans are available to veterans who want to start a small business or keep one going. You are eligible for the Patriot Express program if you are a veteran, service-disabled veteran, an active duty service member, a member of the National Guard, a Reservist. Patriot Express also helps businesses run by the spouses and widows of service members.

Business owners who are veterans have to apply, have a good business plan, and fit the basic qualifications, but these loans are processed fairly quickly. Some loan applications are processed in less than a week, while others may take several weeks.

One of the reasons that banks are so willing to take on these loans is that the SBA is really behind these loans. The SBA will guarantee loans of $150,000 for up to 85 percent of the loan.

Read more about the Patriot Express Loan Program at http://www.sba.gov/patriotexpress/.

How do you define a small business? That depends on the industry. What is considered a small business in one line of work may not qualify to be considered a small business in another field. Many a businessperson has researched possible SBA loans and gotten excited, only to find out that they do not fit the criteria.

The SBA has very specific guidelines for what constitutes a small business, so you should consult with them to find out where your business falls into.  The SBA has to take a lot into consideration when it shapes the criteria for small businesses within different industries. It has to look at start-up costs, barriers to entry, competition, growth trends and other factors. This actually works in your favor because a flower shop should not be measured by the same criteria as a t-shirt manufacturer.

The following are some general guidelines for the maximums for small businesses in different industries:

Agriculture: 1/2 million dollars or less

Retail: Five million dollars or less

Manufacturing: 500 employees or less

Wholesale trade: 100 employees or less