FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - Small Business Development

How do I become registered as a supplier for the Commonwealth? How can I get help with starting or growing my business? How much does it cost to discuss my business questions with a DBA counselor? What happens when I call DBA to discuss a business issue? What qualifications does the DBA staff have? View all related FAQs. How do I become registered as a supplier for the Commonwealth? Visit www.eva.state.va.us to register as supplier on the Commonwealth's electronic procurement system. For technical assistance, contact the eVA help desk at: 1-866-289-7367. Back To Top How can I get help with starting or growing my business? Contact DBA's Virginia Business Information Center at (804) 371-8200, toll-free at (866) 248-8814, or email wvehrs@dba.state.va.us for a list of counseling resources near you. You may also want to visit DBA's Business Resource Center for a wealth of information on getting started or growing your business. Back To Top How much does it cost to discuss my business questions with a DBA counselor? Nothing! The information, management counseling, and technical assistance services of DBA's professional staff are provided at no charge. Back To Top What happens when I call DBA to discuss a business issue? The program manager will review your inquiry and design an assistance plan specific to your individual situation. Assistance may take the form of one-on-one counseling or referral to other relevant counseling resources. Back To Top What qualifications does the DBA staff have? The professional staff members of DBA are highly skilled individuals with significant experience in the private sector. Many also have extensive management and financial consulting backgrounds. Back To Top Do you work with start-ups only? No! DBA works with businesses of all sizes in all industries. Contact DBA's Virginia Business Information Center at (804) 371-8200, toll-free at (866) 248-8814, or email wvehrs@dba.state.va.us to find counseling resources appropriate for your business. Back To Top Do you help home-based and family-owned businesses? Yes, DBA helps all types of small businesses. Our business analysts are professionals who have worked with businesses of all sizes in all industries. You will be paired with a staff member whose specialty matches your business needs. Back To Top Will my discussions with DBA remain confidential? All client information discussed by the client with DBA personnel is confidential. Back To Top Are there grants available for small business owners? Almost never. While certain publications have perpetuated the myth of "free money", the reality is that 95% of new businesses are financed with personal funds (savings, family, and friends) and loans. So, if you are serious about starting and growing a viable business, you must be resourceful enough to capitalize it without "fantasy" money. Contact DBA's Virginia Business Information Center at (804) 371-8200, toll-free at (866) 248-8814, or email wvehrs@dba.state.va.us to find counseling resources available to help you do this. Back To Top How can I get a loan? The kind of financing most entrepreneurs seek through commercial lenders is debt financing. Most banks provide debt financing for existing and start-up businesses. Banks vary substantially in their lending practices. While one bank may decline your loan application, another may be willing to take a higher risk or be interested in lending to small businesses. It is advisable to understand a bank's lending guidelines before applying for a loan. The general guidelines that would enable a lending officer to at least make an informed decision regarding your loan proposal are as follows: consideration of the business idea, usually explained in a business plan, collateral down payment (or equity in an ongoing business), credit history and personal financial net worth, management ability, ability to repay the debt, and conditions of the economy and/or market area. Back To Top What kinds of licenses and/or permits are required to start a business? Licensing and permitting requirements vary from location to location and between different business types. However, all new businesses should begin with this basic list of licenses and registrations: LOCAL: A business license from the city, town, or county in which your business will be located. Check with the Commissioner of Revenue in your locality. You will also have to meet zoning laws, building codes, and similar regulations in your locality. Check with your building code administrator before finalizing a site. Check with your local SBDC for information on any other local permits or licenses. Most businesses will also need to register under the fictitious name law with the Clerk of Circuit Court in their location STATE: You will need to file for a sales and use tax number. www.tax.state.va.us Some business types also require specific state licenses. www.state.va.us/dpor/indexie.html Corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies need to register with the Clerk of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. http://www.state.va.us/scc/division/clk/index.htm FEDERAL You will need an employer's identification number and a "Going Into Business Tax Kit" from the IRS. Visit the Business Launch Pad for a step-by-step guide to starting or expanding your business. Back To Top Where can I find help at the Federal level? The U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) is an excellent resource for small business at the federal level. Several lists of Frequently Asked Questions are included on their site including: US SBA Office of Advocacy FAQs http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/faqs/index.html Government Contracting FAQs http://www.sba.gov/gc/faq.html SBIR Small Business Innovation Research FAQs http://www.sba.gov/SBIR/sbirq.html STTR Small Business Technology Transfer Program FAQs http://www.sba.gov/SBIR/sttrq.html SCORE FAQs http://www.sba.gov/SCORE/faq.html Women's Business Ownership FAQs http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/faq.html Back To Top What Commonwealth agency provides certification as a small, woman, or minority-owned business? The Department of Minority Business Enterprise provides oversight and management of certification for small, woman and minority-owned (SWAM) businesses. Back To Top What are the advantages of being certified as a small, woman or minority-owned business? The Commonwealth has a plan to increase utilization of small, woman and minority-owned (SWAM) businesses as suppliers in state purchasing. Commonwealth agencies provide the Department of Minority Business Enterprise with a monthly detailed report of purchases with "SWAM" vendors. Certification provides procurement officers with a means of identifying "SWAM" vendors, who are "certified" as meeting specific guidelines. The Department of Minority Business Enterprise provides certification for "SWAM" firms. Back To Top Are women considered minorities? In Virginia, women are not considered minorities. This varies from state to state, and is dependent on legislative code which defines the minority groups. In Virginia, minorities are defined as belonging to one of five groups: Asian American; Hispanic American; Eskimo and/or Aleut; African American; Native American. Back To Top What is 8 (a) certification? This designation, created by the U. S. Small Business Administration, is designed to enhance procurement opportunities with the federal government, for socially disadvantaged business owners. For additional information and a list of specific FAQs on the 8(a) program, visit this website:http://www.sba.gov/8abd/indexfaqs.html. Back To Top What does MBE stand for? MBE stands for "Minority Business Enterprise." The Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise certifies that firms are minority owned through an application process that verifies ownership, profit distribution, and executive control. For more information about DMBE, or to download the MBE certification application, visit www.dmbe.virginia.gov. Back To Top What is DBE certification? DBE stands for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. A federal program administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), DBE certification identifies socially and economically disdvantaged firms for inclusion in VDOT procurements, in which federal highway funds are utilized. Generally, women and minorities apply for this designation. In rare instances, non-minority males may successfully make a case for DBE status. For more information, visit: http://virginiadot.org/business/const/prequal.asp Back To Top What is meant by the acronym "SWAM"? SWAM is an acronym for "Small, Women, and Minority" businesses. With Executive Order 29 On Equal Opportunity In State Procurement, http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Executive_Orders/html/EO_29.html, Governor Mark Warner, directed Virginia government agencies to provide periodic SWAM reports, detailing participation levels of SWAM vendors in state procurement, in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act. Back To Top What is "supplier diversity"? When private sector firms and government agencies work proactively to engage more women and minority businesses as vendors, with the objective of buying more products and services from these firms, this is known as promoting "supplier diversity." Back To Top What is "business utilization"? "Business Utilization" is tracking and measurement of the contracting performed with historically underutilized firms in procurement, with the objective of increasing dollars spent with these firms. The federal government's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization oversees many programs designed to improve federal contracting opportunities for "small" or "disadvantaged" businesses: http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/Categories_and_Programs.htm#vosb Back To Top What is certification and how could it help my business grow? Certification as a small, woman, or minority-owned (SWAM)business is a designation that identifies historically underutilized suppliers in the marketplace. The Commonwealth of Virginia has a plan to improve access to state government contracting for SWAM vendors. Certification as a SWAM vendor provides the procurement officer with a means to identify a potential vendor as "SWAM." Back To Top What are the criteria to qualify as a Women's Business Enterprise? The firm must be 51% or more owned by a woman or women, with day-to-day executive control by a woman or women. There must be “real and continuing” female ownership, with female officers who have prevailing control over capital and human resources, delivering “real” impact on company direction and growth. Back To Top What does WBE stand for? WBE stands for "Women's Business Enterprise." The Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise certifies that firms are woman-owned through an application process that verifies ownership, profit distribution, and executive control. For more information about DMBE, or to download the MBE certification application, visit www.dmbe.virginia.gov. Back To Top Where can I get assistance with selling my product or service to the state? The Virginia Department of Business Assistance can help you with state government procurement. Contact the Virginia Business Information Center (VBIC) for information on getting registered as a supplier, identifying business opportunities for your company, and accessing resources and training available on state procurement. Back To Top AAAH! What e-mail do I use for the information center? VBIC@dba.virginia.gov or if you have a problem accessing that address: jim.witherspoon@dba.virginia.gov or will.vehrs@dba.virginia.gov Back To Top View all related FAQs.