Communities Covered 
The three areas covered by the BLS data include:

• Bridgeport-Stamford Norwalk CT New England City and Town Area (NECTA);

• New Haven CT NECTA; and

• Norwich-New London RI-CT NECTA2

Governor Malloy announces the relaunch of the CTSBDC.
[Photo by Shana Sureck for the CTSBDC]

The announcement was made at an event during Connecticut Business Day 2013 at the Hartford Legislative Office Building.

BusinessUSA was launched last February and is on its way to becoming a dynamic one-stop resource for small businesses and exporters.   The site already includes hundreds of business resources, with information and services from 10 federal agencies on topics ranging from export financing, to counseling to small business loans.  It also coordinates telephone support through a single toll-free number.

“BusinessUSA is working diligently to provide improved access to these resources for business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly the small businesses that really need the resources.”

A business that can succeed in the export marketplace should be:

• Successful in its present domestic operation
• Selling its products or services regionally
• Willing to commit its resources of time, people and capital to the export program
• Sensitive and aware of cultural differences

Steps to success:

1. Utilize training and counseling to Determine export readiness.
2. Create an export business plan.
3. Conduct marketing research and create a marketing plan.
4. Find buyers.
5. Investigate financing.

CTBSDC can help.

 Contact the SBDC International Trade Specialist

Jacqueline Torcellini • (860)638-6952 •

Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions and completing a series of legal activities. These 10 easy steps can help you plan, prepare and manage your business. Click on the links to learn more.

Step 1: Write a Business Plan
Use these tools and resources to create a business plan. This written guide will help you map out how you will start and run your business successfully.

Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training

Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan and securing financing, to expanding or relocating a business.

Step 3: Choose a Business Location

Get advice on how to select a customer-friendly location and comply with zoning laws.

Step 4: Finance Your Business

Find government backed loans, venture capital and research grants to help you get started.

Step 5: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business

Decide which form of ownership is best for you: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, S corporation, nonprofit or cooperative.

Step 6: Register a Business Name (“Doing Business As”)

Register your business name with your state government.

Step 7: Get a Tax Identification Number

Learn which tax identification number you’ll need to obtain from the IRS and your state revenue agency.

Step 8: Register for State and Local Taxes

Register with your state to obtain a tax identification number, workers’ compensation, unemployment and disability insurance.

Step 9: Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

Get a list of federal, state and local licenses and permits required for your business.

Step 10: Understand Employer Responsibilities

Learn the legal steps you need to take to hire employees.

Seeking financing assistance to develop a budget to properly launch and operate Generation Y, Erika immediately began working with Denise, SBDC Business Development Advisor for small businesses throughout Hartford County. Although Erika had demonstrated a clear financial commitment to her business venture by investing over $140,000 of her own capital, she still needed an additional $50,000 for renovations required to meet town fire and safety codes.

SBDC Business Advisor, Denise Whitford shared, “Erika’s high level of energy and enthusiasm struck me from the first time we met. She prides herself on her creative nature and tenacity to overcome hurdles.” Denise helped Erika to find a micro lender and also provided guidance to help her complete the required application package. The assistance Erika received from the SBDC resulted in the approval of a $50,000 micro loan from the Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO), allowing Erika to complete all the necessary renovations and open her business in July 2012.

“My main issue in securing financing was being able to get in front of the right lenders. I needed to find someone who would passionately represent me and my business, as well as I would”, explained Erika. “Denise demonstrated tenacity and a tangible commitment to my business needs – I knew that she supported my goals. She was able to help me secure the required financing at a crucial time.”

These videos can help you begin the discussion of how exporting will affect your company’s internal processes. Your SBDC International Trade Specialist is here to work with you to understand the information outlined in the videos, assist you with the process and direct you to resources for further guidance if necessary.

Take Your Business Global

Please follow the link below to access the Small Business Administration’s video series titled “Take Your Business Global.”  Inc., AT&T and the U.S. Small Business Administration bring you video success stories from small business exporters and interviews with expert trade specialists.

http://www.inc.com/exporting/

Export Compliance and Regulations Training Videos

Commercial Goods

In order to fully understand your responsibilities as an exporter the U.S. Department of Commerce along with the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Industry and Security have developed a series of videos to walk you through the rules and regulations that govern commercial products and services. Please use the link below to access this video training series. Again, your SBDC International Trade Specialist is here to work with you to understand the information outlined in the videos, assist you with the process and direct you to resources for further guidance if necessary.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/exporttraining/videos/index.html

Export Licenses

An export license grants permission to conduct a certain type of export transaction. It is issued by the appropriate licensing agency after a careful review of the facts surrounding the given export transaction. Most export transactions do not require specific approval in the form of licenses from the U.S. Government. In fact, a relatively small percentage of all U.S. export transactions require licenses from the U.S. government. It is up to the exporter to determine whether the product requires a license and to research the end use of the product, in other words, to perform “due diligence” regarding the transaction. Exporters should learn which federal department or agency has jurisdiction over the item they are planning to export in order to find out if a license is required. Please use the link below to access information regarding licensing requirements:

http://export.gov/regulation/eg_main_018219.asp