The resources here supplement the curriculum at our in-person Empowerment Workshops. Explore now to get a head start, download your pre-training packet, or brush up on concepts after your workshop, as you plan the next steps for your business.
Your packet of Pre-Training Materials contains worksheets to complete before you arrive at your workshop. Download it now to get a head start!
SBA.gov online tool
An easy-to-use online tool to calculate whether your business qualifies as “small” according to federal standards, provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Look up results based on your NAICS codes and yearly receipts.
eCFR online regulations
From the electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), this list shows the current size standards for businesses in any industry to be considered a “small business.” Look up your business sector using your NAICS code.
Census.gov online data tool
The Census Business Builder (CBB) Regional Analyst edition provides broad information about people and businesses in a region, based on data from the U.S. Census. Regional Analyst Edition is one of two CBB data sets you can search.
Census.gov online data tool
The Census Business Builder (CBB) provides demographic and economic data from the U.S. Census to help business owners learn about the potential market they wish to serve. Small Business Edition is one of two CBB data sets you can search.
Census.gov web page
NAICS codes are the federal standard for classifying businesses by industry. Learn more at this link and download the most recent NAICS manual.
Video, 5 min
The 4Ps of marketing are place, price, product, and promotion. These concepts can inform your marketing plan, help increase sales, and bring value to your customers.
Video, 13 min
An interview with Michael E. Porter, a professor at Harvard University, who developed Porter’s five competitive forces as a business framework.
16 pages, PDF, 242 KB
The pamphlet helps a prospective business owner evaluate the profitability of the market they plan to enter and discusses the forces that influence that market. A resource from Purdue University.
SBA.gov web page
The actions to take to start your business, broken down into easy-to-understand steps.
2 pages, PDF, 395 KB
Use the SWOT analysis to explore strengths and weaknesses (factors inside your business) and opportunities and threats (factors outside your business, that come from the industry you are part of) in your new business.
2 pages, MS Word doc, 186 KB
Use this worksheet to examine how product, place, price, and promotion affect your marketing outcomes.
16 pages, PDF, 630 KB
Learn about Porter’s five forces, a system to analyze and understand the industry and market that your new business must compete in.
963 pages, PDF, 7.5 MB
A reference book to find the industry codes that best fit your business. NAICS codes are used in government contracting.
4 pages, PDF, 1.6 MB
Refine your marketing story based on the research and information you have gathered about your new business so far. Also in the Pre-Training Materials packet.
1 page, PDF, 375 KB
Focus in on the pricing, distribution, promotion, and customer service strategies that will be necessary for your business to succeed. Also in the Pre-Training Materials packet.
1 page, PDF, 375 KB
Determine the industry your new business belongs to, describe your customer base, and analyze competitors. Also in the Pre-Training Materials packet.