When starting a business in Utah County, most people are in need of the same basic assistance.

1. Licensing and Registration - You need to make sure that your venture is licensed, registered, and legal.
2. Business Plan - You need to have a solid business plan that is well thought out and covers everything a lender will require.
3. Capital - You need capital to buy equipment, raw materials, hire employees and set up shop.
4. Customers - You need customers to purchase your goods or services to ensure you are successful and profitable.

There are national, state, county and local resources to help you with the first three steps and local business support and networking groups to help you with the last.

1. Licensing and Registration
2. Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
3. Small Business Administration
4. Utah Micro Enterprise Loan Fund (UMLF)
5. Wayne Brown Institute (Venture Capital)
6. City Economic Development Business Expansion and Retention Services
7. City Chambers of Commerce

1. Licensing and Registration
All businesses operating in Utah must be registered with the state of Utah's Department of Commerce and licensed with a city or county in the state. The following resources are available to help you through the process.

State: http://business.utah.gov/business/starting/government_starting.html Utah County: www.co.utah.ut.us/Dept/ComDev/BusinessLic/index.asp

2. Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Orem/Provo SBDC helps current and prospective Utah County business owners, entrepreneurs, and others identify opportunities, develop business plans, refine strategies, overcome challenges, and connect with resources as they advance their business ventures.

Utah County: http://www.co.utah.ut.us/Dept/ComDev/BusinessLic/index.asp

3a. Small Business Administration
Through the access to capital, advice, and assistance, SBA has helped more than 20 million entrepreneurs over the last half-century achieve business success. This Agency has placed more than 170 billion dollars in the hands of small business owners, creating well over five million new jobs.

Nation: www.sba.gov
Nation: www.sba.gov/ut/

4. Utah Micro Enterprise Loan Fund (UMLF)
A microenterprise business is a small business with five or fewer employees that requires less than $35,000 to start, and is too small to qualify for commercial banking services. If your business meets these criteria, a UMLF loan may be for you.

State: umlf.com/index.html
Utah County: www.uvsc.edu/sbdc/workshops.html#umlf

5. Wayne Brown Institute (Venture Capital)
The Wayne Brown Institute (WBI) offers entrepreneurs educational and training programs that transfer experience, knowledge, contacts and capital from the world's leading business and financial organizations to promising early-stage, technology-based companies.

State: www.venturecapital.org


6. City Economic Development Business Expansion and Retention Services
The city in which you operate may be able to provide you with assistance in making connections within the local community and with fellow business owners/operators. Contacting the appropriate city economic development official will improve your chances of being up-to-date with local issues, as well as making sure you are knowledgeable about local assistance programs, networking groups and marketing opportunities.

Click here for a list of Municipal Contacts within Utah County. For Utah County Economic Development click here.


7. City Chambers of Commerce
Your local Chamber of Commerce can provide you with a wealth of information and support as you grow your business. They offer frequent training sessions, sponsored marketing events and provide a great link to the community and your customer base. Chamber membership is one of the most cost effective and important ways to get your business recognized.

Click here for a list of Chambers of Commerce in Utah County.