New Business Resources
What to do when you're starting a new business or expanding your current business:
Idea Phase
Write a business plan to organize your thoughts and build the foundation of your business:
- Use the Small Business Administration's guide to writing a business plan
- Check out SCORE's Startup Roadmap
- Utilize one of SCORE's financial plan templates
- Work with a counselor from the Ohio Small Business Development Center via the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to help plan
- For women-owned businesses, see if The Women's Business Center can help you plan
What do you need legally to start a business in Bowling Green?
Internal Revenue Service Resources:
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) at the IRS website
- Check out IRS instructions on starting a business and record keeping
State of Ohio Resources:
- More information on starting a business or nonprofit can be found on the Secretary of State's website
- Register your business with the Ohio Secretary of State
- Find business resources and startup checklists at the Ohio One-Stop Business Connection
- Utilize the integrated tools available at the State's Ohio Business Gateway
- Answer your alcohol and liquor-related questions at the Ohio Division of Liquor Control website or by calling 614-466-2360
- Call the Ohio Department of Taxation with tax or registration questions: 1-888-405-4039 (Tax Questions) 1-888-405-4089 (Registration Questions)
- Set up for withholding tax if you have employees
City of Bowling Green Resources:
- Fill out a Business Registration Form
- Visit the City Income Tax Division website
- Set up for withholding tax if you have employees
Learn about the pros and cons of both starting your own business, or purchasing an existing business:
Planning Phase
How will you finance your business?
- Set up a business bank account - Individual or Corporation
- Calculate your startup costs with help from the U.S. Small Business Administration
- Learn about the variety of ways to fund your business
- Work with a counselor from the Ohio Small Business Development Center via the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to perform financial analysis
Need help securing business loans?
- Follow SCORE's template for requesting a business loan from a bank
- Utilize the resources available at the U.S. Small Business Administration to secure an SBA-guaranteed loan
- Check out the City of Bowling Green's Business Revolving Loan Fund
- See if you are eligible for the Grow Now Loan through the Ohio Treasurer's Office
- Use this Lender Match tool from the U.S. Small Business Administration to find a lender
- If you are a minority-owned business:
- If you are a woman-owned business:
- Work with the ECDI Women's Business Centers of Ohio to secure loan capital
- Check out the Women's Business Enterprise Loan Program through the Ohio Department of Development
How should you price your products and services?
- Read the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's guide to pricing your products
- Use the Small Business Administration's Practice Your Pricing worksheet to strategize your pricing
How do you tell when it's time to move on to a new product?
Who is your product for? What does the market for your product look like?
- Check out the Small Business Administration's guide to finding your target demographic through market research
- Utilize SCORE's guide on how to do market research
- Work with a counselor from the Ohio Small Business Development Center via the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to perform market research
How much do you expect to make? And how do you make a projection?
Launch Phase
Need help securing business loans?
- Follow SCORE's template for requesting a business loan from a bank
- Utilize the resources available at the U.S. Small Business Administration to secure an SBA-guaranteed loan
- Check out the City of Bowling Green's Business Revolving Loan Fund
- See if you are eligible for the Grow Now Loan through the Ohio Treasurer's Office
- Use this Lender Match tool from the U.S. Small Business Administration to find a lender
- If you are a minority-owned business:
- If you are a woman-owned business:
- Work with the ECDI Women's Business Centers of Ohio to secure loan capital
- Check out the Women's Business Enterprise Loan Program through the Ohio Department of Development
Where will the business be ran? What do you need for employees, if you have any?
- Check out the Small Business Administration's guide to finding a business location
- If you're looking for a spot in Downtown Bowling Green, contact the Downtown BG Special Improvement District
- If you're looking for other space in Bowling Green, contact Bowling Green Economic Development
- Looking to do business near Bowling Green? Check out the Wood County Economic Development Commission
How will you find employees? What do you need from your first batch of workers to get the business up and running?
- Read through the Ohio Small Business Development Center's guide to hiring your first or next employee
- Check out the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's tips for recruiting at your small business
- Review the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Top 10 Ways to Recruit and Retain a Strong Small Business Team
- Look at the Small Business Administration's guide to hiring and managing employees
- If you are a BG Chamber of Commerce member, let us host your job listings on our Investor Job Postings page
How do you plan on selling to customers?
- Create a Marketing Plan using the Small Business Administration's guide
- Utilize SCORE's guide to marketing plans or their online course on marketing plans for startups
- Search for a free Sales Plan template that fits your needs
Marketing
Learn about the basics of marketing:
- Take an online course through SCORE to learn about online marketing or watch this video from SCORE's Manasota, Florida Chapter to learn Marketing 101
- Check out this article from Forbes that goes in-depth on small business marketing
- See if the Small Business Administration is hosting a Marketing 101 seminar online by checking their Events page
- There are plenty of other learning opportunities available here, not just Marketing 101!
- Join your local Chamber of Commerce and take advantage of all they do to make your business more visible
How do you identify your consumers?
- Identify and capture your target market with help from the Small Business Administration's guide to market research
- Utilize SCORE's guide to performing market research
- Work with a counselor from the Ohio Small Business Development Center via the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to do market research
Leverage the uniqueness of your business:
- Utilize the Small Business Administration's guide to using competitive analysis to find a market advantage
- Work with a counselor from the Ohio Small Business Development Center via the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to engage in strategic market planning
How do you use social media to expand your market and build brand value? Which social media platforms does your market use?
- Read the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's article on social media marketing trends in 2023
- Check out the Small Business Administration's guide to social media for small businesses
- Use these 5 tips from the Small Business Administration to make your business social media-savvy
- Take one of SCORE's online courses to master online marketing
- Join the BG Chamber of Commerce and take work with us to feature your ads in our weekly newsletter or on the homepage of our website
Is your advertising legally compliant?
- Take a look at the Federal Trade Commission's Advertising FAQ to find out if your ads are legally compliant
If you are starting a business in or near Bowling Green, contact us to find out if we can help connect you with resources, perform marketing for you, or offer you networking opportunities.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce is especially important to new businesses because we focus on robust networking events and proven marketing opportunities. Contact us for a New Investor Meeting and learn more about how our organization can benefit your business.