Due to geographic isolation and lack of support services, rural small businesses have a severe disadvantage in accessing business development resources such as Small Business Counseling, Business Plan Development and assistance applying for Federally Guaranteed Loans. This study will evaluate the feasibility of creating eProBiz.com Small Business Virtual Resource Center. It is proposed that this interactive, web-based resource center will not only assist small business owners in creating a detailed business plan, but will also automatically complete all forms necessary for submittal to a federally guaranteed loan program. This program will work in conjunction with current counseling resources available through Small Business Development Centers, Service Corps of Retired Executive volunteers, Rural Extension Offices, and commercial lending institutions. On a one-on-one basis, 80 percent of the questions received by SBDC and SCORE counselors are fundamentally the same question. By making the standardized issues available on the web on demand, it will provide counselors more time to handle their client's complex problems. There is tremendous need for using current technology in this innovative way to combine on-line counseling, analysis and planning resources to rural businesses 24 hours a day, seven days a week resulting in increased small business start-ups and expansion. ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH This technology, once developed, will provide the foundation for improved business counseling productivity, allowing massive increases in the number of business owners who can more efficiently and effectively seek guidance, develop a business plan, and apply for capital. By providing rural business owners the tools to effectively access business planning and working capital, eProBiz.com will provide a foundation for improved employment and revenue generation opportunities in rural areas across America.
