Help for Small Businesses
- Overland Park office: (913) 621-0832.
- Click here to learn how to open your case.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I know it can be hard knowing where to find help when you need it. Below is a selection of resources available to entrepreneurs and small businesses owners in the Kansas Third District.
How We Can Help
My office is dedicated to helping Kansans fix problems they may be having with the federal government. We may able to assist business owners with:
- Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
- Overdue tax refunds.
- Navigating SBA programs.
- Connecting you with local resources like those listed below.
These are just some of the ways we can help. And if we can't help you directly, we'll do our best to find someone who can. We're here to serve you.
Get help right away:
- Overland Park office: (913) 621-0832.
- Click here to learn how to open your case.
Click here to go back to the top.
Helpful Resources for Local Businesses:
The following organizationsoffer free or low-cost services to small business owners in our area. That includes advisory services for new and experienced business owners, networking connections and capital assistance.
Kansas Small Business Development Center at JCCC:
The Kansas SBDC is a partnership between the Small Business Administration and Johnson County Community College. They are here to help answer questions, advise, and connect entrepreneurs with resources. They offer individualized, confidential, and comprehensive advising at no charge to small business owners in our region.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, here are some of the services they offer:
- Develop a business plan.
- Knowledge and insight into both SBA and conventional financing.
- Develop a budget and a cash flow analysis.
- Establish key performance indicators.
- How to strategically use debt, including lines of credit.
- Market research and industry intelligence reports.
- Online courses on management financing, intellectual property, how to navigate tax laws, accounting, and much more.
Please click here to visit the SBDC website. If you have any questions, you can also email ksbdc@jccc.edu or call (913) 469-3878.
Kansas City SCORE:
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program connects students from underserved and minority communities, and those with disabilities, with former executives to learn about entrepreneurship and what it takes to run a small business.
These SCORE mentors can provide resources, experience, and exposure to interested students about how to become a small business owner or innovator.
Kansas City Women’s Business Center:
Established 30 years ago, the Women’s Business Center program helps women entrepreneurs grow and hire. To do that, local centers across the country provide resources and counseling to women business owners. Today, there are 150 centers throughout the U.S. that serve over 88,000 business owners annually—including the KC WBC, located in Fairway, Kansas.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, here are some of the services they offer:
- Monthly workshops and seminars on topics important to the start-up or existing business owner. These events are open to men and women.
- One-on-one consultation within their areas of expertise.
- Growth Mentoring Service, a free program that matches entrepreneurs with mentors for practical, day-to-day professional advice and coaching.
- LaunchU, an 8-week development program that combines a nationally-recognized curriculum, coaching, and mentoring to help you determine whether your business idea is a feasible opportunity.
- Connection with various other funding, mentorship, and community resources in the Kansas City area.
Click here to visit the Kansas City Women’s Business Center website or call (913) 492-5922 for assistance.
While this program is already very successful, these local centers could do even more for women-owned small business. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act. I’m pleased to share that it has passed the House with overwhelming support among Republicans and Democrats.
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions:
Based in Lenexa, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) offers low-cost manufacturing extension services to small and medium-sized manufacturers in Kansas. That includes services related to supply chain, manufacturing career awareness, technology acceleration and automation, process improvement, and business and leadership development. KMS is the only federally supported Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program Center in Kansas.
Local County Resources:
Each county in the Third District offers resources for business owners or folks looking to start a business in the area, as well as networking opportunities with other local small businesses. Check them out here:
- Wyandotte County Business Relief Resources
- Johnson County Business Resources
- Miami County Economic Development
- Franklin County Economic Development
- Anderson County Economic Development
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Other Helpful Resources:
- SBA E-newsletter: Sign up to get information directly via sba.gov/updates. Be sure to add your zip code to receive Kansas City-specific information.
- Local Events: To see events for the current week or future months, please visit the SBA Kansas City District Office website and scroll down to Small Business Events.
- Help forVeterans: The Veterans Business Resource Center or Vetbiz is partially funded by the SBA. Visit the website at: vetbiz.com.
- Help for Minority-Owned Businesses: The U.S. Department of Commerce and Kansas Department of Commerce both have helpful resources for minority business owners. Visit the U.S. Dept. of Commerce: Minority Business Development Agency website here, and the Kansas Dept. of Commerce: Office of Minority and Women Business Development website here.
- Export Tools: We're in a global economy and different markets around the world may be an important business opportunity. Here are some resources that may help you:
- Export-Import Bank: This independent agency is here to help facilitate international transactions when private sector lenders are unable to do so.
- Export Assistance: The Department of Commerce offers a number of tools to help businesses export their products around the globe. Those include:
- Connecting to Global Markets: Learn more about foreign buyers, expanding in new markets, and more.
- Classification Search Tool: Find out your product's classification.
- USA Trade Online: Do a deeper dive on trade data to learn more about business opportunities.
- Global Market Finder