1

Small Business

resource guide

ARIZONA EDITION 2020

START 

GROW

EXPAND

YOUR BUSINESS
2
 3

CONTENTS

Funding 

Programs 

26 National Success Story

Jennifer and Jeff Herbert’s 

meadery has expanded into a 

multimillion dollar enterprise 

thanks to SBA assistance. 

29 SBA Lenders

32 Financing 101

33 Need Financing?

34 Go Global with 

International Trade

36 R&D Opportunities for 

High Growth Startups

38 National Success Story

Cheeseburger Baby owner 

Stephanie Vitori persevered 

through a financial storm and a 

natural disaster.

42 Surety Bonds

Contracting 

44 National Success Story

Jennifer Rahn steers the course 

for Admiral Engineering, 

succeeding as a small business 

subcontractor.

47 Government Contracting

48 SBA Certification 

Programs

49 Woman-Owned Small 

Business Certification

Local Business 

Assistance 

8 Local Success Story

Jerado and Joyce Reynolds 

know their local landscape for 

entrepreneurship support.

11 Local SBA 

Resource Partners

13 Your Advocates

14 How to Start a Business

18 Workforce Recruitment

19 Emerging Leaders

20 Entrepreneurial Resources

22 Opportunities for Veterans

24 Write Your Business Plan

 ON THE COVER Jennifer Rahn, courtesy of the SBA; Jeff and Jennifer Herbert, 

courtesy of Superstition Meadery; September Myers, courtesy of the Sundance 

Consulting; Nikolas Williams, courtesy of Workshops for Warriors

Arizona Edition 2020
4

I

t is my honor to serve as Administrator 

of the U.S. Small Business 

Administration, leading a dedicated 

team of talented individuals across 

America who are focused on helping 

entrepreneurs start, grow, and expand 

their small businesses. The SBA is here to 

support the prosperity and longevity of our 

nation’s small businesses with timely and 

innovative resources to help them thrive in 

today’s economy. America’s entrepreneurs 

are innovators, risk-takers, and the catalyst 

for employment opportunities within their 

communities, and they are what makes our 

economy so strong and dynamic.

As we enter a new decade of possibilities, 

small businesses have a remarkable 

opportunity to continue building upon the 

success we’ve seen in our economy over the 

last three years. As the voice for America’s 

30 million small businesses, I am eager 

to advocate on entrepreneurs’ behalf as a 

member of the President’s Cabinet. Whether 

it’s seeking access to capital, government 

contracting opportunities, business 

mentoring, or assistance with disaster 

recovery, the SBA is ready and determined to 

help our customers succeed.

The SBA remains committed to continuing 

our support of America’s entrepreneurs 

and making an even bigger impact in 

communities across the country. In 

particular, the SBA is focused on elevating 

female entrepreneurs and our military 

veterans, expanding access to SBA resources 

among entrepreneurs in disadvantaged 

communities, and continuing to prioritize 

disaster relief.

Within this resource guide, you will learn 

more about the tremendous tools the SBA 

provides small businesses through our 68 

District Offices and numerous Resource 

Partners, such as our Small Business 

Development Centers, our SCORE mentoring 

network, Women’s Business Centers, and 

Veterans Business Outreach Centers. Featured 

in this guide are some of the remarkable 

success stories of entrepreneurs who partnered 

with the SBA to take their businesses to the 

next level. The SBA encourages you to also 

utilize these resources to help strengthen and 

meet your business goals.

Sincerely,

Jovita Carranza

SBA Administrator

WE MAKE SMALL BUSINESS

OUR BUSINESS.

START • GROW • EXPAND • RECOVER

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

A MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
 5
6

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© 2020 NEW SOUTH MEDIA, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Marketing & Customer Service 

directs the publication of the Small Business Resource Guide under SBA Contract 

#SBAHQ-17-C-0018. SBA publication winter 2020 national edition #mcs-0134

WRITER/EDITOR

Becky Bosshart

(202) 205-6677

rebecca.bosshart@sba.gov

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Paula Panissidi Tavares

paula.tavares@sba.gov

The SBA’s participation in this publication is not an endorsement of the views, 

opinions, products or services of the contractor or any advertiser or other participant 

appearing here. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Directory listings do not constitute or imply an endorsement by the SBA of any 

opinions, products, or services of any private individual or entity.

Printed in the United States of America.

While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information contained here is accurate as of the date of publication, the information is subject to 

change without notice. The contractor that publishes this guide, the federal government, or agents thereof shall not be held liable for any damages arising from the use 

of or reliance on the information contained in this publication.
 7

District Director Letter

Welcome to the 2020 edition of the U.S. Small Business 

Administration’s Arizona Small Business Resource Guide. 

Arizona is a great place to start or grow a small business. The 

SBA helps make the American dream of small business ownership a 

reality. We are the only federal agency dedicated to helping our 30 million 

small businesses start, grow, expand, and recover after a disaster. The 

Arizona district office and our offices in Tucson and Show Low work with 

an extensive network of business advisers and lenders to help Arizona’s 

small businesses at every stage of development.

Across Arizona in the last year, we empowered the state’s small 

businesses to:

• Find a business adviser from one of our SBA Resource Partners, 

which includes the Arizona Small Business Development Center 

Network, SCORE mentors, our Women’s Business Centers, and the 

Veterans Business Outreach Center, all powered by SBA.

• Access over $690 million in SBA-guaranteed loans using 60 local 

lenders. The 1,200 businesses that qualified for SBA-backed 

financing have hired thousands of new employees, bought needed 

equipment, and built or renovated facilities.

• Recover after severe storms, flooding, and drought using low-interest 

SBA disaster assistance loans.

• Gain over $1.5 billion in federal contracting awards.

Entrepreneurship characterizes our state, and we look forward to serving 

you during the coming year. Stay up to date on SBA events near you and 

get valuable Arizona business information by following us @SBA_Arizona. 

Register for email updates at sba.gov/updates.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Blaney

District Director 

SBA Arizona 

District Office

4041 N. Central Ave., suite 1000

Phoenix, AZ 85012

(602) 745-7200

sba.gov/az

@SBA_Arizona

Northern Arizona Office

1201 E. Cooley, suite E

Show Low, AZ 85901

(928) 532-0034

Southern Arizona Office

300 W. Congress St., suite 7N

Tucson, AZ 85701

(520) 620-7042

District Director

Robert Blaney

robert.blaney@sba.gov

Deputy District Director

Shivani Dubey

shivani.dubey@sba.gov

Northern Arizona Senior 

Area Manager

Karen Allen

karen.allen@sba.gov

Southern Arizona Senior 

Area Manager

Stephen Hart

stephen.hart@sba.gov

Procurement Center 

Representative

Tracey Cole

tracey.cole@sba.gov

Lead Economic 

Development Specialist

Jim Pipper

james.pipper@sba.gov

Economic Development 

Specialists

Danine Dolphin

danine.dolphin@sba.gov

Delia Gomez

delia.gomez@sba.gov

Lead Lender Relations 

Specialist

Craig Jordan

craig.jordan@sba.gov

Lender Relations 

Specialist

Jenny Herschaft

virginia.herschaft@sba.gov

Business Opportunity 

Specialists

Mara Wells

mara.wells@sba.gov

Jordan Ripley

jordan.ripley@sba.gov

District Office Assistant

Fernando Delarosa

fernando.delarosa@sba.gov
8

LOCAL BUSINESS 

ASSISTANCE

Made 

to Last

Joyce and Jerado Reynolds used SBA 

support to succeed.

written by Micaela Morrissette

How We Did It

COURTESY OF SHANA SURECK PHOTOGRAPHY
 9

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Reynolds Welding & 

Fabrication has grown 

steadily, building a loyal 

customer base, since 

Jerado Reynolds founded 

the company in 2005.

“At first the company was just Jerado,” 

recalls his wife and co-owner, Joyce 

Reynolds. “Then it was him and me part 

time.” During the day she worked as a 

nurse and spent her evenings doing all 

the company’s paperwork. The Reynolds 

sank everything they earned into the 

business—money, time, and energy. She 

remembers with pride helping Jerado 

weld a stair railing at a local school. Her 

son later attended that same school, 

and she watched her child and others 

using the rail, benefiting from the 

hard work the couple did together. It 

was then Joyce decided as much as she 

loved her day job, she wanted to devote 

herself full time to the family business 

in Windsor, Connecticut. She wanted 

to work side-by-side with her husband, 

fully focused on administration and 

business growth. As they both hoped, 

word of mouth spread; clients made 

referrals. Joyce was soon overwhelmed 

with paperwork. They brought on two 

employees—doubling up in the busy 

seasons. They were able to maintain four 

full-time employees by 2009. After this, 

Joyce says, they saw that “things were 

not moving.” She wanted to scale up.

Challenge

The company wasn’t growing in part 

because it wasn’t certified with the 

state department of transportation or 

prequalified with the Connecticut State 

Department of Administrative Services, 

Joyce says. She decided to tackle the 

certification problem full time, leaving 

her nursing career. This was the change 

she'd been wanting to make, but since 

her background was in health care, 

Joyce didn’t feel fluent in the languages 

of construction or business. Joyce 

wanted to learn, and she had incentive: 

they needed the certifications to bid 

on bigger jobs. “Never be afraid to ask 

questions,” she says. Joyce needed to 

find people with answers.

Solution

She and Jerado connected with the 

University of Hartford Entrepreneurial 

Center & Women’s Business Center, an 

SBA Resource Partner, where “from day 

one it was, Eureka! Everyone wanted 

to see us win.” Women entrepreneurs 

receive essential business counseling and 

training from this national network of 

community-based centers. Most helpful 

was the detailed personal attention 

available through free one-on-one 

business counseling. Joyce also learned 

about workshops offered by providers like 

the Metropolitan District, a Connecticut 

nonprofit municipal corporation offering 

water and sewer services. At a meetand-greet, Joyce understood how much 

the SBA could help her business. An 

SBA professional walked Joyce through 

the extensive paperwork and, crucially, 

helped her register the company in 

the System for Award Management 

(sam.gov), positioning the company for 

new federal contracts.

“Resources like the Entrepreneurial 

Center and the SBA will train you from 

bottom to top,” Joyce says. “They have 

finance classes that open your eyes 

regarding taxes. You'll learn how to 

register your business. They’ll help 

with a contract or your website or 

accountability statements. Everything!”

Before the SBA, Reynolds Welding 

attempted the DOT certification on five 

separate occasions, always falling short 

because the process was so complicated. 

Joyce secured the certification with SBA 

guidance on the first attempt.

Benefit

Reynolds Welding now employs more 

than 15 workers, constructing stairs, 

rails, structural beams, and columns 

throughout the region. Jerado is working 

5Tips for Success

Find a great business mentor.

To find your local SBA office and 

resource partners in your area, visit 

sba.gov/localresources.

Have a healthy view 

of competition. 

We’re not always competing. 

We’re a competitor, but if a similar 

business has extra work, they’ll send 

it to us and vice versa. That’s the 

relationship to have.

Record everything you do.

Navigating business relationships 

in this age means keeping an email 

record of everything you do. Leave a 

clear paper trail.

Sacrifice to ensure quality.

We don’t cut corners. Sometimes you 

have to lose money to do quality work—

it’s rough, but nothing is more important.

Seek SBA assistance to 

see if you qualify for 

business certifications.

We used to look for jobs. Now that 

we’re on the SBA Subcontracting 

Network database, SubNet, and 

sam.gov, we have a continuous flow 

of contractors reaching out to us. 

on two bridges—a lifelong dream. Joyce 

continues to move forward, getting 

Reynolds qualified for the SBA 8(a) 

Business Development Program, which 

provides free business development 

education to small businesses so they 

can better compete in the public sector. 

“When I came on full time, I set a goal 

for what I would like for the company, 

and I’ve achieved 80% of that,” Joyce 

says. When she secures 8(a) certification 

for Reynolds, she’ll have hit all her 

objectives. Then, she admits, she’ll 

probably come up with some new ones.

COURTESY OF SHANA SURECK PHOTOGRAPHY
10

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

SBA Resource Partners

No matter your industry, location, or experience, if you have a dream, the SBA is here to help you achieve it. Our SBA 

Resource Partners offer mentoring, counseling, and training to help you startup and thrive at all stages of the business 

life cycle. These independent organizations operating across the United States and U.S. territories are funded through SBA 

cooperative agreements or grants.

Achieve your dream of business ownership and remain 

competitive in an ever-changing global economy with assistance 

from your local SBDC. Access free counseling and free or lowcost training on topics like regulatory compliance, technology 

development, and international trade. Find an SBDC adviser at 

sba.gov/sbdc.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

Join the ranks of other business owners who have experienced 

higher revenues and increased growth thanks to SCORE, the nation’s 

largest network of volunteer business mentors. Experienced 

executives share real-world knowledge to fit your busy schedule. 

SCORE mentors are available for free as often as you need, in person, 

via email or over video chat. Find a mentor at sba.gov/score.

SCORE

Women entrepreneurs receive essential business counseling and 

training from this national network of community-based centers. 

Each center tailors its services to help you navigate the challenges 

women often face when starting or growing a business. To learn 

about SBA resources for women visit sba.gov/women.

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS

Veteran and military entrepreneurs receive business training, 

counseling, and referrals to other SBA Resource Partners at 

a Veterans Business Outreach Center, sba.gov/vboc. Receive 

procurement guidance to better compete for government 

contracts. VBOCs also serve active duty service members, 

National Guard or Reserve members, veterans of any era, and 

military spouses.

VETERANS BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTERS

950

Small Business 

Development Centers

+

20

Veterans Business 

Outreach Centers

+

100

Women’s Business 

Centers

+

300

SCORE chapters

+
 11

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Arthur and Sandra Johnson, owners 

of 21 Short Stop in Georgia, received 

assistance from their local Small Business 

Development Center and SCORE chapter. 

SBA’s Resource Partners are independent organizations funded through SBA cooperative 

agreements or grants.

Our Local SBA 

Resource Partners

Small Business 

Development 

Centers

azsbdc.net

Ser ving Cochise County

Cochise College SBDC

Downtown Center

2600 N. Wilcox Drive, Sierra Vista

(520) 515-5478

Douglas location:

4190 W. Highway 80

(520) 417-4118

Ser ving Coconino County

Coconino Community College SBDC

3000 N. Fourth St., Flagstaff

(928) 526-7644

Other locations:

Page

1602 Pueblo

(928) 660-2399

Gila County

Gila Community College Pueblo Campus

8274 Six Shooter Canyon Road, Globe

(928) 428-8590

Payson

Gila Community College Payson Campus

201 N. Mud Springs Road

(928) 428-8590

Ser ving Graham & Greenlee counties

EAC SBDC

615 N. Stadium Ave., room 113, Thatcher

(928) 428-8590

Ser ving Maricopa County

Estrella Mountain SBDC

3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale

(480) 784-0590

Center for Entrepreneurial InnovationGateWay SBDC

275 N. GateWay Drive, west of Van Buren 

& 40th streets

Phoenix

(480) 784-0590
12

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

GateWay Community College South Building SBDC

108 N. 40th St., Phoenix

(480) 784-0590 or (480) 784-0588

Paradise Valley Community College SBDC

Entrepreneurship Education Center, building K, room K117

18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix

(480) 784-0590

Chandler-Gilbert Community College-Sun Lakes Center SBDC

25105 S. Alma School Road, Sun Lakes

(480) 784-0590

Ser ving Mohave County

Mohave Community College SBDC

480 South Central, Colorado City

(928) 757-0894

Mohave Community College SBDC

1971 Jagerson Ave., Kingman

(928) 757.0894

Ser ving Navajo & Apache counties

Northland Pioneer College SBDC

Goldwater Building, room 107

1001 W. Deuce of Clubs, Show Low

(928) 532-6170

Ser ving Pima County

Pima Community College SBDC

401 N. Bonita Ave., suite A-250, Tucson

(520) 206.6355

Ser ving Pinal County

Central Arizona College SBDC

CAC Corporate Center, Florence Boulevard and the I-10 freeway

540 N. Camino Mercado, suite 2

Casa Grande

(520) 494-6610

Ser ving Yavapai County

Yavapai College SBDC

City of Cottonwood Economic Development Office

821 N. Main St., Cottonwood

(928) 776-2008

Other locations:

Yavapai College, building 29

1100 E. Sheldon St.

Prescott

(928) 776-2008

Yavapai College, Verde Valley

601 Black Hills Drive

Clarkdale

(928) 776-2008

Ser ving Yuma & LaPaz counties

Arizona Western College SBDC

1351 S. Redondo Center Drive, suite 101

Yuma

(928) 317-6151

SCORE

Contact your closest SCORE office first for an appointment.

Central Arizona Chapter

(602) 745-7250

greaterphoenix.score.org

Northern Arizona Chapter

(928) 778-7438

northernarizona.score.org

Southern Arizona Chapter

Tucson

(520) 505-3636

southernarizona.score.org

Women’s 

Business 

Center

Orientation sessions are required for 

all new clients. Visit ywcatucson.org/

program/mac/wbc to get started.

Microbusiness Advancement Center 

(MAC) Women’s Business Center

525 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson

(520) 447-8911
 13

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Advocacy

When you need a voice within the federal 

government for your interests as a small 

business owner, SBA advocates are here to 

assist. They analyze the effects of proposed 

regulations and consider alternatives that 

minimize the economic burden on small 

businesses, governmental jurisdictions, 

and nonprofits. 

The office, advocacy.sba.gov, helps 

with these small business issues:

» if your business could be negatively 

affected by regulations proposed by 

the government

» when you need economic and small 

business statistics

The SBA Office of Advocacy also 

independently represents small business 

and advances its concerns before Congress, 

the White House, and federal agencies.

Ombudsman

Entrepreneurs who have an issue with 

an existing federal regulation or policy 

receive assistance from the SBA 

national ombudsman.

The ombudsman’s office helps you:

» resolve regulatory disputes with 

federal agencies

» reduce unfair penalties and fines

» seek remedies when rules are 

inconsistently applied

» recover payment for services done by 

government contractors

Make your voice heard by participating in a 

Regional Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 

Roundtable or a public hearing hosted by 

the SBA national ombudsman. These events 

are posted periodically on the ombudsman 

website, sba.gov/ombudsman.

Your 

Advocates

To submit a comment or complaint 

through the online form, visit sba.gov/

ombudsman/comments. Your concerns 

will be directed to the appropriate 

federal agency for review. The SBA will 

collaborate with you and the agency to 

help resolve the issue.

To report how a 

proposed federal 

regulation could unfairly 

affect you, contact 

advocacy.sba.gov.

To submit a comment 

about how your business 

has been hurt by an 

existing regulation, visit 

sba.gov/ombudsman/

comments.

The SBA offices of advocacy and ombudsman are independent 

voices for small business within the federal government.
14

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Thinking of starting a business? Here are the nuts & bolts.

COURTESY OF THE SBA

Adriana Medina, owner of 

Fuerte Fitness, in Seattle, WA, 

received counseling from a 

SCORE mentor and a Women's 

Business Center adviser.

The Startup Logistics

Even if you’re running a home-based business, you will have to 

comply with many local, state, and federal regulations. Do not 

ignore regulatory details. You may avoid some red tape in the 

beginning, but your lack of compliance could become an obstacle 

as your business grows. Taking the time to research regulations 

is as important as knowing your market. Being out of compliance 

could leave you unprotected legally, lead to expensive penalties, 

and jeopardize your business.

Market Research

View consumer and business data for your area using the Census 

Business Builder: Small Business Edition, https://cbb.census.

gov/sbe. Filter your search by business type and location to 

view data on your potential customers, including consumer 

spending, and a summary of existing businesses, available as a 

map and a report.

Business License & Zoning

Licenses are typically administered by a variety of state and local 

departments. It is important to consider zoning regulations when 

choosing a site for your business. Contact the local business 

license office where you plan to locate your business. You may not 

be permitted to conduct business out of your home or engage in 

industrial activity in a retail district.

The state of Arizona provides a free online interactive checklist 

program designed toguide startups and growing businesses. Visit 

azcommerce.com/small-business/small-business-checklist.

» Arizona Commerce Authority

118 N. Seventh Ave., suite 400, Phoenix

(602) 845-1200

Name Registration

Register your business name with the county clerk where your 

business is located. If you’re a corporation, also register with the state. 

Check your business name at ecorp.azcc.gov to see if it is available.

How to Start a Business 

in Arizona
 15

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

» Arizona Corporation Commission

1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix

(602) 542-3026

The Secretary of State registers trade names. If you have a trade 

name, it is not necessary to also have a name registration. The 

trade name holds the name for you, and you can form an entity 

with that name if you own the trade name.

» Arizona Secretary of State

Phoenix (602) 542-6187

Tucson (520) 628-6583

Toll free (800) 458-5842

Construction companies need to check name availability first 

with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, azroc.gov/roc/

contractorsearch.html. Call (602) 542-1525 or (800) 271-9286.

Financial institutions and enterprises need to check name 

availability with the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, 

licensing@azdfi.gov or (602) 771-2800.

Real Estate related businesses must submit the name 

reservation request form to the Arizona Department of Real 

Estate, (602) 771-7799.

Taxes

As a business owner, you should know your federal tax responsibilities 

and make business decisions to comply with tax requirements. 

The IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center, irs.gov/

businesses/small-businesses-self-employed, includes information 

on paying and filing income tax and finding an Employer ID Number.

As the IRS continues to implement some of the Tax Cuts and 

Jobs Act provisions, your tax obligations may change. For the 

latest tax reform updates that affect your bottom line, visit 

irs.gov/tax-reform.

» State Taxes

azcommerce.com

» Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) License

Commonly referred to as a sales tax, resale, wholesale, vendor 

or tax license. Contact the Arizona Department of Revenue 

for questions about whether your business is subject to 

transaction privilege or use tax.

» Department of Revenue

(602) 255-3381 or (800) 352-4090

azdor.gov/business/transactionprivilegetax.aspx

Social Security

If you have any employees, including officers of a corporation 

but not the sole proprietor or partners, you must make periodic 

payments, and/or file quarterly reports about payroll taxes and 

other mandatory deductions. You can contact the IRS or the 

Social Security Administration for information, assistance, and 

forms at (800) 772-1213 or visit socialsecurity.gov/employer. 

You can file W-2s online or verify job seekers through the Social 

Security Number Verification Service.

Employment Eligibility Verification

The Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires 

employers to verify employment eligibility of new employees. 

The law obligates an employer to process Employment Eligibility 

Verification Form I-9. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

COURTESY OF THE SBA

An O’Fallon Casting Inc. employee at 

work in O’Fallon, MO. General 

Manager Vince Gimeno grew his 

business thanks to the Small Business 

Innovation Research Program.
16

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Service offers information and assistance through uscis.gov/i9-central. For forms, see uscis.gov/forms. For the employer 

hotline call (888) 464-4218 or email I-9central@dhs.gov.

E-Verify is the quickest way for employers to determine the 

employment eligibility of new hires by verifying the Social Security 

number and employment eligibility information reported on Form 

I-9. Visit e-verify.gov, call (888) 464-4218 or email e-verify@dhs.gov.

Health & Safety

All businesses with employees are required to comply with state 

and federal regulations regarding the protection of employees, 

visit employer.gov and dol.gov. The Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration provides information on the specific health 

and safety standards used by the U.S. Department of Labor. Call 

(800) 321-6742 or visit osha.gov.

» State labor department

laboradmin@azica.gov

azica.gov/divisions/labor-department

Phoenix

800 W. Washington St.

(602) 542-4515

Tucson

2675 E. Broadway

(520) 628-5459

» OSHA

Phoenix Federal Building

230 N. First Ave., suite 202, Phoenix

(602) 514-7250

» Arizona State Planning Office

800 W. Washington St., second floor, Phoenix

(602) 542-5795

Employee Insurance

Check your state laws to see if you are required to provide 

unemployment or workers’ compensation insurance for your 

employees. For health insurance options, call the Small Business 

Health Options program at (800) 706-7893 or visit healthcare.

gov/small-businesses/employers.

Association Health Plans allow small businesses, including 

self-employed workers, to band together by geography or 

industry to obtain healthcare coverage as if they were a single 

large employer. For information, visit dol.gov/general/topic/

association-health-plans.

Environmental Regulations

State assistance is available for small businesses that must 

comply with environmental regulations under the Clean Air 

Act. State Small Business Environmental Assistance programs 

provide free and confidential assistance to help small business 

owners understand and comply with environmental regulations 

and permitting requirements. These state programs can help 

businesses reduce emissions at the source, often reducing 

regulatory burden and saving you money. To learn more about 

these free services visit nationalsbeap.org/states/list.

» Environmental Protection Agency Small Business Division

epa.gov/resources-small-businesses

Kari Weigel provides 

educational services 

to rural communities 

through her Sylvan 

Learning Center in 

Fargo, ND, which she 

expanded with the help 

of SBA-backed financing.COURTESY OF THE SBA

Accessibility & ADA Compliance

For assistance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, call the 

ADA center at (800) 949-4232 or the Department of Justice at (800) 

514-0301. Direct questions about accessible design and the ADA 

standards to the U.S. Access Board at (800) 872-2253, TTY (800) 

993-2822, ta@access-board.gov or visit access-board.gov.

Child Support

Employers are essential to the success of the child support 

program and collect 75% of support nationwide through payroll 

deductions. You’re required to report all new and rehired 

employees to the State Directory of New Hires. If you have 

employees in two or more states, you may register with the 

Department of Health and Human Services to report all your 

employees to one state. Find electronic income withholding 

orders and the Child Support Portal, which can be used to 

report information to nearly all child support agencies, at 

acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/employers. Send questions to 

employerservices@acf.hhs.gov.

» State Enforcement

des.az.gov > Child Support Services

Intellectual Property

Patents, trademarks, and copyrights are types of intellectual 

property that serve to protect creations and innovations. For 

information and resources about U.S. patents and federally 

registered trademarks consult uspto.gov, call (800) 786-9199 or 
 17

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

visit the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver, Colorado, 

uspto.gov/denver. For inventor entrepreneur resources visit 

uspto.gov/inventors.

There are three types of patents:

• Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or 

discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, 

or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement.

• Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, 

original, and ornamental design for a manufactured article.

• Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or 

discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new 

variety of plant, other than a tuber propagated plant or a 

plant found in an uncultivated state.

A trademark or service mark includes any word, name, symbol, 

device, or any combination, used to identify and distinguish the 

goods/services of one provider from others. Trademarks and 

service marks may be registered at both the state and federal 

level. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office only registers federal 

trademarks and service marks, which may conflict with and 

supersede state trademarks. Visit uspto.gov/trademarks.

Copyrights protect original works of authorship including literary, 

dramatic, musical and artistic, and certain other intellectual works, 

such as computer software. Copyrights do not protect facts, ideas, 

and systems, although they may protect the way they are expressed. 

For general information on copyrights, contact:

» U.S. Copyright Office

U.S. Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building

101 Independence Ave. SE

Washington, DC

(202) 707-3000 or toll free (877) 476-0778

copyright.gov

Chambers of Commerce

Ahwatukee Foothills

(480) 753-7676

ahwatukeechamber.com

Apache Junction

(480) 982-3141

ajchamber.com

Arizona Hispanic Chamber

(602) 279-1800

azhcc.com

Buckeye Valley

(623) 386-2727

buckeyevalleychamber.org

Chandler

(480) 963-4571

chandlerchamber.com

Fountain Hills

(480) 837-1654

fountainhillschamber.com

Gilbert

(480) 892-0056

gilbertaz.com

Glendale

(623) 937-4754

glendaleazchamber.org

Greater Phoenix Black Chamber

(602) 307-5200

Mesa

(480) 969-1307 x3022

mesachamber.org

Peoria

(623) 979-3601

peoriachamber.com

Prescott

(928) 445-2000

prescott.org

Prescott Valley

(928) 772-8857

pvchamber.org

Scottsdale area

(480) 949-2175

scottsdalechamber.com

Show Low

(928) 537-2326

showlowchamber.com

Tempe

(480) 967-7891

tempechamber.org

Tucson

(520) 792-1212

tucsonchamber.org

Wickenburg

(928) 684-5479

wickenburgchamber.com

Economic Development

City of Chandler Innovations Incubator

145 S. 79th St.

(480) 784-0590

TechShop Chandler

249 E. Chicago St.

(480) 784-0590

NABEDC

Serving American Indians, Alaska natives, and native Hawaiians

460 N. Mesa Drive, suite 115, Mesa

Director Kaaren-Lyn Graves (480) 343-2799

nabedc.com

Export Assistance

U.S. Commercial Service

Arizona Commerce Authority

333 N. Central Ave., suite 1900, Phoenix

VP for International Trade

Kevin J O’Shea

(602) 845-1217

kevino@azcommerce.com
18

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Workforce 

Recruitment

If you are a small business employing skilled laborers, access a new talent pool for 

recruitment at your local makerspace.

How it benefits you

These community operated workspaces provide training and resources to better prepare 

workers for the job market, offering job-specific and soft skills training. Connect with one of 

these organizations to see if these makerspace participants could work for your small business.

California

Workshops for Warriors, wfw.org, trains, certifies to national standards, and 

places veterans into advanced manufacturing careers nationwide. 

Workshops for Warriors 

welding student Nikolas 

Williams trains in the San Diego 

makerspace, which receives 

SBA funding for its welding 

and machining programs. 

Workshops for Warriors 

places program graduates 

into advanced manufacturing 

careers nationwide.

COURTESY OF WORKSHOPS FOR WARRIORS

Vocademy in Riverside, vocademy.com,

 trains underserved populations for 

vocational careers in manufacturing.

Indiana

Ruckus Makerspace in Indianapolis, 

ruckusindy.com, provides coaching and 

job placement complementing day-to-day 

job skills training.

Massachusetts

The Clubhouse-to-Career Pathways 

to Success program in Roxbury, 

flagshipclubhouse.org/c2c, places its 

participants in meaningful employment 

matching their skill sets.

Missouri

Rightfully Sewn in Kansas City, 

rightfullysewn.org, prepares at-risk 

women and underserved populations 

for entry level sewing positions, 

increasing their tailoring and production 

management skills.

New Hampshire

Monadnock Art x Tech Makerspace in 

Peterborough fills the need for qualified 

welders in construction and industry, visit 

monadnockartxtech.org.

New Jersey

New Jersey Institute of Technology 

Makerspace in Newark connects 

participants with entry level advanced 

manufacturing jobs, in addition to 

an apprenticeship program, visit 

njitmakerspace.com.

New York

The Foundry in Buffalo, 

thefoundrybuffalo.org, operates four 

makerspaces, metal and wood shops 

and tech and textile labs, in support of 

education and entrepreneurship.

North Carolina

Forge Greensboro connects untapped 

talent to employment opportunities 

through pre-apprenticeship programs and 

accreditation, visit forgegreensboro.org.

Oklahoma

Fab Lab Tulsa prepares participants 

with high-value skills to secure careers 

as operators and technicians in digital 

fabrication, visit fablabtulsa.org.

Pennsylvania

NextFab’s Furnishing a Future program in 

Philadelphia places trained carpenters, 

visit nextfab.com.

Find qualified workers at these makerspace initiatives funded by the SBA.
 19

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Emerging Leaders

HOW THE SBA HELPED ME SUCCEED

When April Broderick wanted to expand into government contracting, she turned to 

the SBA. A&A Fire and Safety Co. in Cabot, AR serves the fire protection and service 

needs of businesses, schools, and fire departments across Arkansas. She took over 

from her father, Alan, in 2014, becoming one of the few women executives in her 

industry. With the help of the SBA Emerging Leaders program, April received business 

training and networking opportunities to help her better compete in the public 

marketplace. April committed to the program because she wanted to develop a threeyear growth plan with business experts. Since graduating from Emerging Leaders, she 

has grown her business to six full-time employees, seven part time, with a projected 

2019 revenue of $1.7 million. COURTESY OF AA&A FIRE AND SAFETY

Accelerate 

Growth

Small business 

executives 

looking to grow 

their business, 

create jobs, and 

strengthen their 

communities 

will find their 

next challenge 

in the SBA Emerging Leaders program. 

This seven-month course offers about 

100 hours of training and provides the 

opportunity for high-potential small 

business owners to work with experienced 

coaches and mentors while developing 

connections with peers, local leaders, and 

the financial community.

How it benefits you

Since the start of the program in 2008, 

Emerging Leaders graduates have reported 

creating over 6,500 jobs, gaining more than 

$300 million in new financing, and securing 

over $3.16 billion in government contracts. 

Participants produce a three-year strategic 

growth plan that connects them with the 

necessary tools and resources to reach 

major performance targets.

What you learn

The curriculum is research-based and 

nationally scalable, enabling you to 

engage in focused development and 

expansion strategies, including options 

for accessing new capital and securing 

government contracts.

Who’s eligible

Small businesses having annual revenues 

of at least $250,000, in business 

for at least three years, and with at least 

one employee.

Get involved

To register online, visit sba.gov/

emergingleaders.

Learn the skills to grow your small business in this seven-month course.
20

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Online Learning

Find free short courses and learning 

tools to start and grow your small 

business at sba.gov/learning. The 

SBA’s free Online Learning Center is a 

great resource for every entrepreneur, 

especially rural business owners looking 

for easy access to vital business training.

Courses include:

• writing your business plan

• understanding your customer

• buying a business

• marketing to win customers

• legal requirements

• financing options

• disaster recovery

Regional Innovation Clusters

Create jobs and grow the economy through an SBA Regional 

Innovation Cluster.

Who should join

Small businesses driving innovation in one of these tech industries:

• advanced composites

• agTech

• bioscience

• food processing

• data sciences

• medical sciences

• power and energy

• unmanned aerial systems

• water tech

• wood products

How it works

Each industry cluster is based in a geographic region. Your small 

business must be located in or near that region in order to join the 

cluster. For example, the AgLaunch Initiative cluster, which focuses 

on agricultural technology, is located in the Tennessee area. A 

small agTech business in or near Tennessee will connect with 

other agTech suppliers, service providers, and related institutions 

through that innovation cluster.

How it benefits you

Network with other industry innovators and connect with 

resources that will help your small business find funding. You’ll 

also receive guidance on how to better compete for government 

contracts and other opportunities for growth and expansion. 

Receive free technical and legal assistance to develop your tech 

and get it to market for government and industry buyers.

Get involved

Find an SBA Regional Innovation Cluster near you by visiting 

sba.gov/localassistance. Select the regional innovation clusters 

on the drop-down menu.

Entrepreneurial 

Resources

Native American 

Workshops 

Tribal enterprises and business organizations 

can receive entrepreneurial training at an SBA 

Entrepreneurial Empowerment Workshop. These 

workshops cover business concepts important for 

starting, growing, or expanding a small business. 

RedWind instructors identify and help participants 

avoid common pitfalls. Learn how to prepare a 

business plan, gain access to capital, and basic 

book keeping. Request a workshop in your area by 

visiting nativesmallbusiness.org.
 21

Autonomous & Unmanned Systems 

Cluster – Emerging Tech Ventures 

The Ozarks Cluster – Startup Junkie 

(Industry focus: Food processing, supply 

chain, & logistics)

The Water Council Cluster

Marine Industry Science & Technology Cluster

BioSTL: St. Louis Biosciences Cluster

Oklahoma-South Kansas Unmanned 

Aerial Systems Cluster

The Appalachian Ohio Wood Products Cluster

Conductor RIC in Healthcare, Education 

& Data/Decision Sciences – Startup 

Junkie Consulting

Integrative Business Services Inc. 

(Industry focus: Optics)

Great Plains Technology & 

Manufacturing Cluster

Montana Bioscience Cluster – Montana 

Technology Enterprise Center

AgLaunch Initiative 

Utah Advanced Material 

Manufacturing Initiative 

Defense Alliance - LSI Business 

Development Inc. (Industry focus: 

Advanced Power and Energy)

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters
22

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Entrepreneurship training

In Boots to Business, explore business 

ownership and other self-employment 

opportunities while learning key business 

concepts. Walk away with an overview of 

entrepreneurship and applicable business 

ownership fundamentals, including 

how to access startup capital using SBA 

resources. Boots to Business is conducted 

on all military installations as part of 

the Department of Defense’s Transition 

Assistance Program.

Opportunities 

for Veterans

members, and spouses through these SBAfunded programs:

» Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of 

Entrepreneurship in Syracuse, New York

» LiftFund in San Antonio, Texas

For service-disabled veterans

Learn how to start and grow a small 

business using these SBA-funded programs:

» Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans 

with Disabilities in Syracuse, New York

Military community members become more successful entrepreneurs with the help of the SBA.

HOW THE SBA 

HELPED ME 

SUCCEED

U.S. Navy veteran Roberto Ortiz 

puts his 40 years of aviation 

management experience 

to use as a small business 

owner in Chesapeake, VA. 

Bert expanded AVMAC 

Inc. into the government 

sector fulfilling aviation and 

maritime logistical services 

with the help of his local SBA 

Veterans Business Outreach 

Center. VBOCs are the first 

stop for military community 

entrepreneurs looking to 

start, grow, or expand a small 

business. The VBOC located 

at Old Dominion University 

helped Bert obtain government 

contracting business 

certifications. With support 

from his local VBOC, Bert has 

strategically positioned AVMAC 

in the federal marketplace to 

better compete for large-scale 

government contracts. From 

AVMAC’s first contract in 2010, 

this veteran-led company has 

nearly doubled in revenue and 

grown to over 400 employees.

COURTESY OF AVMAC INC.

Who’s eligible?

Service members transitioning out of 

active duty and military spouses. Boots to 

Business: Reboot, for veterans, National 

Guard or Reserve members and military 

spouses, teaches this entrepreneurship 

curriculum off base in communities. 

Register for either B2B program at 

https://sbavets.force.com.

For women veterans

Receive entrepreneurial training geared 

toward women veterans, service 

AVMAC President/CEO Bert Ortiz, left, 

and fellow U.S. Navy veteran and 

electrician Ken Morey manufacturing 

a power panel bracket.
 23

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

COURTESY OF AVMAC INC.

» Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at 

the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship, 

Spears School of Business, Oklahoma 

State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma

» Veteran Entrepreneurship Jumpstart 

at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania

» Dog Tag Inc., affiliated with Georgetown 

University in Washington, DC

Financing

Employee called to active duty?

You can receive funds that enable your 

business to meet ordinary and necessary 

operating expenses when an essential 

employee is called up to active duty in 

the military reserve. Ask your local SBA 

specialist or lender about the Military 

Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

Government contracting

Veteran-owned and service-disabled 

veteran-owned small businesses that want 

to better compete in the public market 

receive training from the Veteran Institute 

for Procurement, nationalvip.org.

VIP Start

Enter the federal market and become ready 

for procurement.

VIP Grow

Strategize to expand and operate within the 

federal marketplace.

VIP International

Enter or expand your federal and 

commercial contracting opportunities 

overseas.

Get certified

Learn about the service-disabled veteranowned small business certification program 

on page 49.

Need assistance?

Veteran and military entrepreneurs 

receive business training, counseling, and 

referrals to other SBA Resource Partners 

at a Veterans Business Outreach Center, 

sba.gov/vboc. For veterans business 

information visit sba.gov/veterans.
24

Write your 

Business Plan

Business plans help you run your business.

A good business plan guides you through managing your business. 

You’ll use your business plan as a roadmap for how to structure, run, 

and grow your new business.

Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new 

business partners. Investors want to see a return on their 

investment. Your business plan is the tool you’ll use to convince 

people that working with you—or investing in your company—is 

a smart investment. Brain storm with a business counselor (visit 

one of our SBA Resource Partners detailed on page 10) and write 

a traditional business plan, which uses a standard structure 

and detailed sections. Once you’ve got it all down, you can then 

condense it to a lean startup business plan, which typically 

contains key points on only one page. 

Your business plan is the foundation of your business. Learn how to write a business plan with the help 

of an SBA Resource Partner.

TRADITIONAL BUSINESS 

PLAN FORMAT

When you write your business plan, you don’t have to stick to the 

exact business plan template. Instead, use the sections that make 

the most sense for your business and your needs.

Executive Summary

Briefly summarize your company and why it will be successful. 

Include your mission statement, your product or service, and basic 

information about your company’s leadership team, employees, 

and location. You should also include financial information and 

high-level growth plans if you plan to ask for financing.

Company Description

Go into detail about the problems your business solves. Be specific 

as to audience and location. List out the consumers, organizations, 

or businesses your company plans to serve.

Explain the competitive advantages you have that will make your 

business successful. Are there experts on your team? Have you found 

the perfect location? Your company description is the place to boast 

about your strengths.

Market Analysis

Demonstrate a solid understanding of your industry outlook and target market. This is where it pays to partner with an experienced business counselor from your local Small Business Development Center, 

SCORE, Women’s Business Center, or Veterans Business Outreach 

Center—all these SBA Resource Partners provide free or low-cost 

business assistance. Competitive research will show what other businesses are doing and their strengths. In your market research, look for 

trends and themes. What do successful competitors do? Why does it 

work? Can you do it better? Now’s the time to answer these questions.

Organization and Management

Explain how your company will be structured 

and who will run it.

Describe the legal 

structure of your business. State whether you 

have or intend to incorporate your business as 

a C or an S corporation, 

form a general or limited 

partnership, or if you’re a 

sole proprietor or limited 

liability company.

Want to see an 

example of a 

business plan?

View examples of business plans 

at sba.gov/business-guide/plan/

write-your-businessplan-template

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
 25

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Use an organizational chart to show the hierarchy. Explain how 

each person’s experience will contribute to the success of your 

venture. Consider including CVs of key members.

Service or Product Line

Describe what you sell or what service you offer. Explain how it benefits your customers and the product lifecycle. Share your plans for 

intellectual property, like copyright or patent filings. If you’re doing 

research and development for your service or product, explain it.

Marketing and Sales

Your marketing strategy should evolve and change to fit your needs 

in each context.

Describe how you’ll attract and retain customers. Show how a 

sale will actually happen. You’ll refer to this section later when you 

make financial projections, so be thorough.

Funding Request

If you’re asking for funding, outline your funding requirements. 

Specify whether you want debt or equity and the terms you’d like. 

Your goal is to clearly explain how much funding you’ll need over 

the next five years and how the investment will be used.

Specify if you need funds to buy equipment or materials, pay 

salaries, or cover specific bills until revenue increases. Explain how 

you’ll pay off the debt.

Financial Projections

Supplement your funding request with a prospective financial 

outlook for the next five years. Show how your business will be a 

financial success. Include forecasted income statements, balance 

sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets. 

For the first year, be even more specific and use quarterly—or even 

monthly—projections. Explain your projections and match them to 

your funding requests.

 If your business is already established, include income statements, 

balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last three to five 

years. List collateral you could put against a loan.

Use visual organization tools--graphs and charts—to tell your 

business’s financial story.

Appendix

Here you’ll attach supporting documents or other requested 

materials. Common items to include are credit histories, CVs, 

product pictures, letters of reference, licenses, permits, patents, 

legal documents, and other contracts.

LEAN STARTUP PLAN FORMAT

Write a lean startup plan if requested from an investor, or if your 

business is relatively simple or you plan to regularly change and 

refine as you go.

Lean startup plans use more visual organization tools and only a 

handful of elements to describe your company’s value proposition, 

infrastructure, customers, and finances. They’re useful for visualizing your company’s fundamental facts. Your business counselor can 

help you edit down into the Business Model Canvas, used here—the 

most well known style, or another lean startup template.

Key Partnerships

Note the other businesses you’ll work with, such as suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, and strategic partners.

Key Activities

List the ways your business will gain a competitive advantage. 

Will you sell direct to consumers or use technology to tap into the 

sharing economy?

Key Resources

List resources you’ll leverage to create value for your customer. 

Your most important assets include staff, capital, and intellectual 

property. Leverage business resources that might be available 

to women, veterans, Native Americans, and HUBZone–certified 

businesses.

Value Proposition

Make a clear and compelling statement about the unique value 

your company brings to the market.

Customer Relationships

Describe how customers will interact with your business. Think 

through the customer experience from start to finish. Is it automated or personal? In person or online?

Customer Segments

Name your target market. Your business won’t be for everybody; 

it’s important to have a clear sense of who you serve.

Channels

List the most important ways you’ll talk to your customers.

Cost Structure

Will your company focus on reducing cost or maximizing value? 

Define your strategy, then list the most significant costs you’ll face.

Revenue Streams

Explain how your company makes money: direct sales, memberships fees, selling advertising space? If your company has multiple 

revenue streams, list them all.

❒ Executive summary

❒ Company description

❒ Market analysis

❒ Organization and management

❒ Service or product line

❒ Marketing and sales

❒ Funding request

❒ Financial projections

❒ Appendix

TRADITIONAL BUSINESS PLAN CHECKLIST 

❒ Key partnerships

❒ Key activities

❒ Key resources

❒ Value proposition

❒ Customer relationships

❒ Customer segments

❒ Channels

❒ Cost structure

❒ Revenue streams

LEAN STARTUP PLAN CHECKLIST 
26

Crafting a 

Business

SBA-backed financing helped Superstition Meadery expand 

into a multimillion dollar enterprise. 

written by Becky Bosshart

How We Did It

COURTESY OF SUPERSTITION MEADERY

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Financing Your Small Business
 27

FUNDING PROGRAMS

J

ennifer and Jeff Herbert’s 

home-based brewing has 

expanded into a global, 

multimillion dollar 

enterprise thanks to SBA 

assistance. Using Arizona honey and 

ingredients they’ve sourced from 

around the world (such as Tahitian 

vanilla and Moroccan saffron), the 

Herberts are selling nearly 30,000 

gallons annually of their honey-based 

fermented beverage. They operate a 

downtown Prescott, Arizona tasting 

room and state-of-the-art production 

facility, creating jobs and building 

a local craft industry. The Herberts, 

founding members of the American 

Mead Makers Association, have 

traveled around the world hosting 

pairing events and pouring at craft 

beverage festivals.

Challenge

The Herberts wanted to scale up their 

meadery while also staying true to 

their values of quality ingredients and 

craft process. It is often difficult for 

new entrepreneurs or unique concepts 

like a meadery to get traditional 

financing, even though they knew 

they had a great idea, the backing 

wasn’t there to expand. They say that 

choosing to do something new breaks 

the mold, which can be uncomfortable 

for traditional lenders.

5Tips for Success

Get guidance.

Develop a working relationship with 

an SBA Resource Partner (see page 10). 

Your business adviser will help make 

your business ready for financing.

Define your lending needs. 

Determine if a loan is right for you and 

if this is the right time. Define your 

needs. How much do you need? What 

are you going to use it for? Include this 

in your business plan.

Keep clear records.

Track your cash, inventory, accounts 

payable & receivable, payroll, sales, 

purchases, loans payable, owners’ 

equity, and retained earnings. Most 

lenders will want to see this data, 

balance sheets, and profit & loss 

statements for multiple years.

Talk to multiple lenders

Talk to multiple lenders and see who 

best matches your business. Lenders 

have different levels of risk and types 

of industries they take on.

Check all options.

SBA Lenders determine if you’re 

eligible for SBA financing programs 

based on your industry & experience, 

collateral, credit score, and the 

relationship & transparency you 

develop with the lending agent.

Solution

Thanks to guidance from an SBA 

Resource Partner, the Small Business 

Development Center at Yavapai 

Community College, Jennifer and Jeff 

learned about financing that worked 

for them. The SBA guarantees loans 

made by lending institutions to small 

business that would not otherwise be 

able to obtain financing. Their small 

business qualified for two SBA-backed 

loans totaling more than $600,000. The 

Herberts’ first SBA-backed loan allowed 

them to acquire commercial property to 

design and build their mead production 

facility. Their second SBA-backed loan 

provided the funding for professional 

brewing equipment to complete their 

7,450-square-foot production space. The 

Herberts recently purchased a historic 

building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona 

to open a mead-pairing restaurant.

Benefit

The Herberts started with two 

employees and now have over 20 

producing 29,000 gallons this year. 

From a homegrown setup, Jennifer and 

Jeff are now charting revenue in excess 

of $2.6 million and distributing to 37 

states, across Europe and Southeast 

Asia. They have plans for another 

expansion, including a shipping 

warehouse to manage their online retail 

and wholesale orders. 

COURTESY OF SUPERSTITION MEADERY

Jeff & Jennifer Herbert, owners of Superstition Meadery, completed their 7,450-squarefoot production space and opened a tasting room in Prescott, AZ with the assistance of 

SBA-backed financing. See their story on YouTube by searching for the 2019 National 

Small Business Persons of the Year.
28

FUNDING PROGRAMS

SBA guarantees

help small business owners and entrepreneurs who are 

creditworthy but don’t qualify for conventional financing. 

If you cannot obtain a business loan with reasonable rates 

and terms, contact your local SBA Lender to see if you are 

eligible for SBA programs. The SBA works with participating 

lenders to reduce their risk, increasing the likelihood your 

loan will be approved with the terms that work best for 

you. The guarantee is conditional on the lender following 

SBA program requirements. Just like with any other loan, 

you make your loan payments directly to your lender in 

accordance with your terms.

Lender 

Match

Find a lender interested 

in working with you at 

sba.gov/lendermatch. 

This matching tool 

connects entrepreneurs 

with SBA Lenders in 

your area.

Small 

businesses

power our 

economy.

The SBA

powers

small

 businesses.

Whether you dream of transforming your 

business idea into a thriving company, growing 

your customer base, or expanding into new 

markets or locations, the SBA is here for you. 

We offer programs, expertise, and access to 

capital that will empower you to take your 

small business to the next level of success.

Stop by your local SBA office or visit SBA.gov

to learn how you can move your business 

forward with confidence.
 29

FUNDING PROGRAMS

SBA Lenders

CASA GRANDE

Pinal County FCU

1000 E. Florence Blvd.

(520) 381-3100

CHANDLER

First CU

25 S. Arizona Place

(480) 756-5500

Western Bank

976 W. Chandler Blvd.

(575) 388-3521

GILBERT

Arizona Business Bank

275 E. Rivulon Blvd., suite 101

(602) 240-2751

GLENDALE

BNC National Bank

20175 N. 67th Ave.

(602) 508-3773

GOODYEAR

West Valley National Bank

2440 N. Litchfield Road, suite 100

(714) 862-7085

LAKE HAVASU CITY

Horizon Community Bank

225 N. Lake Havasu Ave.

(928) 854-3147

State Bank of Arizona

1771 McCulloch Blvd.

(928) 855-4050 x5201

MESA

Gateway Commercial Bank

6860 E. Warner Road

(480) 358-1000

PEORIA

JPMorgan Chase Bank

16165 N. 83rd Ave., suite 121

(623) 337-9969

Meadows Bank

7558 W. Thunderbird Ave., suite 1-144

(623) 328-9770

PHOENIX

Alliance Bank of Arizona

1 E. Washington St.

(480) 998-6548

Arizona Bank & Trust

2036 E. Camelback Road

(602) 381-2077

Arizona Central CU

2020 N. Central Ave., suite 1200

(602) 523-8342

Arizona FCU

333 N. 44th St.

(800) 523-4035

Bank of America

3030 N. Central Ave.

(602) 695-0760

Bank of Arizona

3001 E. Camelback Road, suite 100

(602) 240-2751

Bank of the West

2555 E. Camelback, suite 160

(602) 549-4860

BBVA Compass Bank

2850 E. Camelback Road, suite 320

(602) 522-2696

BMO Harris Bank

1 E. Camelback Road

(602) 330-4860

Comerica Bank

3200 E. Camelback Road, suite 150

(714) 424-3838

Desert Financial FCU

148 N. 48th St.

(602) 335-2491

Enterprise Bank

3900 E. Camelback Road

(913) 791-9112

MariSol FCU

1515 W. Roosevelt St.

(602) 252-6831

Metro Phoenix Bank

4686 E. Van Buren, suite 150

(602) 346-1803

Midfirst

3030 E. Camelback Road

(602) 801-5713

Midwest Regional SBL

5080 N. 40th St., suite 255

(480)-468-5180

Mutual of Omaha

4950 S. 48th St.

(480) 224-7931

National Bank of Arizona

6001 N. 24th St.

(602) 212-5545

OneAZ CU

2355 W. Pinnacle Peak

(602) 467-4262

Republic Bank of Arizona

645 E. Missouri Ave., suite 108

(602) 280-9402

UMB Bank

2777 E. Camelback Road, suite 100

(816) 860-5058

U.S. Bank

2222 E. Camelback Road #105

(602) 222-4576

Our participating SBA Lenders serve all Arizona unless otherwise noted. Contact the lender for 

more locations.
30

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Wells Fargo Bank Arizona

100 W. Washington St., 6th floor

(602) 378-5221

SCOTTSDALE

Bank 34

14850 N. Scottsdale Road, suite 100

(480) 795-6936

Goldwater Bank

7135 E. Camelback Road

(480) 281-8190

Great Western Bank

18511 N. Scottsdale Road, suite 102

(480) 422-2942

Johnson Bank

8700 N. Gainey Center Drive #100

(602) 381-2152

Pinnacle Bank

14287 N. 87th St., suite 123

(480) 556-3200

Stearns Bank

9225 E. Shea Blvd.

(480) 391-5908

TUCSON

Canyon Community Bank

7981 N. Oracle Road

(602) 603-3524

Commerce Bank of Arizona

3805 E. Broadway Blvd.

(480) 253-4505

Tucson FCU

1160 N. Winstel Blvd.

(520) 795-8520

Vantage West CU

2480 N. Arcadia

(520) 617-4025

YUMA

1st Bank Yuma

2799 S. Fourth Ave.

(928) 783-3334

AEA FCU

1780 S. First Ave.

(928) 783-8881

STATEWIDE/OUT OF STATE LENDERS

Centerstone SBA lending

(602) 999-7108

Harvest Small Business Finance

(602) 703-6301

Iowa State Bank

(520) 314-2597

Mountain America CU

(480) 487-5577

Poppy Bank

(480) 346-1218

Radius Bank

(602) 635-6999

ReadyCap Lending

(602) 538-9671

T Bank

(602) 206-1417

Participating 

Certified 

Development 

Companies

Business Development 

Finance Corp.

(602) 381-6292

bdfc.com

CDC SB Finance Corp.

(602) 317-1192

cdcloans.com

Mountain West 

Small Business Finance

Serving northern Arizona

(801) 474-3232

mwsbf.com

Southwestern Business 

Financing Corp.

(602) 495-6495

swbfc.com

Participating 

Microlenders

Accion CDFI

(520) 404-7680

us.accion.org

PPEP Microbusiness & Housing 

Development Corp.

(520) 806-4646

pmhdc.net

Prestamos CDFI

(602) 258-9911

prestamosloanfund.org

Export 

Assistance 

Lenders

Alliance Bank of Arizona

(480) 968-6548

westernalliance

bancorporation.com

Arizona Business Bank

(602) 240-2751

bokfinancial.com

Bank 34

(480) 795-6936

bank34.com

Bank of the West

(602) 549-4860

bankofthewest.com

BBVA Compass Bank

(602) 522-2896

bbvacompass.com

BMO Harris Bank

(602) 330-4860

bmoharris.com

BNC National Bank

(602) 508-3773

bncbank.com

Canyon Community Bank

(602) 603-3524

canyoncommunitybank.com

Centerstone SBA Lending

(602) 999-7108

teamcenterstone.com
 31

Comerica Bank

(714) 424-3838

comerica.com

Enterprise Bank & Trust

(913) 791-9112

enterprisebank.com

ExWorks Capital

(312) 443-8500

exworkscapital.com

Harvest Small Business Finance

(602) 703-6301

harvestsbf.com

Live Oak Banking Co.

(877) 890-5867

liveoakbank.com

Metro Phoenix Bank

(602) 346-1803

metrophoenixbank.com

Pinnacle Bank

(480) 556-3200

pinnaclebankaz.com

Poppy Bank

(480) 346-1218

poppy.bank

ReadyCap Lending

(602) 538-9671

readycapital.com

United Midwest Savings

(614) 827-7206

umwsb.com

US Bank

(602) 222-4576

usbank.com

Wells Fargo

(602) 378-5221

wellsfargo.com

Zions Bank (California Bank & Trust)

(213) 593-2118

calbanktrust.com
32

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Financing 101

1 What do you need funding for?

2 Do you need help with your business plan or loan package?

Now that you have your business plan and 

loan package ready, contact an SBA Lender 

to see if you qualify. There are two options...

If so, SBA Resource Partners can help. Find a list at your local SBA district office.

• Start or purchase a business

• Purchase, renovate or expand 

facilities

• Purchase inventory, 

equipment or machinery

• Revolving credit/working 

capital for day-to-day 

expenses

• Export a product or service

Look into SBICs.

I need investors. I’m bidding on a

contract that requires

me to be bonded.

I need to research and

develop a business idea

for commercialization.

Research the SBIR 

or STTR programs.

Ask for information on

SBA surety bonds.

OPEN

CDC BANK

Check out Lender Match

(sba.gov/lendermatch) to 

find an SBA Lenders who may 

specialize in your industry or 

type of project.

Visit your local SBA district office 

for a list of local SBA Lenders.

Be prepared to discuss:

• size and purpose of your loan

• how long your business has 

operated

• your credit history

• collateral

• financial projections

• technical assistance/

mentoring needs

A. B.

3
 33

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Need 

Financing?

Visit your local SBA office or lender to learn about 

these funding options.

Microloans

Eligible businesses can startup and grow with working capital 

or funds for supplies, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Borrow 

from $500 to $50,000 and access free business counseling 

from microlenders.

INTEREST RATE: loans less than $10,000, lender cost + 8.5%; loans 

$10,000 and greater, lender cost + 7.75%

TERMS: lender negotiated, no early payoff penalty

504 Certified Development Company Loan

For those who do not qualify for traditional financing, but would 

like to purchase/renovate real estate or buy heavy equipment 

for a small business. It provides competitive fixed-rate mortgage 

financing through a lender and a certified development company.

MAX LOAN AMOUNT (UP TO 40% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT):

up to $5 million; $5.5 million for manufacturing or energy public 

policy projects

INTEREST RATE: below market fixed rates for 10, 20 or 25 year terms

TERMS: 20 or 25 years for real estate or long-term equipment, 10 

years for general machinery and equipment

GUARANTEE: the lender provides a senior loan for 50% of the 

project cost (with no SBA guarantee); the CDC finances up to 40% in 

a junior lien position (supported by the SBA guarantee)

SPECIAL CONDITION: a minimum borrower contribution, or down 

payment, is required, amounts vary by project but are usually 10%

The 7(a) Loan, the SBA’s Largest 

Financing Program 

If you cannot get conventional financing and you meet the eligibility 

requirements, use a 7(a) loan to buy real estate, equipment or 

inventory for your small business. It may also be used for working 

capital, to refinance business debt or purchase a small business.

MAX LOAN AMOUNT: $5 million

INTEREST RATE: generally prime + a reasonable rate capped at 2.75%

TERMS: loan term varies according to the purpose of the loan, 

generally up to 25 years for real estate, 10 years for other fixed 

assets and working capital

GUARANTEE: 50 to 90%

CAPLines

Meet your revolving capital needs with lines of credit. CAPLines can 

be used for contract financing, seasonal lines of credit, builders line 

of credit, or for general working capital lines.

SBA Express Loan

Featuring a simplified process, these loans are delivered by 

experienced lenders who are authorized to make the credit decision 

for the SBA. These can be term loans or revolving lines of credit.

MAX LOAN AMOUNT: $350,000

INTEREST RATE: for loans less than $50,000, prime + 6.5%; for 

loans of $50,000 and greater, prime + 4.75%

TERMS: loan term varies according to the purpose of the loan, 

generally up to 25 years for real estate and 10 years for other fixed 

assets and working capital

GUARANTEE: 50%

Community Advantage

A financing program for women, veterans, low-income borrowers, 

and minority entrepreneurs just starting up or in business for a 

few years. Receive free business counseling as you work with a 

community-based financial institution.

INTEREST RATE: prime + 6%

TERMS: up to 25 years for real estate, 10 years for equipment and 

working capital

GUARANTEE: 75 to 90%
34

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Go Global with 

International Trade

Stabilize seasonal sales and become less less dependent on any one market by exporting.

Expand your Market

Small businesses can enter and excel in 

the international marketplace using State 

Trade Expansion Program grants and 

training. Visit sba.gov/internationaltrade

to find out if your state is participating.

You can:

• learn how to export

• participate in foreign trade missions and 

trade shows

• obtain services to support foreign 

market entry

• translate websites to attract 

foreign buyers

• design international marketing products 

or campaigns

Financing for 

International Growth

Having trouble securing capital to meet 

your small business exporting needs? Use 

SBA international trade programs to cover 

short or long-term costs necessary to sell 

goods or services abroad. Loan proceeds 

can be used for working capital to finance 

foreign sales or for fixed assets, helping 

you better compete globally. Apply for 

lines of credit prior to finalizing an export 

sale or contract and adequate financing 

will be in place by the time you win your 

contract. If you’ve been in business for at 

least a year, ask your area SBA regional 

finance manager about the Export Working 

Capital program. The International Trade 

Loan program also helps exporters who 

have been adversely affected by foreign 

importing competition, helping you better 

compete globally.

Max loan amount: $5 million

Interest rate: for Export Working Capital, 

the rate is negotiated between borrower 

and lender. For the International Trade 

Loan, it also cannot exceed prime + 2.75% 

for loan amounts over $50,000 and maturity of seven years or more.

Terms: For Export Working Capital, typically one year, cannot exceed three years. 

For International Trade Loans, up to 

25 years for real estate, up to 10 years 

for equipment.

Guarantee: up to 90%

COURTESY OF THE SBA

Export Express uses a streamlined process 

that expedites the SBA guarantee—

what small businesses need most when 

preparing to export or ramping up 

international trade on a fast timeline.

Max loan amount: $500,000

Interest rate: typically not to exceed 

prime + 6.5%

Terms: up to 25 years for real estate, up to 

10 years for equipment, up to seven years 

for lines of credit

Guarantee: up to 90%

Approval time: 36 hours or less

Help with Trade Barriers

If you need assistance with international 

trade regulations, the SBA can be 

your advocate in foreign markets. Call 

toll free (855) 722-4877 or email your 

contact information and trade issue to 

international@sba.gov.

Expert Advice 

on Exporting

Find an SBA professional in one of the 

21 U.S. Export Assistance Centers, 

sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/

eac, located in most major metro 

areas. The centers are also staffed by 

the U.S. Department of Commerce 

and, in some locations, the ExportImport Bank of the United States and 

other public and private organizations. Visit your local Small Business 

Development Center (see page 10) for 

exporting assistance from professional business counselors.
 35

HOW THE SBA HELPED US SUCCEED

Small businesses that qualify for the SBA State Trade Expansion Program use 

grant proceeds to bolster their international market presence, which EarthQuaker 

Devices has done in a seismic way. A manufacturer of guitar special effects 

pedals in Akron, OH, EarthQuaker has built an international social media fanbase 

delivering content in seven languages, generating millions of website page views.

EarthQuaker owners Julie Robbins & Jamie Stillman developed their global 

marketing strategy and multilingual promo materials with the SBA State Trade Expansion 

Program. The couple also received global marketing counseling and research assistance 

from the Ohio Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network.

◀

COURTESY OF THE SBA

Help with Trade Barriers

If you need assistance with 

international trade regulations, 

the SBA can be your advocate in 

foreign markets. Call toll free (855) 

722-4877 or email your contact 

information and trade issue to 

international@sba.gov.
36

FUNDING PROGRAMS

R&D Opportunities for 

High Growth Startups

Businesses engaged in high-risk research and development can compete to develop their tech to market.

Do you work in one of 

these areas?

» advanced materials

» agTech

» artificial intelligence

» augmented reality and virtual reality

» big data

» biomedical

» cloud computing

» cybersecurity

» energy

» health IT

» national security

» sensors

» space exploration

America’s Seed Fund

The Small Business Innovation Research 

and the Small Business Technology Transfer 

programs, known as America’s Seed Fund, 

provide more than $3.5 billion each year in 

early stage capital through a competitive 

awards process.

How it works

Every year, participating federal agencies 

announce topic areas that address their R&D 

needs. Topics include:

» energy efficiency tech

» remote exploration to outer space

» New advances in devices for health 

research and diagnostic applications

Eligible businesses submit proposals to 

win either grants or contracts and then 

advance through three phases:

» The proof-of-concept stage typically lasts 

from 6-12 months, and provides from 

$100,000-$225,000

» The full R&D period lasts about 24 

months, and typically provides $600,000-

$1.5 million

HOW THE SBA HELPED US SUCCEED

Killer Snails brings science out of the laboratory and into classrooms and living rooms 

with award-winning educational games, such as BioDive, Assassins of the Sea, and 

Biome Builder. The Brooklyn, NY-based business gained access to startup funding 

thanks to the Small Business Innovation Research seed funding program. Dr. Mandë 

Holford, left, Jessica Ochoa Hendrix, right, and Dr. Lindsay Portnoy envisioned how 

venomous marine snail research could be used in extended reality and digital learning 

to engage students and meet educators’ needs. The business has raised more than 

$1.2 million to support a team of full-time employees. Killer Snails’s tabletop, digital, 

augmented and virtual reality games have won national and international awards.

COURTESY OF THE SBA
 37

Investment Capital

Looking for investors? For mature, profitable businesses with sufficient cash flow to pay interest, a small 

business investment company can help scale up your 

small business.

» The commercialization stage is when your small business 

seeks public or private funds for its venture or sells the 

innovation for a profit.

How your startup benefits

The funding agency does not take an equity position or 

ownership of your business. The federal government also 

protects data rights and the ability to win sole-source phase 

three contracts. Some agencies provide additional resources 

beyond funding.

Participating agencies:

» Department of Agriculture

» Department of Commerce

› National Institute of Standards and Technology

› National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

» Department of Defense

» Department of Education

» Department of Energy

» Department of Health and Human Services

› Centers for Disease Control

› Food and Drug Administration

› National Institutes of Health

» Department of Homeland Security

» Department of Transportation

» Environmental Protection Agency

» NASA

» National Science Foundation

Visit sbir.gov to find funding opportunities and helpful program 

tutorials, as well as past award winners, such as Qualcomm, 

iRobot, Illumina, and Symantec. Use the local resources locator 

tool to identify state and regional programs and resources 

available to assist with grant writing, commercialization, and 

business counseling in your community.

SBIR Road Tour

Visit sbirroadtour.com and follow us 

@SBIRgov to learn about this annual national 

program and related events connecting tech 

entrepreneurs to the country’s largest source 

of early stage funding, providing over 5,000 

new awards annually.

For more information, 

visit sba.gov and 

click on Funding 

Programs and then 

Investment Capital. 

How an SBIC works

Investment companies with financing expertise in certain 

industry sectors receive SBA-guaranteed loans, which 

means the federal government is responsible in case of 

default. These investment companies then use the SBAguaranteed capital and private funds to invest in qualifying 

small businesses. Each SBIC has its own investment profile 

in terms of targeted industry, geography, company maturity, 

the types and size of financing they provide.

To be eligible

The majority of your employees and assets must be within the 

United States. Some ineligible small businesses and activities 

include re-lenders, real estate, project financing, and foreign 

investment.

Visit sba.gov and click on Funding Programs and then 

Investment Capital. Follow us on Twitter for updates and 

announcements or visit our events page to learn about outreach programs in your community.

FUNDING PROGRAMS
38

I

f you ask Stephanie Vitori, the person who coined the term 

“bittersweet” must have run a business. In the 15 years Stephanie 

has owned Cheeseburger Baby, the Florida burger joint has endured 

recessions, multiple hurricanes, and competition from corporate 

franchises. She has grown along with Cheeseburger Baby, changing 

with each stage of the business lifecycle.

Vitori worked as a delivery driver before purchasing the business in 

2004. Since then, she’s expanded by purchasing two food trucks. She runs 

an open kitchen, which means customers can watch their 100% Angus 

beef cheeseburgers sizzle on the flat-top grill. 

Burgers are kept classic, no extra frills. “People 

feel at home,” Stephanie says. “You’re not just 

another table somebody has to serve.” Here, 

everybody feels like somebody, she says. So 

many people love a good cheeseburger, which 

is why all kinds of people are attracted to her 

restaurant. Cheeseburger Baby’s handcrafted 

patties have been featured on the Food 

Network and consumed by celebrities such as 

FUNDING PROGRAMS DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Smiling After the 

Storm

With SBA assistance, Stephanie Vitori rebuilt her Miami Beach, FL restaurant after Hurricane Irma.

written by Jess Walker

How I Did It

COURTESY OF THE SBA
 39

Jay-Z and Kanye West. Stephanie has met famous chefs “all through 

a cheeseburger.” But just as special to her is the Vietnamese couple 

who came in one day, speaking little English. They were eager to meet 

Stephanie and show her a napkin with “Cheeseburger Baby” scrawled 

on it. On the other side of the world, a friend had told them to come, 

so they did. It all just goes to show you, Stephanie says, people come 

together for a great cheeseburger.

Challenge

Despite these sweet moments, there have also been bitter ones. 

Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, and Cheeseburger Baby lost equipment 

and food supplies. Thirty percent of sales blew away with the wind. “It 

was a zombie zone in South Beach. People were scared to come since 

they thought everything was destroyed,” Stephanie says. “It was the 

roughest road I’ve ever traveled.”

Solution

An SBA disaster assistance loan aided Cheeseburger Baby’s 

recovery. The SBA provides direct low-interest loans to businesses 

of all sizes, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters to repair damage 

or replace property not covered by insurance or other forms of 

assistance. SBA disaster assistance loans can also be used to rebuild 

stronger, protecting your home or business against future damage 

caused by a disaster. The SBA also introduced Stephanie to her local 

DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING PROGRAMS

What to do 

after a Disaster 

Declaration

After a disaster is declared 

by the President

Register with FEMA at 

disasterassistance.gov or call (800) 621-3362, 

TTY (800) 462-7585, or visit a Disaster Recovery 

Center. Locations can be found at fema.gov/drc. 

Businesses are automatically referred to the SBA. 

Most homeowners and renters will be referred 

by FEMA to the SBA to apply for disaster loan 

assistance. You must complete the SBA application 

to be considered for assistance. If the SBA cannot 

help you with a loan for all your needs, we will in 

most cases refer you back to FEMA. If you do not 

complete an SBA application, you may not be 

considered for assistance from other agencies.

Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program

Businesses affected by a Presidential disaster 

declaration are eligible to receive expedited 

financing through an SBA Express lender. These 

funds may be used for disaster-related purposes 

while the business waits for long-term financing 

through the SBA’s direct disaster loan program.

Loan Amount: $25,000

Terms: up to seven years

Guarantee: 50%

After a disaster is declared by the SBA

Businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, homeowners, 

and renters are eligible to apply 

for an SBA disaster assistance 

loan. Visit a Business Recovery 

Center or Disaster Loan 

Outreach Center in your area or 

visit disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to apply for a loan. 

You can also call the SBA customer service center 

at (800) 659-2955, TTY (800) 877-8339, and ask for 

an application package. FEMA grant assistance for 

homeowners or renters is not available under an 

SBA declaration.

Information you need to get started:

• address of damaged residence or business 

and contact information

• insurance information, including type of 

insurance, policy numbers, and amount 

received

• household and/or business income

• description of disaster-caused damage 

and losses

COURTESY OF THE SBA

Once safety and security needs are met, the SBA 

helps get you and your community back to where you 

were before the disaster. Since low-interest SBA disaster 

assistance loans are government aid, creditworthiness and 

the ability to repay are taken into consideration before a 

loan is awarded. For information visit sba.gov/disaster.
40

FUNDING PROGRAMS DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Small Business Development Center, 

which provided assistance with 

financing options and marketing. She 

continues to meet with SBDC advisers 

to remain competitive in an everchanging economy.

During disasters, the responsibility 

falls on the owner’s shoulders. But 

one lesson Stephanie has learned is 

the value in reaching out to others 

for assistance and counsel. While her 

brick-and-mortar restaurant was being 

rebuilt, she sold from a food truck. 

When the restaurant was operational 

again, she advertised that with 

spray paint on the plywood covering 

the broken windows. Stephanie 

and her wife, Gabrie Vitori, rebuilt 

Cheeseburger Baby by depending on 

each other and SBA assistance. See 

their story on YouTube by searching 

for the 2019 Phoenix Award for Small 

Business Disaster Recovery. “You’ve 

got to have resiliency. You’ve got 

to swallow your pride sometimes,” 

Stephanie says. “But you also have to 

believe in your product.”

Benefit

For Cheeseburger Baby, that product 

will continue satisfying the burger 

hankerings of locals, celebrities, and 

tourists alike. Vitori sees expansion in 

her future—she’d like to have a brickand-mortar restaurant and food truck 

in each growing town in South Florida. 

“My whole life is this. I’ve always felt a 

love for business ownership, ” Stephanie 

says. “That drive keeps you going.” COURTESY OF THE SBA

Get Ready

The Ready Business program, ready.gov/business, gives step-by-step 

guidance on how to prepare your business for a disaster. The series includes 

preparedness toolkits for earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, power outages, 

and severe winds/tornadoes. Spanish materials are available.

Don’t Wait

Take steps now to protect your business and reduce property damage with 

the help of an SBA disaster assistance loan. Those affected by a disaster can 

rebuild stronger by increasing their SBA loan up to 20% of the verified physical 

damage to make mitigation improvements. Borrowers have two years after 

loan approval to request an increase for higher rebuilding costs, code-required 

upgrades or mitigation.

Keep in mind

Since an SBA disaster loan is a direct loan from the 

government, other organizations may reduce or not 

award you a grant if you have received an SBA loan or 

other assistance for your disaster loss. Be sure to check 

with the organization offering assistance to see how an 

SBA loan might affect your eligibility for their program. 

In general, recovery expenses covered by insurance, 

FEMA, or other forms of assistance may reduce the 

amount provided by your SBA disaster assistance loan.
 41

DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING PROGRAMS

Plan for an alternative location

Protect your documents Review insurance coverage 

Establish a solid supply chain 

Establish a communications plan 

Practice your plan with your staff 

Based on your location, assess your risk 

for every type of emergency. 

• Identify several places to relocate your operations in case 

you must close your primary location for an extended time. 

• Consider creative options for available office space, including 

sharing space and resources with other businesses.

• Allow employees to telecommute until your location reopens.

• Contact your insurance agent to find out if your coverage 

is right for your business; make sure you understand the 

policy limits and deductibles.

• Ask about business interruption insurance, which 

compensates you for lost income and covers operating 

expenses if your company has to temporarily shut down 

because of a disaster.

• Keep copies of vital business documents in a digital 

format or in an accessible, protected off-site location.

• Discuss as a group how your plan would be affected 

by different types of disasters, such as an earthquake, 

tornado, flood, mudslide, or hurricane.

• If your vendors and suppliers are local and the disaster is widespread, you will all be in the same situation—

struggling to recover. Put a disaster response plan in place to get key supplies from companies outside your 

area. Create a contact list of contractors and vendors you plan to use.

• Test your calling tree or communications list to reach employees to ensure they and their families are safe.

Six essential preparedness steps for creating a continuity plan

The financial and emotional cost of rebuilding a business after a disaster can be overwhelming. 

With a business continuity plan in place, you can recover more quickly.Your plan also puts you 

in a better position to contribute to the economic recovery of your community.

Getting Back to Business:

1

2 3

4

5 6
42

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Eligible small businesses in the 

construction, supply, and service 

sectors better compete for contracting 

and subcontracting jobs using SBAbacked surety bonds.

How you benefit

Surety bonds help small businesses 

receive the bonding assistance they 

need to win contracts by providing the 

customer with a guarantee the work 

will be completed.

How surety bonds work

Many contracts require surety bonds, 

which are offered by surety companies. 

The SBA guarantee provides an 

incentive for surety companies to 

work with small businesses that would 

normally not be able to obtain the bond.

Is the program right 

for you?

Small businesses that often come to the 

SBA for surety bonds:

» startups and firms in business less 

than three years

» businesses with credit issues 

or internally prepared financial 

statements

» those who cannot secure bonding 

through regular commercial 

channels

» subcontractors with a desire to 

establish their own bonding as a 

prime contractor

» those wishing to increase their 

current bonding limits

SBA-backed surety bonds help small businesses succeed.

Surety Bonds

HOW THE SBA HELPED ME SUCCEED

With SBA-backed surety bonds, Frank Spencer III has been able to better compete for 

commercial and government contracts. Aztec Contractors of El Paso, TX received the 

bonding support it needed to compete for construction contracts with the General 

Services Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Mission and Installation 

Contracting Command. Frank acquired Aztec in 2006 with no capital and only two 

employees. Now he employs 25 full time and provides internship opportunities. Sales 

have grown to about $30 million annually. Aztec now qualifies for bonding in the 

standard surety market without SBA support. COURTESY OF AZTEC CONTRACTORS 
 43

Ready to start? 

The SBA partners with 40 surety companies and hundreds of bonding agents. Find 

authorized agents at sba.gov/osg. Do you want to discuss the advantages of the SBA 

Surety Bond Guarantee program? Contact a bonding specialist:

Tamara E. Murray

Denver, CO

(303) 927-3479

Jennifer C. Bledsoe

Washington, DC

(202) 205-6153

Office of Surety Guarantees

(202) 205-6540

For all contracts and subcontracts up to $6.5 million, the SBA 

guarantees bid, payment, performance, and ancillary bonds issued 

by surety companies. For federal contracts up to $10 million, the SBA 

makes a guarantee if it’s in the best interest of the government.

The SBA reimburses surety companies in case of default 90% of losses sustained for veteran & servicedisabled veteran, minority, 8(a), and HUBZone-certified small businesses, and all projects up to $100,000.

The SBA reimburses 80% for all other small businesses.

For contracts under $400,000, the process is streamlined using the SBA QuickApp program.

» easy application

» no need to submit financials to the SBA

» online applications submitted to SBA authorized agents approved within hours

Need a surety bond 

guarantee fast?
44

Taking the Helm

Jennifer Rahn steers Admiral Engineering and Manufacturing to success as a government subcontractor.

written by Micaela Morrissette

How I Did It

COURTESY OF THE SBA

CONTRACTING

Doing Business with the Government
 45

J

ennifer Rahn was first 

hired as an office assistant 

at Phoenix, Arizona-based 

Admiral Engineering and 

Manufacturing Co. Rising 

to the top in a sector dominated by 

men, Rahn’s career sounds a lot like 

the classic American success story. She 

got there with the help of a mentor and 

business growth earned as a federal 

government subcontractor.

For 16 years, Rahn worked side-byside with then-owner David Schlosser, 

who became her mentor. Rahn says she 

learned “everything it takes to run a 

machine shop. I naturally just picked it 

up and wanted it.”

The learning curve was steep—

Admiral specializes in complex 

machined parts for industries including 

aerospace and communications—and 

Schlosser expected as much as he gave. 

“When I did something wrong, he told 

me, and I didn’t do that again,” Rahn 

said, laughing.

One of their largest clients, aerospace 

and defense company L3 Technologies, 

nominated Admiral for the SBA 

Subcontractor of the Year award. As a 

subcontractor for L3 Technologies, Rahn 

said she gets great satisfaction from 

knowing soldiers are able to communicate with their leaders because of parts 

her company has made.

When Schlosser decided to retire, he 

asked Rahn to purchase Admiral.

“He did not want to sell to a corporation that would bring in their own 

people or end up foreclosing,” Rahn 

says. “Then all your hard work is gone. 

I agreed because it was everything I had 

spent my life working on, too.”

In September 2017, she took over as 

owner and president. Ownership transition poses a unique set of challenges. 

Rahn wanted to maintain relationships 

5Tips for Success

Find a mentor.

I had a great mentor in my company, 

and I reached for opportunity when it 

was in front of me.

Always move forward.

The SBA has educational resources 

to improve your business knowledge. 

To learn more about government 

contracting and SBA certification 

programs, call your local SBA 

district office or procurement center 

representative.

Compete smart.

See if your company can use the 

SBA Subcontracting Network 

database, https://eweb1.sba.gov/

subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm. 

SubNet connects businesses with 

subcontractors & small businesses 

with contract opportunities.

Know your industry.

I see everything; I have my hands in 

everything. I don’t want to expand to 

where I can’t do that anymore.

Build a team.

Everybody feels like this is our work 

family. My employees are as big a part 

of my company as I am, so I make 

sure they know that.

with her existing clients, which include 

major government contractors. She’s 

grateful prime contractors have incentive to subcontract with small business, 

and that helps businesses like Admiral.

Rahn has plans to grow, but not in 

the typical ways. She’s investing in 

replacing equipment, enhancing efficiency and productivity while leading 

Admiral into new arenas like 3D printing. Because of the stability provided 

by being a government subcontractor, 

she’s able to do all of this. 

COURTESY OF THE SBA

CONTRACTING
46

CONTRACTING

Consult your local Small Business Development Center (see page 

8) or Procurement Technical Assistance Program adviser. Find your 

closest center at aptac-us.org.

Search https://beta.sam.gov to see if any federal agencies 

are looking for your product or service. Search the SBA SubNet 

database for subcontracting opportunities.

Attend an SBA district office contracting workshop. Visit sba.gov/

localassistance to find your local office.

Identify your product or service number at naics.com.

Obtain a free DUNS number at fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A Unique 

Entity ID managed by Ernst & Young will replace DUNS in late 2020.

Register with the System for Award Management 

(sam.gov).

Research SBA certification programs like the 8(a), woman-owned 

small business, and HUBZone programs. If eligible. upload all 

required documents to certify.sba.gov before you submit an offer 

on a contract.

How to do business 

with the government

1

2

3

4

5

6

7
 47

Does the government buy the 

product or service that you sell?

Are you capable of fulfilling 

a government contract (e.g., 

time, staffing, and materials)? 

Do you have an accounting 

system that produces financial 

statements, such as profit and 

loss statements, balance sheets, 

and cash flow projections?

Do you know where to find 

contracting opportunities?

Are you credit worthy?

Do you already have 

federal/state/local government 

contracting experience? 

Make sure you have:

 ∙ a DUNS number

 ∙ the NAICS codes and size standards

 for your industry

 ∙ SAM registration

Continue to question 2.

Start with your local SBA district 

office. If you can't identify at least 

three federal agencies that might 

buy what you sell, contracting might 

not be right for you.

∙ Is the majority owner(s) a U.S. citizen?

∙ Does your company have a place of 

 business in the U.S.?

∙ Is your business organized for profit? 

Government contracting may ∙ Does your business generate revenue?

not be for you at this time.

x

?

x Ask an SBA business opportunity 

specialist for help.

Your local SBA district office can 

help you gauge ramp-up time and 

other factors that contribute to 

government contracting success.

?

x Before you get into government 

contracting, make sure your 

accounting system is compatible 

with the government’s requirements.

x If you don't yet have contracting 

experience, you won't reap the full 

benefit of opportunities like the 

8(a) Business Development Program. 

You can participate in the 8(a) 

program once, so make sure it's the 

right time for you.

✓

✓ Continue to question 3.

✓ Continue to question 4.

✓ Continue to question 5.

✓ Continue to question 6.

Do you have cash on hand to 

purchase working inventory, if needed? 

x Talk to an SBA Lender about 

getting a line of credit or a loan to 

do business with the government.

✓ Continue to question 7.

✓ Continue to question 8.

✓ Continue to question 9.

Government Contracting

Is it for you?

Government contracting can be a valuable tool to grow your small business, but it isn’t for 

everyone. Complete the following readiness assessment to help you decide whether your 

company can successfully compete for government contracts.

? Talk to an SBA Lender 

about how to build credit.

x Visit an SBA Resource Partner 

for tips on repairing your credit.

x This is a requirement for 

participation in some government 

contracting programs.

It sounds like you may be a good fit for government contracting! 

Visit your local SBA district office or sba.gov/contracting for more information.

✓ Continue below.

x These are requirements for 

participation in government 

contracting programs.

Confirm your answer to all 

of the following:

Government Contracting OPEN

CONTRACTING

Is it right for you? Government contracting can be a valuable tool to grow your small business, but 

it isn't for everyone. Complete the following readiness assessment to help you decide whether your 

company can successfully compete for government contracts. 
48

CONTRACTING

SBA Certification Programs

Contracting certification programs are 

designed to help you better compete 

for and win federal contracts set aside 

for small businesses. Visit sba.gov/

contracting to learn more about setasides and whether one or more of these 

government certification programs is right 

for your business. To see if you are eligible 

and to then certify as 8(a), woman-owned, 

All Small Mentor Protege or HUBZone, visit 

certify.sba.gov.

8(a) Business 

Development Program

If you’re an entrepreneur who is socially 

or economically disadvantaged, you 

may be eligible to receive business 

training and government contracting 

assistance through the 8(a) Business 

Development Program, sba.gov/8a. 

It includes free business development 

education, training workshops, and 

match-making opportunities with federal 

buyers. Firms owned by Alaska native 

corporations, Indian tribes, Native 

Hawaiian organizations, and community 

development corporations are also eligible 

for 8(a) business development assistance.

To be eligible for the 8(a) program, your 

small business must:

» be owned and controlled by U.S. citizens 

who are socially and/or economically 

disadvantaged

» demonstrate at least a two-year track 

record and have potential for continued 

success

» have a net worth and an adjusted gross 

income of less than $250,000 and assets 

under $4 million

Socially disadvantaged: those subjected 

HOW THE SBA HELPED 

ME SUCCEED

September Myres knew that becoming a 

government contractor would empower 

herself and other native peoples, while 

also growing her small business to the next 

level. She sought business development 

assistance from the SBA, qualifying for the 8(a) 

Business Development Program, which helps 

small disadvantaged businesses compete 

in the federal marketplace. This program 

helped September strategically grow her 

company to become a competitive force in the 

environmental services industry. Sundance 

Consulting of Pocatello, ID has secured 

Department of Defense contracts to improve 

Native American lands adversely affected by 

past department activities.

American Indians, Alaska natives, and 

native Hawaiians seeking entrepreneurial 

development training can start, grow, and 

expand their business with the help of the 

SBA, sba.gov/naa. The Office of Native 

American Affairs also consults with tribal 

governments prior to finalizing SBA policies 

affecting tribes.

COURTESY OF THE SUNDANCE CONSULTING

to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias 

without regard to their individual qualities 

because of their identity as members 

of certain groups. The following groups 

often fit this status: Black Americans, 

native Americans, Alaska natives, native 

Hawaiians, Hispanic Americans, Asian 

Pacific Americans, and subcontinent Asian 

Americans. A person who is not a member 

of one of these groups must establish that 

it is more likely than not that he or she has 

suffered social disadvantage.

Economically disadvantaged: those whose 

ability to compete in the marketplace has 

been impaired because they have not had 

as much capital and credit opportunities 

compared to others in the same or similar 

line of business.

The benefits of the 8(a) program:

» You are assigned an SBA professional to 

help coordinate business development 

assistance.

» You could be awarded an 8(a) sole-source 

contract up to $4 million for goods and 

services, $7 million for manufacturing, 

exceptions apply.

What is an 8(a) sole-source contract? 

A direct awarding of a contract to an 

8(a) small business that can provide the 

needed services. This is an accelerated 

process saving time for both you and the 

government agency or office.

All Small Mentor-Protege 

Program

Looking for an opportunity to partner with 

a more experienced firm for mentorship? 

That effort can be rewarded in the All 

Small Mentor-Protege Program, sba.

gov/allsmallmpp. At the same time 

you’re gaining invaluable direction and 

experience, you and your mentor can 

compete for government contracts, further 

growing your business.

To qualify for this program:

» Proteges must have a mentor prior to 

applying for the program. Visit your 

local SBA office for guidance. Ask about 

the SBA’s Resource Partners and the 

Procurement Technical Assistance 

Program for help in connecting you with a 

mentor business.

Your business could earn profit and gain valuable work experience by providing goods or services to 

the government.
 49

» You must be certified as a small business 

within your NAICS industry classification 

(naics.com).

» Mentors and proteges must be organized for 

profit or as an agricultural cooperative.

» Mentors cannot own more than 40% 

equity in the protege’s business.

» An SBA determination of affiliation must 

not exist between the mentor and the 

protege. All Small-approved partnerships 

receive an exclusion of affiliation for 

contracting purposes.

HUBZone

Businesses located in historically 

underused business zones, sba.gov/

hubzone, can gain special access to federal 

contracts. To qualify for the certification, 

your small business must:

» be owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, 

a community development corporation, 

an agricultural cooperative, Indian tribal 

government, Alaska native corporation, 

or a native Hawaiian organization

» have a principal office located in a 

HUBZone, which includes Indian 

reservations and military facilities closed 

by the Base Realignment and Closure Act. 

Enter your address in our interactive map, 

maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map, to 

see if you qualify.

» have at least 35% of your employees 

living in a HUBZone

Service-Disabled 

Veterans

If you’re a service-disabled veteran looking 

to enter the federal marketplace, you 

may be eligible for this small business 

certification. To determine your eligibility, 

contact a veterans business development 

officer at your local SBA office, or the SBA’s 

Office of Veterans Business Development, 

sba.gov/ovbd. After you have set up to do 

business with the government in sam.gov, 

update your status as a service-disabled 

veteran business. Keep in mind, the SBA 

does not officially certify this designation, 

so when a contract awarded based on 

this eligibility is protested, the SBA will 

determine if your business meets the 

eligibility status, ownership and 

control requirements.

CONTRACTING

Woman-Owned Small 

Business Certification

Here’s how to get certified so you can more easily 

compete for government contracts.

» The business must be owned and controlled by one or more women who are 

U.S. citizens.

» A woman must hold the highest officer position.

» Women must manage the daily business operations on a full-time basis and 

conduct long-term decision making and planning.

To qualify as an economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business, 

the business owner and/or manager must also meet certain income and asset 

requirements. Find out more at sba.gov/wosb.

» Register with the System for Award Management (sam.gov) to start doing 

business with the government.

» Update your status as a woman-owned small business in sam.gov.

» Submit your documents to certify.sba.gov. The SBA will offer free 

certification starting in late summer 2020. Or obtain certification from one of 

the SBA’s approved third-party certifiers (which costs a fee):

• El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• National Women Business Owners Corp.

• U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce

• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

» Search beta.sam.gov for your new business opportunity. You must receive 

your certification prior to submitting an offer on a contract set aside for a 

woman-owned small business.

1. Make sure you’re eligible

2. Register

3. Certify

4. Update your status

5. Search the database
50

CONTRACTING

An O’Fallon Casting Inc. employee at 

work in O’Fallon, MO. Owner Vince 

Gimeno grew his business thanks to 

expert SBA business counseling.

COURTESY OF THE SBA

Get Expert 

Contracting & 

Certification 

Help

Federal contracting can be complex, 

but you don’t have to do it alone. A 

Procurement Technical Assistance 

Center adviser can help you determine 

if your business is ready for government 

contracting. An adviser can also help 

you register in the System for Award 

Management (sam.gov) and see if 

you’re eligible for any small business 

certifications and/or programs. Visit 

sba.gov/localassistance to find oneon-one counseling that is free or low 

cost. (see page 10).

Arizona Procurement 

Technical Assistance 

Center

Glendale Community College, building 

I-2, room 105

6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale

(623) 845-4700

azptac.admin@domail.maricopa.edu

azsbdc.net/what-we-do/ptac

American Indian 

Chamber Education Fund 

Procurement Technical 

Assistance

Serving Indian reservations in the 

pacific and western BIA Regions located 

in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

Arizona AICEF PTAC

Program Manager Venessa Gleich

3200 N. Dobson Road, building C, suite 

113, Chandler

(480) 699-9529

venessa.gleich@aiccal.org
 51
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