So you want to start your own business? Good for you! Over 98% of businesses in Illinois are small businesses and they employ almost 50% of the workforce. Nearly 90% of the exports from Illinois come from small businesses.
Let's get started.
Steps to Success
Whether you’re starting or growing your business, it’s your life—24/7, holidays and weekends. You have to think about hiring the right people, evaluating the financials, implementing a strategy, increasing your business’s value, creating a successful culture, planning to sell, and more. Whew! Below are the resources that can help get the ball rolling, wherever you are in the game.
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Planning
Ben Franklin is credited for this well-known quote: "If you fail to plan you are planning to fail."
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Education
Increasing your business knowledge helps your business grow. You can find educational resources on Bridge in the form of blog posts, upcoming events, and information on the provider pages.
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Municipal Incentives
It's very important to know what incentives and resources are available to you in the community where your business will be or is located.
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Permits & Licenses
Your business may need to obtain business licenses or professional licenses depending on its business activities. Illinois provides a comprehensive database of every license and permit that may be required for your business.
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Financing
You’ve decided to turn your passion into reality by opening a small business. One of the first steps is determining how much money you will need to start this business.
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Marketing
Marketing is about getting the RIGHT products or services to the RIGHT customers or clients at the RIGHT time and the RIGHT location for the RIGHT price.
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Legal
Of all the legal issues you may encounter when starting a business, one of the most important decisions is the type of legal structure you select for your company.
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Accounting
Accounting is an essential part of operating a profitable business and the importance of keeping complete, accurate records cannot be overstated.
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Location
The location of your business could be your home, a retail location or office, online, or some combination of these. No matter where your business is located, there are a number of issues to consider
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Buy/Sell Business
Buying or selling a business is a complex process that requires careful planning and analysis. It will probably involve one or more outside professionals -- an accountant, attorney, real estate agent, lender, or others.
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Refresh Business
Is your business stagnating? How can you tell? The easy answer is to look at your bottom line -- an important indicator but one that may not tell the whole story.
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Tools and Resources
Quick—what’s the difference between a good business and a great business? You got it—having access to the right tools and resources. From video tutorials to webinars, you’ll discover a treasure trove of info to learn more about growing your business.
Providers
Our network of local resource providers offers services and assistance to help you out. Go on, don’t be shy—tap into them! They’re here to support and help grow your business at all stages.
Connecting with the Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC is a great first step for new and established businesses that are looking for resources to...
The City of Champaign is happy to help you Plant Roots and Grow Your Businesses right here in one of the most dynamic and thriving cities in the...
Local Rockstars
Success starts with a dream and a drive to succeed. Now these small businesses and startups have taken center stage in our community. If you're looking for some inspiration, check out their growth stories. Chances are, they've started out a lot like you. Read on, rock on.
BusinessUSA
To be honest, navigating the government side of business can be, well, tough. Not to mention tedious! Get quickly connected to the right information with the resources from BusinessUSA. Designed by businesses, for businesses, it’s your entry point to all things government.