If you’re a business owner looking to expand your markets, there’s a whole wide world out there. And the U.S. Small Business Administration is ready to get you acquainted with it.

According to the SBA’s website, the agency’s district offices and Local Resource Partners can help with federal programs and services nationwide. Businesses can contact a local business counseling center to make an appointment for personalized one-on-one assistance with their small business plans and training. There are several programs and services available.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers can help you develop an exporting strategy. Each center is staffed by professionals from public and private organizations with experience in assisting small- and medium-sized businesses to enter and succeed in the global marketplace.

Small Business Development Centers can be a resource. SBDCs are hosted by leading universities and state economic development agencies and partially funded through a partnership with SBA. Their advisors offer free business consulting and low-cost training services.

The International Trade Hotline can help U.S. small businesses facing barriers in accessing international markets or seeking referrals to SBA and U.S. trade government programs. Contact the toll-free trade hotline at 855-722-4877 or reach out by email at international@sba.gov.

The resources available can also be useful in developing an export market plan.

SBA’s Small Business Development Centers offer business counselors who can review your business plan and provide market data and export resources. 

You can also learn more about exporting and developing an export plan from SBA Office of International Trade’s Learn to Trade webinar series: Exporting 101 and Develop an Effective Export Plan.

If you are just starting out globally, SBA’s Business Guide provides advice on how to start and register your business and how to hire and manage employees.

SBA’s Office of International Trade (OIT) is your first point of contact for trade-related resources and referrals to other government agencies who provide valuable small business trade information.  

There are many resources available to help businesses considering the export market with a wide variety of issues including competitiveness, trade delegations, financing and insuring exports, protecting intellectual property, global e-commerce and international shipping.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration