1. Assistance for the Asking By Your Name

2. Why do we need Assistance ? Since everyone that owns a business is not always completely business savvy in every area of being an entrepreneur, assistance and support is needed in the form of local agencies, state agencies, federal agencies, and private professionals.

3. FEDERAL AGENCIES

4. Service Corps of Retired Executives Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a volunteer organization in which retired business executives share their business experience with small business owners.

5. Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a federal resource that ensures that business practices in the United States are fair. It enforces laws that regulate trade and protect consumers. It also monitors pricing, competition, credit, and export trade.

6. For more information on SCORE and FTC visit… http://www.score.org/index.html http://www.ftc.gov/ http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/alpha

7. State Agencies

8. (State) Department of Commerce Every state has a Department of Commerce. This department’s mission is to improve economic well-being and protect the quality of life for all citizens. This department is the state’s lead economic, community, and workforce development agency. This agency is also offered at both the state and federal level.

9. Department of Health and Human Services The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the health, safety and well being of all citizens of the state. It does this by providing the human service needs for the mentally ill, deaf, blind, disabled and the poor. DHHS is responsible for operating and/or licensing: Rest home regulations Prenatal programs Child care development programs Daycare programs

10. For MORE information on the state Department of Commerce or DHHS visit… http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/ http://www.nccommerce.com/en http://www.sc.gov/Portal/OrgList.aspx

11. Local Agencies

12. Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce is intended to stimulate local economic growth. They provide information on local economy, business needs of the community and business trends.

13. County Health Department This organization provides information on local health and safety regulations.

14. For more information on the Chamber of Commerce or County Health Department visit… http://www.sampsonnc.com/healthdept.asp http://www.clintonsampsonchamber.org/co mmunities.html http://www.clintonsampsonchamber.org/co mmunities.html http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_T erritories/Agencies_by_Topic.shtml http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_T erritories/Agencies_by_Topic.shtml

15. Professional Services

16. Accountants Accountants assist businesses in designing and maintaining bookkeeping systems. They also aid in planning and management advice. A another key aspect of their job is making recommendations on how to minimize tax liability.

17. Insurance Agents The job of insurance agents is to inform business owners of insurance requirements and regulations. Another portion of their job is to help business owners determine how to obtain adequate insurance coverage at the lowest cost.

18. More For More information on private professionals visit… http://www.agentsweb.net/awpub/default.as px http://www.agentsweb.net/awpub/default.as px http://www.accountingaisle.com/landing/ind ex.php?key=google&utm_source=google& utm_medium=cpc&kw=accountants&gclid= CKGy8tyOlZQCFQo2GgodmjD7tA http://www.accountingaisle.com/landing/ind ex.php?key=google&utm_source=google& utm_medium=cpc&kw=accountants&gclid= CKGy8tyOlZQCFQo2GgodmjD7tA

19. Sources I used several Internet sources and the Sources of Assistance Available to Entrepreneurs PowerPoint. All retrieved on June 27, 2008 from: http://www.score.org/index.html http://www.ftc.gov/ http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/alpha http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/ http://www.nccommerce.com/en http://www.sc.gov/Portal/OrgList.aspx http://www.agentsweb.net/awpub/default.aspx http://www.accountingaisle.com/landing/index.php?key=google&ut m_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&kw=accountants&gclid=CKG y8tyOlZQCFQo2GgodmjD7tA http://www.accountingaisle.com/landing/index.php?key=google&ut m_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&kw=accountants&gclid=CKG y8tyOlZQCFQo2GgodmjD7tA