Government Agencies
These agencies offer a multitude of services to include financial assistance, professional guidance on development, information on corporate taxes, a checklist of requirements for new businesses, networking opportunities, legal requirements, and so on.

Local Agencies
City of Columbia:  Bid Online
Columbia Better Business Bureau http://columbia.bbb.org/
Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce http://www.columbiachamber.com/
Richland County Government http://www.richlandonline.com/
Service Corps of Retired Executives  http://midlands.score.org/

Local Business Development Centers
Benedict College Business Development Center  http://www.benedict.edu/cms/?q=node/192
City Center Partnership http://www.citycentercolumbia.sc/
Darla Moore School of Business http://mooreschool.sc.edu/
Engenuity South Carolina http://www.engenuitysc.com/
Micro-Business Academy http://colaobo.microbusacademy.com/
Midlands Technical College Education Resource  http://www.midlandstech.edu/
Minority Business Development Agency  http://www.mbda.gov/businesscenters/columbia
University of South Carolina Small Business Development Center  http://www.usca.edu/sbdc/
South Carolina Women's Business Center http://scwbc.net/

State Agencies, Councils, and other Groups
BizBuilderSC  http://bizbuildersc.com/
Carolinas Associated General Contractors of America  http://www.cagc.org/
Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils  http://www.carolinasmsdc.org/
Governor's Office of Small & Minority Business Assistance http://www.govoepp.state.sc.us/osmba/
SC Dept. of Labor and Licensing http://llr.state.sc.us/
SC Business One Stop https://www.scbos.sc.gov/
SC Chamber of Commerce  http://www.scchamber.net/
SC Dept. of Commerce  http://scbiznetwork.com
SC Dept. of Revenue http://www.sctax.org/default.htm
SC Dept. of Transportation http://www.dot.state.sc.us/
SC Economic Developers' Association  http://www.sceda.org/
SC Gov Small Business http://www.sc.gov/Business/Pages/startingABusiness.aspx
SC Retail Association  http://www.scretail.org
SC Secretary of State's Office http://www.scsos.com/
SC Dept. of Employment Workforce  http://dew.sc.gov/
SC Dept. of DHEC http://www.scdhec.gov/
SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce http://scsbc.org/
SC Small Business Development Center http://www.scsbdc.com/

Federal and National Agencies
HUBZone https://eweb1sp.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/index.cfm
Internal Revenue Service http://www.irs.gov/
Kauffman Foundation  http://www.kauffman.org/
National Women Business Owners Corporation  http://www.nwboc.org/
US Dept. of Labor  http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/osdbu/sbrefa/
US Government Business Assistance  http://business.usa.gov/
US Minority Business Development Association  http://www.mbda.gov/ 
US Patent and Trade Office  http://www.uspto.gov/
US Small Business Administration  http://www.sba.gov/
US Women's Chamber of Commerce  http://www.uswcc.org/

Veteran and Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurs
US Small Business Administration  http://www.sba.gov/content/veteran-service-disabled-veteran-owned

Disabled Entrepreneurs
US Small Business Administration  http://www.sba.gov/content/people-with-disabilities

Business Publications
Below are links to some of the publications you will find helpful in starting, growing and building capacity for your business.

Black Enterprise http://www.blackenterprise.com/
Black Pages USA www.blackpagessouth.com
Business Week http://www.businessweek.com/
Business Consortium Fund, Inc. http://www.bcfcapital.com/
Center for Women's Business  http://www.cfwbr.org/
Columbia Business Monthly http://www.columbiabusinessmonthly.com/
Entrepreneur http://www.entrepreneur.com/
Forbes  http://www.forbes.com/
Hispanic Business  http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/
Inc.com http://www.inc.com/
Minority Business Entrepreneur http://www.mbemag.com/
Minority Business News http://mbnusa.biz/
Money Magazine.com  http://money.cnn.com/
National Association of Women Business Owners  http://www.nawbo.org/
SC BIZ  http://www.scbiznews.com/
 

Contact Office of Business Opportunities at 803.545.3950