Government agencies can be a particularly useful place to start for prospective entrepreneurs. State governments are also eager to introduce small business to the nuts and bolts of exporting. Susan Baker, founder and owner of Ohio River Bear Co. in Middleport, Ohio, turned to the trade agency when she decided it was time to investigate export-market opportunities. Baker attended seminars on selling abroad, met with Ohio trade representatives from various overseas offices, and attended several foreign-trade shows held in Ohio. A number of programs go far beyond information and networking.
Entrepreneurs keep costs down by sharing services and equipment, such as telephones.
They also get access to a wide range of technical expertise. The Jackson State University Small Business Development Center works out of the incubator so it can more easily help entrepreneurs with their business plans. Charles Doty is an enthusiastic graduate of the incubator. When he started Lextron Corp., an electronics manufacturing company, in 1990, he was able to rent 400 square feet of incubator space at rates below market. Hinds Community College screened job applicants for him, and the incubator's business experts guided him to a state-backed project that paid part of his employees' salaries during their training week.