Small Business Blog

The Iowa Small Business Relief Fund provides grants and tax deferrals to eligible Iowa businesseses. Another federal program announced eariler this week is the SBA Economic Impact Disaster Loan program (EIDL) that provides long term, low interest loans to eligible businesses. The Iowa Western Small Business Development Center can provide assistance and insight into these programs. We are a no-cost service and can provide application guidance as well as assistance gatherin

During this unprecendanted crisis, it is imperative to keep in contact and communication with your customers. Here is a customizable flyer that you can brand and fill in as needed as work to adjust your policies and plans during this time. Customizable Coronavirus (COVID-19) flyer

It seems like every topic these days is ultra-polarizing. Views on the Coronavirus COVID-19 are no exception. Social media comments and posts range from paranoia to annoyance and disregard. With recent cases in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area and with rumors spreading faster than the virus itself, make sure to look for reputable resources for facts The CDC recently launched Coronovirus.gov with extensive information for all U.S. residents, not just including business ow

America's SBDC Iowa (SBDC) Announced that The Hub of Council Bluffs, Iowa is the winner of the SBDC's statewide Business of the Month Award for November! We are so proud to have worked with The Hub and Brooke Hubbard during her start-up process! What a great addition to our community. Read the entire press release here: The Hub

What a way to begin the new decade! Get out there and finally start that business you have been dreaming about. The Iowa Western SBDC has free Smart Start Workshops in January and February. These workshops cover the essentials to help you get started and answer those daunting questions. The SBDC is a free service and will work with you one on one after the workshop to help you through the process from planning to managing and marketing your business.

After you purchase insurance that’s required by law, you can find insurance to cover any other business risk. As a general rule, you...

Market research blends consumer behavior and economic trends to confirm and improve your business idea. It’s crucial to understand your...

What is a popup shop? PopUp shop is the temporary use of physical space to create a long term, lasting impression with potential...

Creating a personal brand can be a intimidating task. And one of the easiest ways to get lost in the process is to not know how to start....

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity....

Floods and other unexpected disasters can devastate a business. The Iowa Western SBDC is here for all businesses affected and can help in...

Program benefits To help provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or...

As soon as you start accepting or spending money as your business, you should open a business bank account. Common business accounts...

Having goals for things we want to do and working towards them is an important part of being human. Goals big and small can be the...

Trademarks, patents, copyrights, domain names, and business name registrations all differ, so it is important to learn whether a...

If your business is booming, but you are struggling to keep up, perhaps it’s time to hire some help. The eight steps below can help you...

Are you dreaming of starting a small business? The Iowa Western Community College SBDC is offering FREE workshops titled “Smart Start” at...

Market research blends consumer behavior and economic trends to confirm and improve your business idea. It’s crucial to understand your...

Cybersecurity is critical to all businesses, especially small businesses. In order to understand cybersecurity, we’ll begin our...

Establishing and managing business credit can help your company secure financing when you need it, and with better terms. Business credit...