Resource Guide for Startups and existing Small Businesses

September 14, 2023

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This document lists Business information with email and phone numbers that are vital to the success of Business Start-Up and Already In-Business Companies

Topics

1. Starting Out – Reference Index

2. License & Permits

3. Employer Obligation

4. Tax Obligation

5. Resources for Minority-Owned Busines

6. Financing Loans

7. Angel Investors

8. Venture Capital

9. Grants for Women-Owned Business

10. Grants General

11. Crowdfunding

12. Personal Credit Score & Resources

13. Webhosting

14. Social Networks

15. Credit Card Processors

16. Accounting Software

17. Trademarks

18. Demographics

19. Library Business Section

20. Exporting

21. SCORE Business Information

1. Starting Out – Reference Index

Raleigh SCORE – Mentors help clients to start or stay in business. Many Templates, Tools & List of Service Providers.

https://raleigh.score.org Phone: 919-869-4151

Business Structure Sole Proprietorship and General Partnerships

https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/register-deeds

For LLC or S-Corp and C-Corp register with the NC Secretary of State

Limited Liability Corporation - LLC File with the NC Secretary of State (Cost $125) Phone: 919-814-5400

https://www.sosnc.gov/forms/by_title/_Business_Registration_Limited_Liability_Companies

Employer Identification Number - EIN or FEIN

File with the IRS (Free) Phone: 1-800-829-4933 (Business)

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identificationnumber-ein-online

Economic Development Partnership of NC

https://edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start-a-business/business-structure/

Wake Tech Small Business Center - Phone: 919-335-1007

https://www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75540

NC Women Business Center Durham Phone: 919-956-8889

https://www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75180&subloc=5

Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Phone:1-800-258-0862

https://sbtdc.org

Small Business Administration – SBA - NC

https://www.sba.gov/local-resources/north-carolina

Charlotte NC Main office Phone: 704-344-6563

Raleigh Office Phone: 919-532-5525

NC Department of Commerce - Raleigh Phone: 919-814-4600

https://www.nccommerce.com

SME Small Business Toolkit

https://us.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Small-Business-Owners-Toolkit.pdf

Register your Business Domain Name

https://www.register.com/register-domain-names

https://www.godaddy.com/domains

https://www.namecheap.com/

Small Business Resource Guide (Raleigh Chamber of Commerce & Wake County Economic Development)

http://raleighchamber2.org/downloads/SalesCurrent/flyersbrochures/Small%20Bus%20Resource%20Guide _2021.pdf

2. License & Permits

NC Department of Commerce – Phone 919-447-7777

https://edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start-a-business/license-permits/

NC Department of Revenue – Phone: 1-877-252-3052

https://www.ncdor.gov

County Permits & License Wake Co – Phone: 919-856-6222

https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/planning-development-inspections/inspectionspermits

City of Raleigh Permits & License – Phone: 919-996-3200

https://raleighnc.gov/services/doing-business/permits-and-licenses-businesses

3. Employer Obligation

NC Department of Labor – Phone: 919-996-5740

https://www.labor.nc.gov

Federal Employer Tax Guide – Phone: 1-800-829-4933

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p15

Steps for hiring your Frist Employee in North Carolina

https://startingyourbusiness.com/steps-to-hiring-your-first-employee-in-north-carolina/

4. Tax Obligation

NC Sales & Use Tax – Phone: 1-877-252-4052

https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes -forms/sales -and -use -tax

Unemployment Insurance Tax – Phone: 1-800-829-4933

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international -taxpayers/federal -unemployment -tax

Business Privilege License and Tax – North Carolina – Phone: 1-877-252-3052

https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes -forms/privilege -license -tax

Business Privilege License and Tax – Raleigh – Phone: 1-800-679-3611

https://www.businesslicenses.com/Licenses/NC/Durham/Raleigh -3706355000/Business -Privilege -License 45446/

Business Privilege License and Tax – Wake County – Phone: 919-856-5400

https://www.wakegov.com/departments -government/tax -administration

Workers Compensation – NC Industrial Commission – Phone: 919-716-1700

http://www.ic.nc.gov

5. Resources for Minority-Owned Businesses

US Minority Business Development Agency - Phone: 202-482-2332

https://www.mbda.gov

NC Institute of Minority Economic Development – Phone: 919-956-8889

www.ncimed.com

City of Raleigh Minority & Women-Owned Enterprise – Phone: 919-996-5740

https://raleighnc.gov/services/doing-business/minority-and-women-owned-business-enterprise-mwbe

6. Financing Loans

SBA Preferred Lenders – Phone – Raleigh: 919-532-5525

https://www.sbalenders.com/top-sba-lenders-north-carolina/

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans

Self Help Credit Union – Phone: 1-800-476-7428 (Durham)

https://www.self-help.org/who-we-are/self-help-family/self-help-credit-union

SBA for Women-Owned Businesses & Many Other Websites

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/women-owned-businesses

Small Business Financing Options

https://digital.com/small-business-financing/

Veterans Loans

https://www.vafinancial.com/business-loans/

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the CDFI Fund):

https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training.

The first step to accessing many of the CDFI Fund’s programs is applying for CDFI or CDE Certification. Although there are some exceptions, certification is the gateway to accessing the CDFI Fund’s award programs. We encourage you to use the tools (linked to https://www.cdfifund.gov/faq) to find a local CDFI that may offer funding to meet your individual needs.

The CDFI Fund's mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting the growth and capacity of a national network of community development lenders, investors, and financial service providers.

While the CDFI Fund does not make loans directly to individuals—nor does it directly finance specific projects—the CDFI Fund does provide financing to CDFIs throughout the country that, in turn, provide financing to individuals like yourself. Whether you are a resident hoping to purchase a first home, an entrepreneur working to open a local store, or an existing business owner looking to expand an enterprise, we believe that every person deserves access to the necessary resources, and we can help point you in the right direction.

Thread Capital:

https://www.threadcap.org/capital-old/small-business-loans/

Thread Capital offers small business loans from $500 to $100,000.

Our mission is to provide capital, coaching, and connections to small businesses who have traditionally had challenges accessing resources. Our specific focus is on small businesses that are owned by people of color, women, low-income individuals, and rural-based individuals.

Loan decisions are typically made within 15 days and loans funded within 30 days.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have at least one employee, who could be the owner.
The small business must be physically located in North Carolina.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund:

https://www.carolinasmallbusiness.org/loans

Our core loan product is available for both emerging and established businesses in all 100 North Carolina counties. We offer term loans with a maximum loan amount of $350,000 and flexible repayment terms.

If you would like to apply for our core loan product, please complete the required business consultation form at this link:

https://forms.carolinasmallbusiness.org/4855655.

SBA Lender Match

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/lender-match-connects-you-lenders

Get matched to potential lenders offering SBA-backed funding.

Are you a small business owner having trouble securing capital because you’ve only been in business for a few years? Are you a woman, veteran or minority entrepreneur with limited financial resources? The SBA-backed Community Advantage Loan program was designed with you in mind.

Some Community Advantage lenders will also provide business counseling to help you grow and succeed. Additionally, other SBA resources are available that can help you develop your business plans, as well as create financial projections and competitive analyses.

7. Angel Investors

Angel Capital Association – Phone: 913-894-4700

https://www.angelcapitalassociation.org/

Inception Micro Angel Fund Sandhills, NC – Phone: 914-483-8133

http://www.imaf-sandhills.com

8. Venture Capital - Equity Investors

The Aurora Funds – Phone: 919-484-0400

https://aurorafunds.com

Intersouth Partners – Phone: 919-493-6640

www.intersouth.com

SJF Ventures – Phone: 919-530-1177 (Durham)

www.sjfventures.com

Southern Capitol Ventures – Phone: 919-858-7580

www.southcap.com

9. Grants for Women-Owned Businesses

Grants from: Amber Grant, Cartier Women’s Initiative, Tory Burch Foundation, Boston Women’s Fund, Asian Women Giving Circle.

https://www.business.org/finance/loans/small-business-grants-for-women/

Merchant Maverick Opportunity Grant - Minority

https://www.merchantmaverick.com/grant-application-page

Emma Johnson Single Mother Grant

https://www.wealthysnglemothermommy.com/single-mom-grant

10. Grants General

NC Idea Grant – Micro & Seed

https://ncidea.org

National Association of the Self Employed Grant

https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/member-benefits/business-resources/growth-grants

Federal Grants

https://www.grants.gov

Walmart Small Business Grant

https://walmart.org/how-we-give/local-community-grants

Black Founder Start-Up Grant

https://www.iamsogal.com/black-founder-startup-grant/

Patagonia Grant

https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/

Verizon Small Business Grant

https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/grant-requirements

Veterans Grants - Small Business

https://www.merchantmaverick.com/business-grants-veterans/

https://www.usgrants.org/veteran-grants.htm

https://freegrantsforveterans.org/grants-for-veterans-in-north-carolina/

11. Crowdfunding

4 Crowdfunding Platforms

1. Non Profit (sample sites)

2. Peer to Peer Lending Debt (sample sites)

3. Reward-Based Crowdfunding (sample sites)

4. Equity Crowdfunding (sample sites)

Crowdfunding Websites (sample) iFund Women Raleigh

https://ifundwomen.com

Fundly – Funding for Cause

https://blog.fundly.com

Comparison of Crowdfunding Websites – Inc Magazine

https://www.inc.com/magazine/201111/comparison-of-crowdfunding-websites.html

Crowdfunding Bible – Book

http://crowdfundingguides.com/The%20Crowdfunding%20Bible.pdf

Crowd-Funders Strategy - Book

https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-crowdfunders-strategy-guide/id997088115

57 Secrets of Crowdfunding - Book

https://www.amazon.com/57-Secrets-Crowdfunding-Step-Strategy-ebook/dp/B00XQARRX4

The Crowdfunding Revolution – Book (How to Raise Capital using Social Media)

https://www.amazon.com/Crowdfunding-Revolution-Venture-Capital-Social/dp/0071790454

12. Personal Credit Score & Resources

Credit Freeze Information NC Attorney General – Phone:

https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/protecting-your-identity/free-security-freeze/

Equifax – Phone: 1-800-685-1111

https://www.equifax.com

Experian – Phone: 1-888-397-3742

https://www.experian.com

TransUnion – Phone: 1-800-888-4213

https://www.transunion.com/

Annual Credit Report Request Service – Phone: 877-322-8228

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

17. Trademarks

TM™ vs. R ® - Which one is Right for your Trademark?

https://www.clickandcopyright.com/blog/tm-vs-r-which-is-right-for-my-trademark/

https://esquiretrademarks.com/proper-use-of-trademark-symbol/

United States Patent & Trademark Office

https://www.uspto.gov

18. Demographics

United States Demographics

https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/us-demographics/

United States Census

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/AGE295219

US Census North Carolina

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/north-carolina-population-changebetween-census-decade.html

Wake County NC Demographics

https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/planning-developmentinspections/planning/census-demographics

US Labor & Wage Statistics North Carolina

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nc.htm

NC Government Data Analytic Center

https://it.nc.gov/services/nc-government-data-analytics-center

19. Wake County Library Business Section

To research Wake County Library databases, you need a Wake County Library Card and a Password. You can get both by visiting your local library.

To access the databases, go to:

www.wakegov.com/departments-government/libraries/research-learn and select “Library Databases”.

Databases include:

ABI/INFORM Collection

Business research from journals, trade publications, market research reports, dissertations, and working papers.

Business Market Research Collection

This database contains company, industry, economic and geopolitical market research from three sources, including Hoover's Company Profiles, OxResearch from Oxford Analytica, and Snapshots.

Data-Axle Reference Solutions (formerly known as ReferenceUSA)

Reference and research tool providing instant, real-time access to accurate, in-depth information on 24 million U.S. businesses and 235 million U.S. residents. Data-Axle makes it faster and easier to find new business opportunities, research executives and companies, find news articles, conduct job searches, and research papers, locate addresses and phone numbers, conduct market research, and much more.

Entrepreneurship Database

Information for entrepreneurs and researchers that includes business start-up plans, video clips, journals, business cases, and more.

Wall Street Journal

Premier business newspaper articles from 1984 to the present.

You can also access the online Business Resources Information Guide by going to guides.wakegov.com/business.