SBA's Free Online Tool Helps Small Businesses Develop an Export Business Plan

Small businesses interested in starting or expanding sales of their goods and services overseas now have access to a new, free online tool that will gauge their readiness to export and help them develop an export business plan.

The Export Business Planner, developed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers a ready-made, customizable and easily accessible document that can be updated and referenced continuously as the business grows.

The Planner, located at www.sba.gov/exportbusinessplanner, allows users to:
* Determine their export readiness;
* Learn about training and counseling opportunities;
* Complete worksheets for global market research;
* Obtain financing information and options;
* Customize export marketing plans, and;
* Access resources for exporters

"Creating jobs through exporting is one of the nation’s top economic priorities, as the President indicated when he launched the National Export Initiative," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills [pictured]. "Giving exporters the tools to do their part in this effort is essential. The new Export Business Planner is one such tool and will serve businesses in the critical process of planning for their success."

The Planner is a PDF file that can be easily downloaded, accessed, customized and updated every time you use it. It features an extensive compilation of export research and information -- including quick links to websites, video profiles, training podcasts, trade statistics, contact information to counseling resources such as SCORE and SBDCs, a list of current SBA lenders, plus much more.

The tool is organized in comprehensive chapters that are cross-linked and indexed for efficiency and easy access to related topics.

The chapters include:
* Introduction to Exporting
* Training and Counseling
* Getting Started: Creating an Export Business Plan
* Developing your Marketing plan
* Financing your Export Venture
* Accounting Worksheets: Costing, Financial Forecasting and Product Pricing
* Utilizing Technology for Successful Exporting
* Your New Marketing Plan: Summary, Timeline
* Updates, Transportation and Documentation

A distinct and very useful feature of the Planner is the customizable worksheets. These documents provide templates for developing your export business plan; conducting business assessments and foreign market research; creating your marketing plan; costing and sale projections; goal-setting; and much more.

Additional SBA Programs Available
For more information about all of the SBA’s programs for small businesses, call the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800 U ASK SBA; or, TDD 704-344-6640. Or, visit the SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov.

SOURCES: U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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Educational Videos by SBA, Inc. Magazine and AT&T Promote Exporting by U.S. Small Businesses

Small businesses seeking to grow their businesses and create jobs through exporting can turn to new, free educational videos created through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, Inc. Magazine and AT&T.

Through this public-private partnership, a series of online video modules has been developed to inspire and encourage American small businesses to actively pursue exporting, and to educate them on how to do so.

"Winning the future means supporting small businesses that want to grow and create jobs through exporting," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "SBA is very pleased to have partnered with Inc. Magazine and AT&T in the production and distribution of this video series, which will help small firms that are new to exporting, or looking for new markets, to sell their goods and services."

The "Take Your Business Global" video series features five main topics that guide small businesses through the process of exporting: Getting Started in Exporting; Planning for Export Success; Connecting with Foreign Buyers; Financing; plus five case studies of successful small-business exporters.

The videos begin with answers to the frequently asked question, "Why Export?" They feature SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns [pictured]; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke; U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk; and a variety of small-business exporters.

Other modules feature exporting experts discussing how to take your business global. The videos are posted at www.inc.com/exporting.

"Inc. is proud to work alongside the Small Business Administration and AT&T to provide entrepreneurs with a valuable resource in their efforts to expand their businesses overseas," said Bob LaPointe, Inc. president. "This video series will educate business owners about what to expect when they launch an international business.

“We have put together experienced small-business exporters, as well as officials from local and national resources, to provide a complete picture. Inc. is always happy to help small businesses grow."

"AT&T is excited to be part of this initiative, and to collaborate with the SBA and Inc. magazine," said Cathy Martine, AT&T Executive Vice President, Small Business Solutions.

"We believe U.S. small businesses are engines of innovation, and strongly encourage them to grow by thinking globally and taking advantage of technology," Martine added. "With the emergence of online commerce and digital communications, the potential to export products and services around the world has never been greater.”

Funding for this project was jointly provided by Inc. Magazine and AT&T. Also, Inc. Magazine created the site to host the videos. Both firms will distribute DVD copies of the videos and related materials approved by SBA, and promote the series in online and print advertising.

The joint program will be launched tomorrow [April 8] at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, site of the Inc. conference GROWCO, an event targeting growing small businesses.

The co-sponsorship agreements will remain in effect through Aug. 31, 2012.

GoodBiz113's Take
This is a prime example of public-private partnering at its finest. Hats off to SBA, Inc. Magazine and AT&T for developing this educational video series for small-business owners aiming to promote their goods and services around the globe.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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SBA Offers Podcasts on Exporting for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Interested in exporting your goods or services? The Small Business Administration [SBA] has several podcasts available to assist small and medium-sized companies.

Most SBA podcast topics range from marketing and sales, human resources, and the technology that you employ to keep your business functioning smoothly. If you want to expand your market to other countries, SBA currently offers seven podcasts focused on exporting:

* Intellectual Property Rights: Protecting and Enforcing Your IPR in Foreign Markets

* Where Will Your Next Customer Come From? Look Around the World

* Competing in the Global Market: SBA's International Trade Programs

* Exporting to Russia

* Exporting to Uganda

* Exporting to Bahrain

* Exporting to Cameroon

SBA's series of podcasts offer expert insight and guidance about running your business. To listen to them and/or download the transcripts, go to: http://1.usa.gov/PodcastsSBA.

SOURCES: Export.gov, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Sen. Reid Announces Small Business Committee Assignments for 112th Congress

Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-Nev., pictured] released Small Business Committee assignments for the 112th Congress.

"I am looking forward to continuing to work with the members of this committee in the new Congress," said Sen. Mary L. Landrieu [D-La.], selected to continue in her role as committee chair.

"We have taken some extraordinary steps over the last two years to improve access to capital for small businesses," Landrieu noted, "to promote trade and exporting opportunities, and to ensure that small businesses receive their fair share of federal contracts.

"But our work is not finished. We have built the foundation for small businesses to lead our economic recovery and to create jobs. Now, it is time for us to strengthen those initiatives, so that our nation’s job creators can truly succeed in today’s competitive global marketplace."

Members of the Small Business Committee for the 112th Congress include Carl Levin [D-Mich.], Tom Harkin [D-Iowa], John Kerry [D-Mass.], Joseph Lieberman [ID-Conn.], Maria Cantwell [D-Wash.], Mark Pryor [D-Ark.], Benjamin Cardin [D-Md.], Jeanne Shaheen [D-N.H.], Kay Hagan [D-N.C.], Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], David Vitter [R-La.], Jim Risch [R-Idaho], Marco Rubio [R-Fla.], Rand Paul [R-Ky.], Kelly Ayotte [R-N.H.], Mike Enzi [R-Wyo.], Scott Brown [R-Mass.] and Jerry Moran [R-Kan].

SOURCES: Harry Reid: United State Senator for Nevada [photo], U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative Announced Today

Today, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke [pictured] joined seven other U.S. government agencies in launching a coordinated effort to promote renewable energy and energy-efficiency exports: the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative.

The initiative was developed through the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee Working Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which includes representatives from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Energy, State, and Agriculture. Other members include the Export-Import Bank of the United States [Ex-Im]; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation [OPIC]; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Through the initiative, the U.S. Government will support renewable energy and energy efficiency [RE&EE] exporters by offering new financing products; enhancing market access; increasing trade promotion; and improving the delivery of export promotion services to current and future RE&EE companies.

"The initiative lays the foundation necessary to help U.S. renewable-energy and energy-efficiency companies take better advantage of current market opportunities," Locke explained. "It also positions federal government programs to better support U.S. global competitiveness in these sectors over the long run."

Energy is a $6 trillion global market, and clean energy is the fastest-growing sector.

The initiative, which is described in a report being released today by the Commerce Department, comes on the heels of formation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, which is made up of industry leaders. Locke chaired the committee’s first meeting today. This committee will advise Secretary Locke on the development and implementation of programs and policies that will help to expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable-energy and energy-efficiency industries.

This initiative is the U.S. Government’s first-ever coordinated effort to support the promotion of renewable energy and energy-efficiency exports. Through the implementation of 23 inter-agency actions, the initiative is designed to facilitate an increase of RE&EE exports during the next five years, helping to meet the goals of the National Export Initiative and President Obama’s challenge to become the leading exporter of clean-energy technologies.

As part of the initiative, the federal government is launching a new online portal to provide renewable-energy companies easy access to U.S. Government export resources. Further, the Commerce Department is committing to an increased number of RE&EE trade and trade-policy missions.

Additionally, the initiative calls for:

* Creation of foreign buyers' guides for U.S. RE&EE technologies;
* Commitment by OPIC to invest an additional $300 million in financing for renewable-resource projects in emerging markets, plus additional new products for energy efficiency-subordinated debt financing and clean-energy technology equipment leasing;
* Streamlining of RE&EE financing applications at both OPIC and Ex-Im;
* Formation of a new subcommittee at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to address market access barriers facing the U.S. RE&EE industry in foreign markets; and
* Expansion of USDA’s Market Access Program [MAP] to include biomass wood pellets. [Currently, the program focuses on biofuel products, but not biomass.]

The report is available for download from the new Web portal at http://export.gov/reee.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce
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Secretary Clinton Highlights Importance of American Exports to Overseas Markets During Visit to Boeing Maintenance Facility in Shanghai, China

Earlier today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton [pictured] visited the Boeing Maintenance Facility at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport to promote U.S. aviation exports to China. She toured the facility and met with U.S. aviation exporters and other companies to discuss commercial opportunities in China. Participants shared their experiences with the secretary, and explained the opportunities and challenges they face in this dynamic market.

Secretary Clinton highlighted the importance of American exports to overseas markets, particularly in Asia, in support of President Barack Obama’s National Export Initiative -- a government-wide effort to double U.S. exports over the next five years, and support two million U.S. jobs.

* China is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets, and provides tremendous opportunities for U.S. companies and U.S. exports. Industry forecasts predict a 300 percent increase in passenger traffic, from 230 million passengers in 2009, to 700 million passengers in 2020 -- and further doubling to 1.5 billion by 2030. Aviation continues to be the leading U.S. export industry, generating a global surplus of $60 billion in 2008.

* The Boeing Maintenance Facility builds upon the commercial relationship between the United States and China to promote economic development, technological advancement, and prosperity for both nations and the world at large.

* U.S. exports to China are a key market -- the U.S.’s third-largest -- hitting record levels in the first quarter of 2010, with an increase of approximately 46 percent compared to 2009.

* The growth of imports from the United States in key sectors -- such as energy, chemicals, transportation, medical equipment, construction and machinery -- suggests that China will remain an important and viable market for a wide range of products. With growing numbers of Chinese people traveling abroad for education and leisure purposes, China’s contribution to U.S. educational institutions and the tourism industry is increasingly important, as well.

* The United States remains the largest single-country market for China’s exports.

Secretary Clinton has committed the Department of State and the U.S. Embassies overseas to support efforts to expand markets, promote American exports, advise businesses wishing to operate overseas, and protect U.S. economic interests. These efforts benefit American workers, businesses and economies and contribute to overall U.S. security and shared global prosperity.

For more information on President Obama’s National Export Initiative [NEI], please visit http://bit.ly/ObamaNEI.

GoodBiz113's Take
The NEI holds great potential for growing the economy, and helping U.S. businesses -- especially small businesses and farmers -- prosper for the long term. President Obama, Secretary Clinton and other members of the Administration are to be applauded for stepping up the win-win-win prospects of America's exporting activities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State
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