Departments

Community Services

Community and Business

Small Business Resources

Directory of State-Certified and SBA-Certified Small Businesses In Bucks County: 2008

Upcoming Events:

The Bucks County Commissioners and the Bucks County Department of Community and Business Development sponsor workshops for small business owners........... Contact Sonia Smith for information at srsmith@co.bucks.pa.us.

Federal and County Government Contracting Workshop -- Thursday June 12, 2008

State Certification and Government Contracting Workshop--Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Government Contracting Opportunities and Certification for Women/Minority owned Businesses -- Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Entrepreneur's Guide
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Business Development has developed The Entrepreneur's Guide: Starting and Growing a Business in Pennsylvania. The guide contains free services, checklists, helpful tips and procedures. The guide also lists addresses, websites, and telephone numbers for contacting business-related agencies. The guide is available at www.inventpa.com. A hardcopy can be ordered from the Pennsylvania Center for Entrepreneurial Assistance by calling 1-800-280-3801 or by emailing
ra-dcedcea@state.pa.us.

SBA Starter Kit
The Philadelphia District's Small Business Administration Office has available online a Starter Kit which contains information about getting started with a small business, finding the money you need, regulations, SBA assistance programs, local sources of assistance, and FAQ's. The document is available at www.sba.gov/pa/phil. The Philadelphia SBA office can be reached at 215-580-2SBA.

Electronic Small Business Technical Guide
SCORE and content provider Easi Media, Inc. have partnered to provide a free electronic small business technical guide, iEdition, to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The product shortens the time it takes to research a business venture and provides immediate access to business information, ideas and concepts, hints and tips on running a business, opportunities, industry resources, taxes, and regulations. A CD copy of iEdition can be obtained by visiting a SCORE office, with locations at the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce, the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce, or the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation. A copy can also be downloaded through a link at www.SCORE.org .

Featured Website
Our featured website is PaOpen4Business.state.pa.us , where doing business in Pennsylvania is just a click away. This website provides entrepreneurs “one door” access to business information. Entrepreneurs can explore financial options, download forms necessary to start or expand a business, and electronically register a business with the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor and Industry, Revenue, and State.

Previously Featured Website
At www.PaCareerLink.state.pa.us, employers can register to post available job openings and to search for qualified applicants. A Business Resource Area has links to state and federal agencies. Employers have access to PALMIDS, the Pennsylvania Labor Market Information Database System, which provides state and county labor market data and information.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tax Incentives
Businesses that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may be eligible for tax incentives. Businesses with 30 or fewer employees or total revenue of $1 million or less may use a CREDIT of up to $5000 per year to offset the costs of architectural adaptations, equipment acquisitions, and services such as sign language interpreters. All businesses, whatever their size, can take a DEDUCTION of up to $15,000 per year for the cost of architectural or transportation adaptations. Explanation: A tax credit is subtracted from your tax liability after you calculate your taxes, while a tax deduction is subtracted from your total income before taxes, to establish your taxable income. More information about the ADA and these tax incentives is available at the ADA Business Connection website at www.ada.gov. The ADA Information Line can be reached at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).

Women Business Owners

• The Center for Women's Business Research has published a resource guide for women business owners: Proven Strategies and Corporate Perspectives: Methods that Work for Creating Corporate Clients. The guide is available at www.womensbusinessresearch.org. Call the center at 202-638-3060, extension 10, or email a request to info@womensbusinessresearch.org for a copy of the guide.
• The Department has developed Internet Resources for Women Business Owners and Women & Entrepreneurship: The Statistics. Free copies of the fact sheets are available by contacting the department at business@co.bucks.pa.us or by calling 215-345-3840.

Brochures
The Department has updated and expanded their set of brochures which cover a wide array of topics of interest to existing small businesses and persons interested in setting up their own business. The brochures contain phone numbers and websites to help you with your business issues. The topics included are:

• Regulations Affecting Small Businesses
• How to Structure Your Business
• Preparing Your Business Plan
• Preparing Your Marketing Plan
• Funding Your Business
• Protecting Your Business Ideas

Free copies of the brochures can also be obtained by contacting the department at business@co.bucks.pa.us or by calling 215-345-3840.

Access to Legal Information
The website www.businesslaw.gov is an online resource guide that provides legal and regulatory information to small businesses. The website acts as a gateway to federal, state, and local information. The site contains a "Business Startup Advisor" section, which includes topics such as Business Basics, Business Planning, Financing, Marketing, Employees, and Taxes. The site also provides the ability to apply for a Federal EIN online.