Businesses are great at what they do. But sometimes they need help with some of the more intricate details of running the business. The IWCC SBDC can help!
The Iowa Western Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free one-on-one counseling and coaching with professionals who understand the needs and concerns of small business owners .
Counseling services include help with business plans, financial projections, business compliance, advertising, brand image, attracting investors, market research and more.
The IWCC Entrepreneurial Center/SBDC also offers low-cost training sessions and workshops that are designed to assist entrepreneurs. Current classes and workshops are listed in our calendar.
For more information on IWCC SBDC services, including entrepreneurial discussions/ forums, blogs, additional resources, and success stories, follow the link IWCC SBDC (on the left).
General Business Information
Provides real-world business advice to people who want to start a business and who want to grow their small businesses.
Both programs, developed by the J.J. Hill Library, organize the business Internet and provide access to information, some of which is not available via search engines. Best of all, both programs are free.
BizToolkit provides instant access to tools and resources for planning, marketing, managing, and growing a business. The site includes business plan and form samples, live advise from professionals and more.
The Biz Info Library (BIL) is a collaboration between the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Edward Lowe Foundation, and the James J. Hill Reference Library to create an online library offering the world’s best information on starting and growing a business. BIL provides users instant access to relevant, credible, and objective information authored and vetted by the world’s top business information experts.
This is the website version of the popular magazine Entrepreneur. The website has many resources and articles on a wide range of subjects for both start-ups and existing businesses. The website also includes a web store featuring their very popular start up guides.
NOTE: The IWCC Entrepreneurial Center has many of these guides in the resource library.
State Programs
The Iowa Department of Economic Development
The Iowa Department of Economic Development business section covers information on state programs for start-ups and businesses and offers license information and start-up tool kits.
Iowa Small Business Development Center
The SBDC state website offers resources for doing business in Iowa. The site also features a community forum for entrepreneurs to share ideas, ask questions to experts, etc. Regional areas have separate pages and resources including a Council Bluffs page with current news, events and a blog from the IWCC SBDC Center.
Nebraska Business Development Center
The Nebraska Business Development Center is the Nebraska counterpart to the Iowa Small Business Development Centers. Check here if you have questions regarding doing business in Nebraska.
National Programs
Programs to help small businesses start grow and succeed. Includes financial programs, samples, articles and more.
This site provides access to Rural Development information and resources in Iowa.
Free online and face-to-face business counseling, mentoring, and training. Business help and advice for small businesses just starting or for existing businesses.
