Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Small Business Resources

State of Indiana

State of Indiana Business Resources

Resources for starting a business, relocating your business, obtaining business licenses and permits, job resources and labor law. http://www.in.gov/ai/business/

Business Advisory Services:

The Indiana Clean Manufacturing Technology & Safe Materials Institute

The Indiana Clean Manufacturing Technology & Safe Materials Institute (“CMTI”) is a state-supported institute established and operated at Purdue University within the School of Civil Engineering. The purpose of CMTI is to act as the state's focal point for coordinating and deploying technical assistance, outreach, education, planning services and research to facilitate the adoption of pollution prevention/clean manufacturing strategies by Indiana manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit www.ecn.purdue.edu/CMTI.

America’s Small Business Development Center Network

America’s Small Business Development Center Network is the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its territories. The mission of the network is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership, and assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. For more information, visit http://www.asbdc-us.org/.

The Butler Business Accelerator

The Butler Business Accelerator will target mature Central Indiana companies that have been in business at least five years, have $5 to $50 million in annual sales, and are poised for growth. For a consulting fee, selected companies will work with a team consisting of professional staff, faculty, and students, who will engage them in a four-step process to improve their competitiveness and profitability, including access to an investment fund. For more information, visit www.butler.edu/cba/.

The Technology Assistance Program

The Technology Assistance Program (“TAP”) provides free, confidential consulting services for Indiana companies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations leveraging the vast resources of Purdue University in advanced manufacturing, business management, information technology, and product development and engineering. For more information, call (765) 494-6258 or visit www.purdue.edu/TAP.

The Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Center (“SBDC”) is an organization offering free and low cost information, management counseling, and educational services designed to support Indiana small business owners and potential entrepreneurs. The SBDC’s mission is to help Indiana business grow and create new jobs within the state, including help with developing a business plan to help market a business to potential partners. To find the local SBDC, visit http://www.isbdc.org/.

The Indiana Venture Center

The Indiana Venture Center (“Center”) helps lead high-growth, highly-scalable, entrepreneurial businesses in a market-leading industry with the potential to generate millions of dollars in revenue each year down the path to angel and venture capital funding. For more information about the Center and about AngelNet, visit http://www.indianaventurecenter.org/.

The Service Corp of Retired Executives

The Service Corp of Retired Executives (“SCORE”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the formation, growth, and success of small businesses nationwide. In Indiana, SCORE provides free confidential business counseling and low-cost seminars in all areas of business planning, start-up, and operation. The counseling service and the business seminars are available for start-ups with ideas or companies that been active for years. For more information, visit http://www.score.org/.

Novus Sport

Novus Sport is collaborating with the American College of Sports Medicine to identify innovation and discovery in its early stages, determine whether that innovation has market potential, and provide the energy and resources necessary to advance such business opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.novussport.com/.

Business Training:

SmallBizU

SmallBizU is specially designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses to instill a formal business intelligence – the capacity to solve problems, meet challenges, and create valued products. It teaches entrepreneurs about money, marketing, and management through a no-frills, utilitarian curriculum that provides small businesses with real world tools and information. Access SmallBizU free through the following link: www.smallbizu.org/idoc.

Networking Organizations:

Techpoint

Founded in December 2002, Techpoint is Indiana’s only statewide technology trade group representing approximately 400 corporate members, including publicly-traded companies, private businesses, colleges and research universities, and local economic development organizations. The group’s mission is to transform Indiana into a recognized technology leader by developing relevant policy, catalyzing change, and measuring the state’s progress. For more information, visit http://www.techpoint.org/.

BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads was formed to capitalize on Indiana’s strong foundation in the life sciences by attracting new business opportunities, intellectual property and capital to the life sciences industry. BioCrossroads works with corporate, government, economic development and academic leaders to make Indiana a national and international life sciences center. For more information, visit http://www.biocrossroads.com/.

Indiana Health Industry Forum

The mission of the Indiana Health Industry Forum is to create an environment where Indiana is a premier location for the creation and growth of health industry enterprises. For more information, visit http://www.ihif.org/.

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce works proactively on behalf of its members and constituents to provide a world-competitive business climate throughout the state in order to maximize opportunity for meaningful employment of all Indiana citizens. The Chamber does this by advancing thoughtful legislation and public policy, and serving as the convenient source of reliable business information for our members and constituents. For more information, visit http://www.indianachamber.com/.

The Venture Club of Indiana

The Venture Club of Indiana is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and investors succeed through participation in a network of resources guided by a group of business experts with backgrounds in industries like banking, Web development, human resources, and academics. For more information, visit http://www.ventureclub.org/.

Local Economic Development:

The Indy Partnership

The Indy Partnership provides specialized knowledge and assistance for companies and site selection consultants to make informed business location decisions. For more information, visit http://www.indypartnership.com/.

The Center for Economic and Community Development

Established in 1984 by the Indiana General Assembly as the Indiana Economic Development Academy, the Center for Economic and Community Development (“CECD”) is a statewide public service unit of Ball State University (“BSU”), whose mission is to help build self-sufficient Indiana communities by increasing the knowledge and ability of development professionals, government officials, and volunteers. For more information, visit www.bsu.edu/cecd.

Business Advisory Services for Minorities:

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana can also be a networking resource for Muslims attempting to start and grow businesses in Indiana. For more information, please visit: http://www.muslimalliancein.com/mai/index.htm.

The Indiana Business Diversity Council

The mission of the Indiana Business Diversity Council (“IBDC”) is to educate, cultivate, and promote successful minority enterprises within the Indiana business community. The IBDC serves as an advocate for the economic well-being and growth of IBDC-certified Minority Busniess Enterprises (“MBEs”). Also, we serve as a link for those corporations who are committed to purchasing products and services from IBDC-certified MBEs.

The Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Division

The State of Indiana itself provides an equal opportunity for existing and operating minority and women’s business enterprises to receive and participate in the state’s procurement and contracting process. The Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Division is a multi-purpose service agency for all Minority Business Enterprises (“MBE”), Women Business Enterprises (“WBE”) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBE”) vendors and contractors. For more information, call (317) 232-3061 or visit www.in.gov/idoa/minority/index.html.

Business Advisory Services for Women:

The Office of Women’s Business Ownership

The Office of Women’s Business Ownership promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through programs that address business training and technical assistance, and provide access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities. With a women's business ownership representative in every Small Business Administration (“SBA”) district office, a nationwide network of mentoring roundtables, women's business centers in nearly every state and territory, women-owned venture capital companies, and the Online Women's Business Center, OWBO is helping unprecedented numbers of women start and build successful businesses. For more information, contact the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center in Indianapolis (317) 917-3266 http://www.nsibiz.org/index.php?id=2 or Women’s Enterprise in Fort Wayne (260) 424-7977 www.womensbureau.com/womens_enterprise.html.

Springboard

Springboard Enterprises is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating women's access to the equity markets. The organization produces programs that educate, showcase and support entrepreneurs as they seek equity capital and grow their companies. For more information, visit http://www.springboardenterprises.org/.

Financial Assistance:

Small Business Administration Loan Guaranty

The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) is a good resource for start-up funding. The SBA administers such programs as the CommunityExpress loan program, guarantees loans provided to you by a lender, and organizes educational seminars that might be useful to start-up entrepreneurs. The web address for the SBA branch in Indiana is www.sba.gov/in, and the contact number is (317) 226-7272.

Indiana Finance Authority

Whether the financing need is large or small, the Indiana Financing Authority (“IFA”) may have a tool a lender can utilize. In partnership with lenders, other state and federal agencies, and economic development professionals, the IFA creatively pursues partners, opportunities, and alternatives to help Indiana businesses thrive and be competitive. IFA offers enhancements and assistance to lenders by way of the various programs. Visit www.in.gov/ifa/ for a description of the Capital Access Program, Tax Exempt Bond/Volume Cap Program, Brownfields Programs, Loan Guaranty Program, and additional business resources.

Fixed-Asset and Working Capital Financing

New and existing small- and medium-sized companies that are experiencing growth - but are unable to obtain conventional financing from a bank or other financial institution - may have two options to begin with. The first is the Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation, Indiana's largest lender of funds from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) 504 loan program. SBA 504 funds can provide long-term fixed-rate financing for a business's fixed assets including real estate, existing buildings, construction of new buildings, and purchase and installation of equipment. The second is the Indiana Community Business Credit Corporation, a privately owned company that manages a pool of risk capital provided by Indiana banks. One of the state’s participating banks must be a primary lender with at least a 50% exposure. The Credit Corporation then takes a subordinate collateral position for projects that need at least $200,000 in new financing. The project funding can be used for any legitimate business purpose, including working capital. Both programs are managed by Cambridge Capital Management Corporation (“CCMC”) in Central Indiana. For more information, you may contact CCMC at (317) 843-9704 or visit http://www.cambridgecapitalmgmt.com/. For minorities, also ask about the LYNX Capital Corporation.

Federal Grants

Another excellent resource is Grants.gov, whose database includes all federal grant-making agencies (including the SBA). Grants.gov allows organizations electronically to find and apply for grants from over 900 programs.

Regulatory Assistance:

Indiana Secretary of State

If you plan on establishing your business as a Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Liability Company, Corporation or Nonprofit Corporation, then organizational documents must be filed with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State. Although not required, boilerplate forms to establish for-profit & nonprofit corporations are available from the Corporations Division. You may obtain forms via their website, by visiting their office, by mail, or by fax using the Faxback Line. For additional information, call the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division at (317) 232-6576 or visit www.in.gov/sos/business/corporations.html.

County Recorders

Less formal organizations, such as a Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership, do not require filings with state government to come into existence. If, however, the business name does not contain owner’s (owners’) name(s), it must be recorded with the Recorder of the county in which the business is located. Registration of a business name does not protect the name from being used by another business. You may request a form through your local County Recorder or use the generic format shown at http://www.in.gov/icpr/webfile/formsdiv/30353.pdf.

Internal Revenue Service

Businesses that must obtain an Employer Identification Number may obtain this number by telephone or by filing Form SS-4 with the IRS. Contacts: Employer Identification Number (606) 292-5467; IRS Information Number (800) 829-1040; Forms (800) 829-3676; by mail at IRS, Cincinnati, OH, 45999; or online at www.tax9er.com/amigo/affiliates/4104/.

Indiana Department of Revenue

Indiana imposes various taxes on businesses. A single application (https://secure.in.gov/apps/dor/bt1/) is used to register with the Indiana Department of Revenue for sales tax, withholding tax, food & beverage tax, county innkeeper tax, motor vehicle rental excise tax, and prepaid sales tax on gasoline. A separate application is required for each business location. There is a $25.00 non-refundable application fee for a Retail Merchants Certificate. For more information, contact the Indiana Department of Revenue Taxpayer Services Division, Withholding (317) 233-4016, Sales Tax (317) 233-4015, Corporate Tax or General Information (317) 615-2662 or visit Room N-105 Indiana Government Center North, 300 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN, 46204.

Indiana Department of Workforce Development

DWD’s Employer Desk Guide is designed to help you understand how the law governing the unemployment insurance program in Indiana affects you. It explains how the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) opens and maintains your account. It reviews your tax obligations, reviews the conditions under which former employees can collect unemployment insurance and explains what you are expected to do when a former employee files a claim for benefits. DWD's Employer Account Status division is responsible for the following issues: new account status; business transfer; inactivate account; dissolutions; address changes; and seasonal employers. DWD maintains the Employer Desk Guide online at www.in.gov/dwd/employer/requirements/unemp_ins/intro.html. To request a copy of the Employer Desk Guide or to speak with an Account Representative, contact DWD’s Employer Account Status division at (317) 232-7436 or (800) 437-9136.

Indiana Department of Labor

The Indiana Department of Labor’s INSafe program provides critical safety information, training, and consultative services to thousands of Indiana workplaces at no direct cost. For more information about INSafe or the Indiana Department of Labor, call (317) 232-2655 or visit http://www.labor.in.gov/.

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