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The Facts About …
Business Information Centers

Counseling & Technical Assistance

What Are BICs?

Business Information Centers, or BICs, are one-stop locations for information, counseling and technical assistance designed to help entrepreneurs start, operate and grow their businesses. Typically BICs operate under the direction of local U.S. Small Business Administration district offices. Private-sector cosponsors, Service Corps of Retired Executives volunteers, and representatives from local small business development cen-ters, chambers of commerce and other edu-cational or business-related organizations assist in the operation of the centers and in providing services to clients.

How Can BICs Help You?

The centers provide free on-site counseling along with training courses and workshops. BICs have resources for addressing a broad variety of business start-up and development issues. They can provide the tools and advice necessary to help you write a comprehensive business plan, evaluate and improve your mar-keting and sales techniques, diversify into new product and/or service areas, price your prod-ucts, or explore exporting opportunities. The research tools and invaluable advice can help your new business get off the ground or help your existing business grow.

What Resources Are Offered?

BICs provide the latest in high-tech hardware and software, database research capability, graphics and reference materials. The centers have access to the SBA's Web site and a variety of business and industry publications. In addition, every BIC offers the following:

Software

• Microsoft Office 2000: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint and Publisher
• Adobe Pagemaker, Pagemill, PhotoShop Deluxe and Acrobat
• JIAN software: Biz Plan Builder, Employee Manual Builder and Marketing Builder
• Intuit Quick Book Pro and Turbo Tax
• Export Expert

CD-ROM Titles

• Microsoft Streets 2001
• The Business Disk

Reference Libraries

• Entrepreneur Group
• Dearborn Publishing
• Oasis Press (Starting a Business in... each state and Washington, D.C.)
• INC. Magazine (reference books and how-to manuals)
• Barcharts Reference Material
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Adams Media

Videotapes

• INC. Magazine (25 titles)

Where Are BICs Located?

New BICs are opening monthly. For updates and current telephone listings, please call 202-205-6665.

For More Information

• SBA offices are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. For the office nearest you, look under "U.S. Government" in your telephone directory, or contact:
• Phone: 1-800 U ASK SBA
• Fax: 202-205-7064
• E-mail: answerdesk@sba.gov
• TDD: 704-344-6640
• Your rights to regulatory fairness: 1-888-REG-FAIR
• Internet
  SBA Home page: www.sba.gov
  Gopher: http://www.sba.gov/gopher
  U.S. Business Advisor: www.business.gov

SBA Partners
Inquire at your local SBA office for the location nearest you.

• BICs - Business Information Centers
• TBICs - Tribal Business Information Centers
• OSCSs - One Stop Capital Shops
• SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives
• SBDCs - Small Business Development Centers
• USEACs - U.S. Export Assistance Centers
• WBCs - Women's Business Centers

Publications

• The Facts About ... SBA Publications - a listing of free SBA publications

Did you know that in fiscal 2000 the SBA -

• backed a record of nearly $18 billion in financing to America's small businesses?
• approved more than 50,400 small business loans totaling almost $12.4 billion?
• made more than 4,600 investments worth $5.6 billion through its venture capital program-a 33 percent gain over fiscal 1999?
• provided more than 28,000 loans totaling approximately $1 billion to disaster victims for residential, personal-property and business loans?
• extended management and technical assistance to an estimated 1.23 million entrepreneurs through its resource-partner programs?
• responded to almost a quarter million tele-phone and e-mail inquiries at the SBA Answer Desk?

Did you know that the SBA's business information centers -

• provide assistance to nearly 130,000 clients each year?
• maintain state-of-the-art computer hardware and software that are updated annually?
• are located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico?

Did you know that America's 25 million small businesses -

• employ more than 58 percent of the private work force?
• generate more than 51 percent of the nation's gross domestic product?
• are the principal source of new jobs?

All of the SBA's programs and services are provided to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

SBA no. FS-0071 (01/01)