New SBA SizeUp Tool Delivers Free Customized Business Analysis to Small Businesses
by Michael Chodos, Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development  In today's challenging economic environment, where small businesses create two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S., help for small businesses is more critical than ever before. A key foundation of success in business is to leverage data analysis to discover insights and make smarter decisions. Delivering these types of services online provides the greatest opportunity to reach the most businesses. That's why SBA has made available SizeUp, an online small business support service that can deliver customized business analysis to an unlimited number of businesses.
SizeUp provides data analysis in three key ways:
- Benchmarking an existing business to see how it sizes up by comparing performance to all other competitors in the same industry;
- Mapping competition to see where competitors, customers, and suppliers are located; and
- Finding the best places to advertise by choosing from pre-set reports to discover areas with the highest industry revenue and the most underserved markets. Custom demographic reports can also be created.
SizeUp empowers small businesses to make smarter choices by providing many of the same types of business analysis large corporations use – for free. Big businesses are more able to afford hiring expert consultants or have internal staff experts to interpret massive data and help make informed decisions. Small businesses typically cannot afford to do this, so they are at a competitive disadvantage. SizeUp helps level the competitive playing field by providing this data to small businesses at no cost.
Note: GIS Planning, Inc., the company that created SizeUp, has licensed the tool to SBA for one year. SBA's acceptance of this product is not an endorsement of the opinions, products or services of GIS Planning, Inc.eholder text. |
SBA Visits Colorado Springs to Provide Disaster Relief  Above: Burl Kelton, PIO at SBA Disaster Field Operations answers specific questions on SBA's Disaster Loans.
On Friday September 28, the Colorado Springs offices of Senator Udall and Bennet hosted SBA staff at the Colorado District Office and Disaster Field Operations at the Colorado Springs Together Center. The purpose of this visit was to educate those affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire on the resources of SBA Disaster Assistance.
In the case of a disaster SBA is there for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations with low interest disaster loans to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.
The benefits of an SBA Disaster Loan:
- Direct Federal Loan
- Quick Processing
- Affordable Loans:
- Low interest rates
- Long-terms (up to 30 years)
SBA Disaster loans available for:
- El Paso & Larimer County
- Neighboring counties of Boulder, Crowley, Douglas, Elbert, Fremont, Grand, Jackson, Lincoln, Pueblo, Teller & Weld eligible for EIDL only.
Loan Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: October 9, 2012
Economic Injury: May 7, 2012
To read more about SBA's Disaster Assistance Program, click here or call SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service 1-800-659-2955.
SBA hosts Encore Entrepreneur Day with AARP
The U.S. Small Business Administration and AARP teamed up on Oct 2, 2012 to improve the chances for success of “encore entrepreneurs,” or entrepreneurs over the age of 50, by matching them with successful business owners from SBA’s vast resource partner network.
Check out the full article by clicking here:
Where will SBA be this month? Colorado Entrepreneurship Marketplace
October 5th, 8:30am-7pm
Pueblo Convention Center
320 Central Main Street
Pueblo, CO 81003
Brighton SBDC Lender Forum
October 5th, 9am-1pm
1850 East Egbert #140
Brighton, CO 80601
8a & PTAC Event
October 11th, 9-11:30am
14305 E. Alameda Ave.
Aurora, CO 80012
Federal Procurement Basics: Maximizing Your Veteran’s Status
October 18th, 9am-12pm
1850 East Egbert #140
Brighton, CO 80601
SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program Webinar Training
October 24th, 10:50am-12pm
If you have comments, questions, or topics you are interested in hearing about in our newsletter please email suggestions to Taylor Marshall, taylor.marshall@sba.gov
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