_________________________________ DES MOINES AREA INFORMATION _________________________________ Determining your business' structure: The Iowa Secretary of State offers an informative page on structuring your business at: http://www.sos.state.ia.us/business/handbookintro.html If you decide to incorporate in Iowa, you must file with: Secretary of State Corporate Division Lucas Building, 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319. Tel.: 515-281-5204 The Iowa Secretary of State's web site is: http://www.sos.state.ia.us/ __________________________________ Business Tax Information: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a number of publications that are available locally upon request. One of themost helpful is Your Business Tax Kit, which includes data and forms for a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a tax guide for small businesses that can be ordered by calling Forms and Publications at (800) 829­-3676 or through a visit to your local IRS office. Remember, if you hire employee(s) you must have a FEIN. For answers to general tax questions, call 1-800-829(TAX)-1040 Write to: IRS 210 Walnut Street Des Moines, IA 50309 The IRS toll free number for requesting a FEIN is 1-866-816-2065. The IRS web site is: IRS - http://www.irs.gov For state business tax information, contact: Department of Revenue 1305 E. Walnut St. Des Moines IA 50319 Tel.: 1-515-281-3114 A sales tax number is required for each business before opening. The number, plus instructions for collection, reporting and remitting the money to the state on a monthly basis, can be obtained from: 1-800-367-3388 Web site: http://www.state.ia.us/tax/ - Starting a Business in Iowa (all offices) Department of Economic Development 200 E. Grand Avenue Des Moines IA 50309 Tel.: 1-515-242-4700 Toll free: 1-800-532-1216 in Iowa. An informative web site specializing in state tax and other information for startup businesses in Iowa is located at - http://www.iowasmart.com - Business License Information Center __________________________________ Employee Safety: All businesses with employees are required to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the protection of employees. For information on state labor laws, work force availability, prevailing wages, unemployment insurance, unionization, benefits packages and employment services contact: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Entrepreneurial Assistance Team: http://www.iowasmart.com . For answers to specific questions, call 1-800-532-1215 in Iowa or 515-242-4707 from out-of-state. For information packets, call 1-800-532-1216. Federal information on wage and hour issues may be obtained by contacting the: U.S. Department of Labor 1000 E. Grand Ave. Des Moines IA 50309 Tel.: 1-515-284-4625. Web site: http://www.dol.gov Workplace safety issues are handled by: OSHA 1000 E. Grand Ave. Des Moines IA 50309 Tel.: 1-515-281-5387. Web site: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/ __________________________________ Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment insurance must be reported and returns made to the state. If a business employs three or more people, workers' compensation insurance must be carried to provide protection to those injured in on­the­job accidents. The State Board of Workers' Compensation aids people who need claim assistance. Claims: 1-877-891-5344. In the Des Moines area and outside of Iowa: 1-515-281-4199. Web site: Iowa Workforce Development Center Web Site: http://www.iowaworkforce.org/ (all offices) Worker's Compensation Insurance: Coverage is required by law of all employers employing one person or more. Every employer is presumed to have elected coverage under the Workmen's Compensation Act, unless he/she files a notice with Workmen's Compensation Service rejecting coverage. Employers rejecting coverage are presumed to obtain coverage from a private carrier. For more information contact: Worker Compensation Service 507 - 10th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 Tel.: 1-515-281-5387. __________________________________ Minimum Wage: All business entities are subject to the federal minimum wage, overtime and child labor laws. Information on these laws and other federal workplace laws may be obtained from: Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Tel.: 515-284-4625. DOL Web Site: http://www.dol.gov/ _________________________________ Other licensing and regulatory contacts: Liquor sales, dance floors, billiard halls, etc.: In the Des Moines area, call 515-283-4209. Outside Des Moines, call the office of your local city clerk. Dealer license to sell motor vehicles: Office of Vehicle Registration ATTN: Dealer License SECTION PO Box 9204 Des Moines, IA 50306-9204 Tel.: 515-244-8725 Hours: M-F 8-4:30 CT Environmental concerns for manufacturers and producers: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division 502 E. 9th Street Des Moines, IA 50319. DNR/EPD Web site: http://www.state.ia.us/epd/ General compliance information Tel.: 515-281-4367. Air Quality Bureau Tel.: 515-242-5100. Land Quality Bureau (Contaminated Sites) Tel.: 515-281-8934. Water Quality Bureau Tel.: 515-725-0282. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 210 Walnut Street Des Moines IA 50309 Tel.: 1-515-284-4029 Action Line (for compliance information) 1-800-223-0425. General information Tel.: 1-913-551-7000. Toxic spill reports Tel.: 1-913-281-0991. Web Site and Brownfields Program information: http://www.epa.gov/ Building codes and zoning regulations: Check with your local city or county government building department. New construction: 1. Obtain bid(s) from contractor(s) 2. Require performance bond from contractor (See Surety Bonding). Food businesses, restaurants and gas stations device calibration: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Division Henry A. Wallace Bldg., 1st Floor 502 E. 9th Street Des Moines, IA 50319. Tel.: 515-281-5716 __________________________________ SBAExpress: SBAExpress makes capital available to businesses seeking loans of up to $350,000 without requiring the lender to use the SBA process. Lenders use their existing documentation and procedures to make and service loans. The SBA guarantees up to 50 percent of a SBAExpress loan. Like most 7(a)loans, maturities are usually five to seven years for working capital and up to 25 years for real estate or equipment. For revolving credits, you may take up to five years after the first disbursement to repay the loan. Not all SBA lenders are SBAExpress lenders. Visit PLP and SBAExpress http://www.sba.gov/ia/desmo/clp.html for a list of approved SBAExpress lenders in the Des Moines office service area. Enhanced SBAExpress SBA expanded the SBAExpress Program to increase the number of program participants nationwide dramatically. This program places special emphasis on reduction of paperwork and simplified eligibility requirements on loans of less than $50,000. Please contact your local lender if you are interested in a SBAExpress loan. __________________________________ Exporting: The United States Export Assistance Center (USEAC) provides assistance and information on a wide variety of export programs including the SBA's Export Working Capital Program (EWCP). In addition, the Center promotes and markets the Agency's International Trade Loan Programs. The USEAC provides a mix of marketing assistance available through the Department Of Commerce, the state SBDC network and the financing assistance available from participating agencies including the SBA and the Export­Import Bank. Under EWCP, the SBA guarantees up to 90 percent of the loan, up to $750,000. Loan maturities may be for up to three years with annual renewals. Loans can be for single or multiple export sales and can be extended for preshipment working capital and post-shipment exposure coverage or a combination of the two. Proceeds can only be used to finance export transactions. The SBA can guarantee up to $1.25 million on an International Trade Loan (ITL) for a combination of fixed­asset financing and working capital. The working capital portion cannot exceed $750,000. Contact: U.S. Export Assistance Center 8182 Maryland Avenue, Suite 303 St. Louis, MO 63105 Tel.: 314-425-3304 International trade Ext. 228 Export Development Ext. 237 __________________________________ Surety Bonding: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can Guarantee Surety Bonds for Contracts up to $2 million. The SBA Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) program provides small and disadvantaged contractors with contracting opportunities for which they could not otherwise compete in the standard contracting market. Through this program, the SBA can guarantee bid, performance and payment bonds for contracts up to $2 million for eligible small contractors. Contractors with average annual receipts of $6 million or less over the previous three years, including affiliates, qualify. Manufacturers qualify based on the number of employees. The SBG program consists of the Prior Approval Program and the Preferred Surety Bond program. Under the Prior Approval program, the guarantee may range from 80 to 90 percent of the losses sustained under a guaranteed bond and the surety must obtain SBA approval for each bond. Certified HUBZone contractors are eligible for a 90 percent guarantee under the prior approval program. Potential applicants can determine if they are located within a HUBZone by searching their address or county using the HUBZone search system. A contractor may obtain a list of prior approval surety agents by mail from: SBG Area Office 3 721 19th Street, Suite 426 Denver CO 80201-0660 Under the Preferred Surety Bond program, selected sureties receive a 70 percent bond guarantee and are authorized to issue, service and monitor bonds without the SBA’s prior approval. For more information on the Preferred Surety Bond Guarantee program in Eastern Iowa, you may contact: Dawnelle Conley at the SBA Des Moines District Office (515) 284-4913 e-mail: dawnelle.conley@sba.gov The SBA Surety Information Office (SIO) has an informative web site at www.sio.org The SIO may be contacted by email at sio@sio.org or by telephone at (202) 205-6540. __________________________________ Minority Assistance (8a): For business development assistance, visit the Minority Business Development Agency - mbda.gov For assistance with SBA 8(a) Program participation in Iowa, please call the U.S. Small Business Administration in Des Moines: Dawnelle Conley, SBA Minority Enterprise Development Tel.: 1-515-284-4913 __________________________________ SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business: Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, is a 13,000­member volunteer association sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Since 1964, the association has matched volunteer business­management counselors with clients in need of expert advice. SCORE has experts in virtually every area of business management and maintains a national skills roster to help identify the best counselor for a particular client. Volunteer counselors share their management and technical expertise with both present and prospective small business owners. SCORE volunteers are members of 388 locally organized chapters offering assistance in almost 800 locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Every effort is made to match a client's needs with a counselor who is experienced in a comparable line of business. All individual and team SCORE counseling is free; there may be a nominal fee for training workshops and seminars. Through in­depth counseling and training, SCORE volunteers help prospective and established small business owners and managers identify problems, determine the causes and find solutions. SCORE chapters offer low­cost pre-business workshops that address topics like assessing entrepreneurial potential, developing a start­up checklist, selecting a legal entity, creating a business plan and securing funding. SCORE counselors also help successful firms review their distribution channels, survey expansion, modify products and meet other business challenges. Other workshops offer experienced business owners information on a myriad of subjects, including starting a home­based business, purchasing a franchise, defining a marketing and advertising strategy, implementing a waste­reduction plan, setting merchandise prices and beginning an exporting venture. Any small business can obtain help from SCORE. The approach is confidential and personal. You don't need to be applying for or to have an SBA loan to participate in the program. In fact, an idea is all that is necessary for consultation and counseling. SCORE Iowa Address List: http://www.score.advocate.net/iowascore.html __________________________________ IOWA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBDC Iowa Address List Visit the Iowa SBDC Home Page from "Iowa Outside Resources Hotlinks" under the "Business Resources" heading. The SBDC network is recognized as one of the finest business outreach programs of its kind in the nation. The SBA provides 50 percent or less of the operating funds for each state SBDC. General business education, such a management, development, technical information and marketing assistance form the bulk of SBDC services. These business education services are offered via one­on­one counseling as well as regularly scheduled training seminars. The mission of the SBDC network is made up of the following elements: - To support entrepreneurship and business expansion through educational opportunities that cover human resources, management, technology, capital formation and infrastructure needs of the business community. - To address regional economic development needs for information by providing applied economic development research to communities and regions. - To assist in the expansion of international trade primarily by educating new exporters who need assistance in all elementsof exporting. - To deliver in­house managerial and employee training targeted especially to businesses which have difficulty obtaining affordable training. - To facilitate the creation of economic development leadership groups that focus on the creation, retention and expansion of business. - ­ To provide special attention to the needs of minority entrepreneurs by identifying procurement opportunities, locating sources of capital and supporting outreach efforts of historically black colleges and universities. - To assist existing businesses in taking advantage of state and local incentives for job creation, employee training and other expansion efforts. _______________________________ Legal Issues: Do you have a legal question but not quite ready to hire an attorney just yet? The Iowa Small Business Legal Clinic may have the answers you need. Although not a substitute for an attorney, the Small Business Legal Clinic at BusinessLaw.gov has many of the answers to common small business legal questions. Research the 12 main business categories in the Iowa Small Business Legal Clinic first, then take your unanswered questions to a qualified attorney. You will save money and time. Small Business Legal Clinic at Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/ Patent and Trademark Information (from our Local Resources links) - iabus.html Thank you for visiting the Des Moines District web site. To request a copy of our free booklet, email us at: dmdo@sba.gov Type "send me a free Small Business Resource Guide" in the subject line and type your name and complete mailing address in the content box. Please see us again soon. Visit the following link to go to: The Nationwide SBA Startup Kit http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/startup/guide.html Last Modified: 6-1-2005