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Online help for small firms
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January 14, 1999: 2:29 p.m. ET
New Web service from SBA offers training for aspiring entrepreneurs
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Aspiring entrepreneurs can get all the help they need to start a business with just a few keystrokes, thanks to a new initiative by the Small Business Administration.
The SBA, which provides financial, technical and management assistance to would-be entrepreneurs, this week unveiled its "Small Business Classroom," an online education resource for current and prospective small-business owners.
The Web site provides interactive business courses on a variety of topics important to small companies, including the Y2K problem and raising capital.
The self-paced online courses are short, ranging from 7 to 30 minutes, and are formatted into easy-to-follow learning templates. Each course is enhanced with graphics, audio, and numerous electronic links to other relevant learning resources. Some courses will be offered in both Spanish and English.
Current class offerings include
- Are You Y2K OK? -- provides information and instruction on dealing with the Y2K computer issue.
- The Business Plan -- comprehensive course on how to prepare an effective business plan; profiles each component in detail and includes additional resources.
- How to Raise Capital for a Small Business -- provides instruction on how to prepare a loan proposal, how banks review financial requests and information on SBA's financial assistance programs.
The SBA plans to include more courses on financial assistance, marketing and government contracting in the near future. In addition, the Small Business Classroom will provide on-line counseling with SCORE volunteers and a library. 
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