Review our Business Start-up Guide for links to agencies and resources to get you started.  Sections include information on: 

• Assessing your potential as an entrepreneur
• Researching your idea and developing a Business Plan
• Selecting  your legal business structure
• Registering the name of your business
• Filing Articles of Incorporation with the State of Maryland
• Obtaining a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
• Researching and obtaining required licenses and permits

Learn more about training opportunities and technical assistance available through the following Small Business Resources:

• U.S. Small Business Administration
• SBA-District Office Resource Guide
• Maryland Small Business Development Center 
• SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives)
• Rockville Women’s Business Center
• Latino Economic Development Corporation
• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
• Montgomery County Business Organizations
• Nonprofit Montgomery
• Nonprofit Village
• Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs
• MDOT – Minority Business Enterprise Program
• Veteran Entrepreneurs

Explore Financing Resources available for small business:

Micro Enterprise Loan Programs

• Latino Economic Development Corporation
• Ethiopian Community Development Council

Lending Programs

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): a loan guarantee program and other initiatives to encourage financial institutions to lend to small businesses.  Check out the Washington Region SBA Resource Guide or visit SBA’s District Office website for a description of the available programs and list of participating financial institutions in the region.  
• Montgomery County Small Business Revolving Loan Fund: loans to companies that seek to locate or expand in Montgomery County.
• Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA): financing for small businesses that are not able to qualify for financing from private lending institutions or are owned by socially and economically disadvantaged persons.
• Maryland Capital Access Program:  small business credit enhancement that enables private lenders to establish a loan loss reserve fund from fees paid by lenders, borrowers, and the State of Maryland.
• Maryland Economic Adjustment Fund (MEAF): loans to assist small business with modernization of manufacturing operations, the development of commercial applications for technology, and exploring and entering new markets.
• TEDCO – Working Capital Loan Fund (WCLF): loans to early stage technology-oriented companies.
• Maryland Linked Deposit Program: loan discounts for certified MBEs.
• Marylandeighborhood BusinessWorks Program: below-market loans to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in designated neighborhood revitalization areas.

Equity Investment Programs

• The Dingman Center Angels: connects regional start-up companies seeking seed and early-stage funding with angel investors.
• Maryland Venture Fund: direct investments in technology and life science companies.
• MSBDFA Equity Participation Investment Program (EPIP):  equity investment in socially or economically disadvtanged businesses. 

Grant Opportunities

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Program: a federal program that provides grants for research and development of technology related concepts.
• Crowdfunding:  a new mechanism to help companies raise project related donations through social media platforms.
• StartRight! Women’s Business Plan Competition: grant funds to the winners of this annual contest.