SBA Launches Online Course to Help American Indians Start Businesses

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Native Brief: WASHINGTON - The US Small Business Administration Wednesday launched a new online tool that helps American Indian entrepreneurs prepare for business ownership. The Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success is a free online business course developed for Native American entrepreneurs that gives an overview of basic business principles and of the SBA's programs and services that help business owners get started.

The new primer is an important tool for American Indians, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian business owners that can lend in our nation's overall economic health through business ownership and creating new jobs. Our ultimate goal is to help spur job creation and to stimulate economic and business development in our Native American communities.

The new course is the ideal business development tool for the entrepreneur's toolbox that emphasizes business planning and market research as essential steps to take before going into business. The course gives useful first steps to take, and includes a section on how to estimate business start-up costs that help assess the financial needs of starting a business.

SBA's Office of Native American Affairs works to ensure that American Indian, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian communities have full access to all SBA programs and services. Each year, more than 200,000 American Indian and Alaska Native and 29,000 Native Hawaiian-owned businesses add billions to the American economy. We stand at the ready to help even more Native American entrepreneurs with business ownership.

The course is available from the SBA's Online Small Business Training web page under Online Courses for Starting Your Business at Native American Business Primer »

posted January 6, 2011 7:20 am est