Difference between revisions of "The Small Business Administration"

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==About==
 
==About==
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Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Small Business Administration's (SBA) number one strategic goal is growing businesses and creating jobs, and its second goal is to serve as the voice for small business. The major tools employed by the SBA are a range of financial assistance programs for small businesses that may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan. SBA's programs also include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, and specialized outreach to women, minorities and armed forces veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade. [https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/what-we-do/history| ]
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<onlyinclude>Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has two strategic goals: first, growing businesses and creating jobs, and second, to serve as the voice for [[:Small Business]]. SBA claims that the core of their entrepreneurial development is the foundation of targeted, effective advising, training, and mentoring services to drive business. Their entrepreneurial development performance goal focuses on driving greater participation in the resource partner advising and mentoring programs and training courses. The [[:SBA]] primarily offers a range of financial assistance programs for small businesses that may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan. The SBA guarantees $65 million in loans to small businesses through its two major loan programs, 7(a) and 504. Follow this link for a list of the major [[SBA Loans]]. SBA's programs also include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, and specialized outreach to women, minorities and armed forces veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade. [https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/what-we-do/history| ] </onlyinclude>
  
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==Major Loan Programs==
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Agencies affiliated with the SBA include: Small Business Investment Company ([[SBIC]]), Small Business Innovation Research ([[SBIR]]), and Small Business Development Centers ([[SBDC]]).
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===7(a) Loan Program===
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*The biggest program is the 7(a) Loan Guarantee, which guarantees as much as 85% of loans up to $150,000 and 75% of loans of more than $150,000. The maximum loan SBA guarantees is 5 million. [http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/why_we_should_clone_america_small_Y2ehdTvAi81O87SOECPr9H| ]
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==Contact==
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*7(a) loan applications are made to and funded by SBA accredited partners. When a business applies for an SBA loan, it is actually applying for a commercial loan, structured according to SBA requirements. The lender is largely protected by the SBA guarantee.
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*A small business pays between 7.5%-9.5% interest on their loan. This interest is split between: banks, which can charge no more than 2.75% on top of the prime rate (currently 3.25%), and a SBA guarantee fee ranging between 2%-3.75%. [http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/why_we_should_clone_america_small_Y2ehdTvAi81O87SOECPr9H| ]
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Answer desk: answerdesk@sba.gov
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*In 2015 the SBA approved 63,461 7(a) loans for a sum of $23.58b at an average of $371k. The total of all loans guaranteed was $111.769b with a bad debt rate (called charged off) of less than 1 per cent. [http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/why_we_should_clone_america_small_Y2ehdTvAi81O87SOECPr9H| ]
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*7(a) program is targeted towards larger companies with 2-3 years of experience. This loan is not geared towards startups or "smaller" large businesses, as evidenced by the average loan size of $317,000. [http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/why_we_should_clone_america_small_Y2ehdTvAi81O87SOECPr9H| ]
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Houston office: houston@sba.gov
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===8(a) Loan Program===
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*Target towards certified socially and economically disadvantaged companies (socially disadvantaged meaning racially and/or ethnically disadvantaged).
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Office of Chief Information Officer: (202-205-6708)
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*Minority businesses, which must leave the program after nine years.
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*Entrepreneurs who participate in the 8(a) Program are eligible for the 7(a) Guaranty Loan and the Pre-Qualification Programs.
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Office of Performance Management and the Chief Financial Officer: (202-205-6449)
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*Participants can receive sole-source contracts, up to $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing. To qualify as economically disadvantaged, a borrower must have a net worth of less than $250,000, assets under $4 million, as well as two years’ worth of tax returns. [http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244989| ]
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*The firm must be at least 51 percent owned by the disadvantaged program applicant and owners must show good character.
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==FY 2016 Entrepreneurship Goals==
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===504 Loan Program===
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*Broad goal: Strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems through a variety of strategic partnerships to provide tailored training, mentoring, and advising  services that support entrepreneurs during every phase of their business growth.
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*Intended to supply funds for asset purchases (i.e., land or equipment)
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*Performance goal: reach 1.4 million clients with online and in-person training, mentoring, and advising in FY 2016.
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*Like the 7(a) program, the 504 program is restricted to small businesses with less than $7 million in tangible net worth and less than $2.5 million in net income. However, since funds from 504 loans can't be used for working capital or inventory, consolidating or repaying debt, or refinancing, this program tends to exclude most service businesses that need to purchase land or equipment. [http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/79254| ]
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*Programs offered: Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Learning Center, Boots to Business, Regional Innovation Clusters, Entrepreneurship Education, Emerging Leaders
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===7(m) Microloan Program===
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*Strategies:
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*Intended to provide "small" loans of up to $35,000 that can be used for a broad range of purposes to start and grow a business.
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#Harness SBA's nationwide network of resource partners
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*Start-up friendly. All new businesses are eligible to apply. Although the maximum loan amount is $35,000, the average loan is approximately $10,000. [http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/79254| ]
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#Improve entrepreneurial ecosystems through cross-agency and public-private partnerships
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*Unlike the 7(a) program, the funds to be loaned don't come from banks; rather, they come directly from the SBA and are administered to business owners via nonprofit community-based intermediaries. [http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/79254| ]
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#Offer tailored training through structured programs and online access
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*Must concurrently enroll in technical assistance classes administered by the micro-lender intermediaries to be eligible for loan.
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===Other===
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==Budget==
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*Export Working Capital Program provides short-term working capital to small, export businesses.
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*DELTA program provides both financial and technical assistance to help businesses dependent on defense installations transition to civilian markets.
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SBA's total budget request for FY 2016 (including Stafford Act Disaster funding) is $860 million. Of this amount, $3.3 million is for business loan subsidy, $19.9 million for the Office of the Inspector General and $9.1 million for the Office of Advocacy. This total is  inclusive of $28 million for administering non-Stafford Act disasters.  
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[https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/1-FY_2016_CBJ_FY_2014_APR_508.pdf|SBA FY16 Budget Highlights]  
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Some 2016 budget reforms include:
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*Launch SBA One, a program designed to increase loan efficiency process
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*Allocates $3 million towards "idea lab" which will help adopt private sector best practices
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For further detail, see [[SBA Budget Graphs]].
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==Criticisms==
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The most prevalent criticisms of the SBA include [http://www.cato.org/publications/congressional-testimony/waste-fraud-abuse-small-business-administration-programs| ]:
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#Creates uneven playing field by aiding some businesses while denying aid to others, thus distorting markets;
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#Duplicating activities already provided in private markets;
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#Harms businesses and consumers;
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#Government intervention in deciding market trends can often bet on the wrong companies at taxpayer expense;
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#SBA fosters corruption.
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Specifically,  
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*GAO released Report 10-108 which found that failing to hold firms accountable sent a message to the contracting community that there is no punishment or consequences for committing fraud. See [http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10108.pdf| the report] for more information.
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*The SBA has difficulty in [[SBA Lender and Loan Oversight]].
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*The CATO Institute argues that the very conception of the SBA was a bad idea, questioning the federal government's strategy in intervening in the credit market. They say that the United States grew to be an economic powerhouse with a small centralized federal government that largely left business development to the private sector. For more information about the CATO institute's criticism, see this [http://www.cato.org/publications/congressional-testimony/waste-fraud-abuse-small-business-administration-programs| article].
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==Literature==
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===SBIC===
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*[http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-107 GAO report on SBIC]
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**GAO recommended that SBA provide guidance to SBIC on how to collect and report data on their investments in minority, women, and veteran owned businesses.
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*[http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/description-of-the-small-business-23940/ Description of the SBIC Debenture Program]
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===SBIR===
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*[http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/669651.pdf GAO report finds SBIR data reporting inadequate]
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==McNair Center Internal==
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[[McNair Center-specific courses of further action regarding SBA]]
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===Articles===
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[[SBA and Data Reporting]]

Latest revision as of 14:41, 14 March 2016

About

Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has two strategic goals: first, growing businesses and creating jobs, and second, to serve as the voice for Small Business. SBA claims that the core of their entrepreneurial development is the foundation of targeted, effective advising, training, and mentoring services to drive business. Their entrepreneurial development performance goal focuses on driving greater participation in the resource partner advising and mentoring programs and training courses. The SBA primarily offers a range of financial assistance programs for small businesses that may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan. The SBA guarantees $65 million in loans to small businesses through its two major loan programs, 7(a) and 504. Follow this link for a list of the major SBA Loans. SBA's programs also include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, and specialized outreach to women, minorities and armed forces veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade. [1]

Agencies affiliated with the SBA include: Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), and Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).

Contact

Answer desk: answerdesk@sba.gov

Houston office: houston@sba.gov

Office of Chief Information Officer: (202-205-6708)

Office of Performance Management and the Chief Financial Officer: (202-205-6449)

FY 2016 Entrepreneurship Goals

  • Broad goal: Strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems through a variety of strategic partnerships to provide tailored training, mentoring, and advising services that support entrepreneurs during every phase of their business growth.
  • Performance goal: reach 1.4 million clients with online and in-person training, mentoring, and advising in FY 2016.
  • Programs offered: Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Learning Center, Boots to Business, Regional Innovation Clusters, Entrepreneurship Education, Emerging Leaders
  • Strategies:
  1. Harness SBA's nationwide network of resource partners
  2. Improve entrepreneurial ecosystems through cross-agency and public-private partnerships
  3. Offer tailored training through structured programs and online access

Budget

SBA's total budget request for FY 2016 (including Stafford Act Disaster funding) is $860 million. Of this amount, $3.3 million is for business loan subsidy, $19.9 million for the Office of the Inspector General and $9.1 million for the Office of Advocacy. This total is inclusive of $28 million for administering non-Stafford Act disasters. FY16 Budget Highlights

Some 2016 budget reforms include:

  • Launch SBA One, a program designed to increase loan efficiency process
  • Allocates $3 million towards "idea lab" which will help adopt private sector best practices

For further detail, see SBA Budget Graphs.

Criticisms

The most prevalent criticisms of the SBA include [2]:

  1. Creates uneven playing field by aiding some businesses while denying aid to others, thus distorting markets;
  2. Duplicating activities already provided in private markets;
  3. Harms businesses and consumers;
  4. Government intervention in deciding market trends can often bet on the wrong companies at taxpayer expense;
  5. SBA fosters corruption.

Specifically,

  • GAO released Report 10-108 which found that failing to hold firms accountable sent a message to the contracting community that there is no punishment or consequences for committing fraud. See the report for more information.
  • The SBA has difficulty in SBA Lender and Loan Oversight.
  • The CATO Institute argues that the very conception of the SBA was a bad idea, questioning the federal government's strategy in intervening in the credit market. They say that the United States grew to be an economic powerhouse with a small centralized federal government that largely left business development to the private sector. For more information about the CATO institute's criticism, see this article.

Literature

SBIC

SBIR

McNair Center Internal

McNair Center-specific courses of further action regarding SBA

Articles

SBA and Data Reporting

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