Government Services

Acquire the certification and approvals you need to establish your business.

• Department of Taxation – State income tax. Receives individual and business returns.

• Internal Revenue Service – Tax information, tools, and resources for businesses and self- employed.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Ensures safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

• Secretary of the Commonwealth – Notary public application, organization registry.

• State Corporation Commission – Serves as the central filing office for Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and federal tax liens as well as for thousands of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies doing business in Virginia.

• Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) – A certification program of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of this state program is to enhance procurement opportunities for SWaM businesses participating in state-funded projects.

• U.S. Small Business Administration - Serves as the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

• Virginia Department of Labor and Industry – Administers and enforces the Commonwealth’s occupational safety and health programs, payment of wage statute, right-to-work and child labor laws, fosters worker apprenticeship programs, and certifies the safe operation of commercial boilers and pressure vessels.

• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation – Licenses or certifies nearly 300,000 individuals and businesses ranging from architects and contractors to cosmetologists and professional wrestlers.

• Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity – Focuses on four divisions including business certifications, development, financing, and other administrative opertations.

• Virginia Employment Commission – Offers career assistance for job seekers, employment services for veterans, and employer services for businesses of all sizes, as well as unemployment benefits and other programs designed to assist with employment.

• Workers’ Compensation Commission – Administers the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.
  

Getting Started 

Use the resources below to develop a business plan, secure funding and more.

• Hispanic Small Business Loan Program – LISC Virginia,  Altria Group & the Virginia Hispanic Chamber.

•  VSU Center for Entrepreneurship – Minority Small Business Launch Center

• 10 Steps to Start Your Business – Steps for starting a business including planning, financial decisions, legal activities, and more.

• Business Plan Template for a Startup Business – Step-by-step business plan template and use it to lay the groundwork for your new business.

• Retos que la mujer hispana enfrenta al lanzar un negocio y cómo sobrellevarlos – Consejos sobre cómo superar retos y dificultades al ser una Latina emprendedora de negocios!

• Modelo de Plan de Negocio para una empresa pequeña – Tener un plan de negocios te ayudará a expandir tu negocio, a guiarte en tus metas y lo más importante, a recibir recursos financieros. Aquí te dejamos una plantilla sencilla de seguir, si tienes mas preguntas de como llenarlo, contáctanos. 
  

Finances 

• What’s My Business Worth? – How to valuate your business and learn about the importance of knowing your business’ worth.

• Fund Your Business – How you choose to fund your business could affect how you structure and run your business.

• Small Business Budget Template – Teaches the importance of budgeting and uses examples of different templates to use.

• Consejos para poner en orden su casa financiera – Tener un plan de negocios te ayudará a expandir tu negocio, a guiarte en tus metas y lo más importante, a recibir recursos financieros. Aquí te dejamos una plantilla sencilla de seguir, si tienes mas preguntas de como llenarlo, contáctanos.

• Lanza de manera correcta: Construye tu crédito empresarial – Tips en como construir credito para tu negocio. 

• Solicitud para Préstamo Bancario para la Pequeña Empresa  – Lo que necesitas saber sobre cómo solicitar un préstamo del banco y consejos sobre cómo hacerlo. 

Marketing 

• Social Media Marketing Strategies for Your Small Business – Wondering how to use social media as a marketing tool? Knowing these key strategies will grow your business.

• Power Branding-Getting and Keeping Your Next Customer – Strategies on how to make your business stand out to customers and keep them coming to your business.

• 12 consejos de venta en línea para principiantes – Consejos sobre cómo vender en línea para principiantes, incluye consejos de empresarios.

• 12 Pasos de Éxito Seguro para Mejorar Sus Ventas al Por Menor – Consejos sobre cómo mejorar sus ventas al por menor, simplificar sus esfuerzos, multiplicar sus ganancias y aumentar sus probabilidades de tener éxito.

Articles

Exploring a Local Model for Building Latino-Owned Businesses