PURCHASE OPTIONAL
WORKBOOK



1. Self-Assessment
2. Business Idea
3. Market Analysis
4. Management Skills
5. Business Planning
6. Forecasting
7. Financing
8. Support Help
9. Venture Launch
10. Monitor Progress
Graduation Certificate

Session 8: Resource Networks

Often it is the relationships and networks that help a business to succeed. This Session is an opportunity to identify important resources that you can start networking with to build awareness of other resources and your own support networks. As with the other Sessions, you will get as much out of these exercises as you put in. Our advice is to find these resources and then proactively build your networks. Here we provide you with listings of public sector agencies that can help with a variety of business development issues. There are private-sector partners that you will need to incorporate in your resource network as well. You can ask the public sector counselors for referrals or check with your local business organization such as your local chamber of commerce.

The activities in this Session are fieldwork. Start to identify your Resource Network partners - our BUZGate network will show you who they are and where they are located - then go and have a meeting with them.

Your time invested in this way will pay huge dividends.

Building Your Resource Network Worksheets

There are literally thousands of business assistance programs paid for with your tax dollars, available in every state. The Knowledge Institute's Business Utility Zone Gateway is a small business resource community listing thousands of free and low cost public programs available to help small businesses to get started and grow. These public assistance agencies exist to help you with various aspects of your business objectives. You will find an alphabetical listing for your state and organized by town of the organizations and people that are available to help you develop an appropriate action strategy. To find the agencies in your area, click on this link: www.BUZGate.org, then click on your state, then click on Free Help. Select the category that best suits your need.

Instructions: Each of the following worksheet pages lists a type of resource and provides a format for you to enter information you gained through an actual visit to that organization. Complete the worksheets as noted and you will be building a very valuable resource network.

  1. Your Resource Network Worksheets - SBA
  2. Your Resource Network Worksheets - Banking
  3. Schools and Colleges
  4. Professional Services
  5. Business Incubators
  6. Summary