8 of the Best Small Business Resources in Chicago
Written by Jon-Michael Foshee
Starting or growing your own small business is fulfilling, but also very challenging. Whether you have a physical “brick and mortar” location, or your business is conducted entirely on the Internet, the ability to navigate and anticipate market trends and seasonal fluctuations can feel daunting at times.
The pride of building something from the ground up also comes with the stress to increase your brand and profits. The good news is that you are not alone, and there are many resources available to you.
Many people in Illinois are experiencing the same challenges you may be facing right now—some may even be your friends and neighbors. Some businesses may seem nothing alike, but every entrepreneur in the city shares a common goal: Growth.
When one business owner prospers, our community shares in their good fortune. Local spending drives local economic development, and the taxes you pay on goods and services benefit your city’s education system, road improvements, and the very programs that offer help to small businesses.
Point being, as we grow our businesses, our quality of life, our community, and our city will benefit as well.
If you are facing challenges growing your business to the next level, there are many resources available to all business owners right here in Chicago. Many are free to the public.
It is easy to take our own city’s resources for granted. Some of us may have never visited a nationally-renowned museum, a sports venue, a convention center, or a critically-acclaimed restaurant or theater that we drive past every day.
It is for this reason that Chicago Devotion exists.
We are here to highlight the resources that are available to the public, to provide a haven for communities to help one another.
Whether you wish to learn more about accounting practices and taxes, expand your social media outreach and branding, or are considering growing your business to multiple locations, we will use our best efforts to help you.
Below, we have outlined a number of organizations that will provide assistance so your business can grow.
We are taught to reach for the stars, that the sky is the limit if we are willing to work hard and keep educating ourselves. They are here to help, and so are we.
Let’s grow Chicago together.
City of Chicago Small Business Center
Business Education Center Workshop
www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/business_educationworkshopcalendar.html
The Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) offers workshops every Wednesday and Friday. Workshops vary each month and are conducted by City Officials, experts, and partner business organizations.
All workshops are free, and open to the public. Workshops are held at BACP’s offices located in Room 805 at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602.
To register for a workshop please email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org or call 312-744-2086.
Small Business Development Centers
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/small_business_developmentcenters.html
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide businesses with free professional management, marketing, and financial guidance to help them succeed.
The SBDCs assist in the development of business and marketing plans. They with improving business ownership skills, financial analysis of businesses, accessing specialized services including export and government marketing, and other business management needs.
SBDCs are part of the State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
Small Business Solution Station
312-744-2086
BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org
The Small Business Solution Station offers free one-on-one business counseling for entrepreneurs. This is where you can talk to an expert about planning, legal issues, small business loans, tax matters or just get expert advice.
Counseling is offered at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. in Room 800. The Solution Station is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the last Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Counseling is provided by our partner organizations, SCORE, The Law Project, the Women’s Development Center and ACCION Chicago.
An appointment to visit the Solution Station is not necessary, but can be scheduled.
Chicago State University
Small Business Development Center
http://www.csu.edu/sbdc/overview.htm
773-995-3938
The Small Business Development Center provides counseling and resources – at no cost – to pre-venture and start-up businesses, as well as established business owners who want to grow their companies.
The Center operates in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Chicago State University.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center operates at Chicago State University, and is located in the Business and Health Sciences (BHS) Building, Room 601.
The Center is open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Score Chicago
312-327-1919
The national SCORE Association is a not-for-profit organization with 320+ chapters and 11,000+ volunteer mentors throughout the United States.
SCORE Chicago’s 120+ mentors and consultants provide services from 30 locations in Cook, Lake and part of Will County.
They offer free and low-cost business education workshops on a wide range of topics, from insurance and financing to website and social media marketing, in the downtown office and in community locations.
SCORE mentors can advise clients about options for loans and other types of business financing. SCORE and the SBA do not provide financing directly.
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
https://www.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/default.aspx
1-800-252-2923
ienconnect@mailmw.custhelp.com
Starting a new business is an exciting time, but is can also be challenging.
Questions can seem endless: Where will my business be located? What licenses or permits are required? How do I get financing?
The State of Illinois is here to help. We’ve created a clearinghouse of information for entrepreneurs on starting a new business, a one-stop shop for all things startup. Your road to business ownership begins here.
Chicago Small Business Expo
https://www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com/event-view/chicago/
212-404-2345
Small Business Expo is a FREE one-day event that offers you a vast array of opportunities to launch or grow your business. They provide you with resources, exhibitors, business-critical workshops, product demos, and a fun environment to network with thousands of local business owners.
Small Business Expo will help you immediately take your business to the next level. Their FREE Workshops include topics such as: Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Business Planning, Insurance, Increasing Sales, Creating Successful Marketing Plans, Financial & Tax Planning, and many others.
Exhibitors that showcase at our events include products/services such as: Office Space, Internet, Merchant Processing, Banks, Insurance, Lawyers, Accountants, Phone Systems, CRM, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Computer Equipment, Office Furniture, Office Supplies, & any other product/service that can help your business operate on a day-to-day basis.
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