Resources and Links

FSMSDC’s training workshops, one-on-ones, and services are ONLY for 7(j) eligible small businesses located in SBA Regions I, II, and IV (see states listed below).

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Agency: FSMSDC


The Council’s overarching mission is to increase purchasing from small, minority and disadvantaged businesses by corporations and government entities, while increasing their operating capacity through hands-on business technical assistance, training, capital resources, technology and matchmaking. Also, the organization certifies that a company is 51% or more minority-owned and operated.

Website: www.fsmsdc.org
Location: Florida – FSMSDC
Phone: (305) 762-6151
Fax: (305) 762-6158

Agency: Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration’s mission is to maintain and strengthen the nation’s economy by aiding, counseling, assisting, and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.

Website: www.sba.gov

Agency: SCORE

SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and Washington, DC and has 389 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors. SCORE was founded in 1964.

Website: www.score.org

Agency: Small Business Development Centers

The Office of Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDC’s offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations. The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state and local governments and is an integral component of Entrepreneurial Development’s network of training and counseling services.

Website: www.floridasbdc.org

Agency: U.S. Commercial Service

Trade experts assist U.S. firms in exporting their products and services by providing comprehensive counseling and advice, through timely and accurate intelligence regarding foreign markets, by identifying qualified international buyers and representatives, by advocating on their behalf, and by providing comprehensive solutions to whatever challenges they may encounter.

Website: www.export.gov/florida

Agency: Export-Import Bank of the United States

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.

Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies — large and small — to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy.

Ex-Im Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing. We assume credit and country risks that the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept. We also help to level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to their exporters.

Website: www.exim.gov

Agency: EXPORT.GOV

Export.gov is the U.S. Government’s export promotion and finance portal. We designed this portal to deliver critical export information and services from across the U.S. Government to small and medium-sized U.S. companies to begin or expand their exporting business.

Federal export assistance is delivered by many U.S. Government Agencies. To learn more about these various agencies, we have provided you the following list.

Website: www.export.gov

Agency: Export-Import Bank of the United States

Here is your opportunity to learn current and in-depth facts about MBE, WBE, DBE, 8(s) and SDB certification. The Guide was created to teach and assist companies that are considering applying for Women-Owned or Minority-Owned Business certification. The primary purpose of the guide is to inform the reader of the “do’s and don’ts” of the application process. The “Insiders How-To Guide” is written by professionals who are considered the leading EXPERTS in the field; consultants who, in the past eight years, have successfully assisted over four hundred (400) Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Business companies through the applications process of certification.

Website: www.mwbe-enterprises.com

Agency: NAICS


The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.

Website: www.census.gov/naics

Agency: Metro Broward


Since 1989, Metro Broward has served as a catalyst for the growth and expansion of small businesses in Broward County, by injecting them with mentoring and growth capital — with the near-term expectations of job creation and the establishment of a lending relationship with a conventional lender. Our success is due to the continued investments and support from our banking partners, private sector investors, state and local government and our clients.

Website: www.metrobroward.org

Agency: Business Consortium Fund


The Business Consortium Fund, Inc. (BCF) is a non-profit business development program of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). It is the nation’s most comprehensive financing and business support organization dedicated exclusively to the ethnic minority-owned business sector.

The Business Consortium Fund (“BCF”) has initiated a new account receivable financing program for NMSDC certified MBEs. The new BCF program can provide access to account receivable
(factoring) loans to MBEs financing a minimum of $10,000 in receivables. There is no application fee or set-up fee in connection with this program and the MBE is not required to make a longterm commitment to or finance all of its receivables through the program. MBEs must be NMSDC certified and doing business with a NMSDC national or local corporate member to apply.

To find out more about the program or to request an application for potential funding, please contact the BCF at 212-243-7360 or at [email protected].

Website: www.bcfcapital.com

Agency: GrowFL


At no charge, GrowFL will provide a suite of high-end, high-speed technical assistance and business tools to companies that have grown beyond the startup phase and need access to information and decision-
making tools.

Website: www.growfl.com

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT RESOURCES

Agency: DemandStar


Onvia (NASDAQ: ONVI) helps businesses achieve a competitive advantage by delivering timely and actionable sales opportunities and information. More than 8,100 subscribers across the United States rely on Onvia as a comprehensive resource for industry-specific information needed to make intelligent sales decisions.

Onvia offers unparalleled coverage of government purchasing activity in addition to commercial and residential projects in development for markets such as architecture and engineering, IT/telecom, business consulting services, operations and maintenance, and transportation.

Website: www.demandstar.com

Agency: BidClerk


BidClerk’s mission is to connect all parties within a construction project. From owners and architects to contractors and suppliers, BidClerk is the one place on the Web where everyone can meet to get the job done. BidClerk allows contractors to find construction projects within local markets that meet their exact criteria.

In addition, there are tools provided that enable users to connect with
each other, download project contact data, manage projects, and advertise their business. BidClerk is not only for contractors, but also for those in need of a service.

Website: www.bidclerk.com

US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ARTICLES – TIPS FOR BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

GRANTS & ADDITIONAL LINKS

GLOSSARY OF BUSINESS FINANCIAL TERMS

Accrual Basis Accounting: recognizes revenues when earned and expenses are matched with the related revenues and/or are reported when the expense occurs, not when the cash is paid deducts expenses when incurred. 

Adjusted Net Worth: Post disaster fair market value of tangible assets, less liabilities, within certain restrictions. 

Affiliate: Business concerns are affiliates if one concern controls or has the power to control another, or if a third party controls or has the power to control both. Generally, an affiliate may be any concern of which the applicant, or its principals, owns greater than 50 percent or more. 

Affiliated Group: When two or more distinct legal entities are affiliated. 

Amortization: A non-cash operating expense that reduces the value of intangible assets (such as patents, trademarks or goodwill) in a systematic manner. Amortization is recorded in the financial statements of an entity as a reduction in the carrying value of the intangible asset in the balance sheet and as an expense in the income statement. 

Applicant Entity: The LLC, Partnership, Trust or Corporation requesting disaster loan assistance. 

Applicant Individual: Individual requesting disaster loan assistance. 

Applicant/Co-Applicant: The individual(s) or legal entity requesting disaster loan assistance. 

Assets: Any item of economic value owned by an individual or corporation, especially that which could be converted to cash. Examples are cash, securities, accounts receivable, inventory, office equipment, a house, a car, and other property. 

Available Asset Test: Part of the CET that determines if an applicant(s) has sufficient assets to borrow private sector funds to repair/replace uncompensated disaster damages without incurring undue hardship. (Certain exclusions apply.) 

B/E (Business EIDL) Loan: A business loan that incorporates physical losses and economic injury for the same legal entity or individual. 

Balance Sheet or Statement of Financial Position: Reports an entity’s Assets, Liabilities and Equity (net worth) at a specific time. Assets = Liabilities + Equity. 

Break-even Analysis: A calculation of the approximate sales volume required to just cover costs, below which production would be unprofitable and above which it would be profitable. Break-even analysis focuses on the relationship between fixed cost, variable cost and profit. 

Business Activity: The business (or loss) activity of the applicant business prior to any consideration of affiliation. 
Capital Leases: are for the purchase of fixed assets (machinery/equipment) and these assets are shown on the company’s balance sheet and represent a fixed debt. If the lease is a capital lease, the debt should be shown as a Note Payable. Glossary of Business Financial Terms 2 

Cash Available to Service Additional Debt (CASAD): The cash flow determined that should be available to service a disaster loan. The target payment is generally 1/3 of CASAD. 

Cash Flow Test: Part of the CET that determines if an applicant(s) has sufficient cash flow to borrow private sector funds to repair/replace uncompensated disaster damages without incurring undue hardship. 

Cash-basis Accounting: records revenue when cash is received, and expenses when they are paid in cash 

Coastal Barrier Resource Area (COBRA): A flood prone area in which the government prohibits financial disaster assistance. 

Collateral: Assets pledged by a borrower to secure a loan or other credit, and subject to seizure in the event of default. The preferred collateral for an SBA disaster loan is real estate 

Companion File: When an applicant, affiliate, and/or principal has another application filed for the same disaster for separate damages. 

Comparative Analysis: Is designed to point out significant trends that occur from year to year by using more than one set of financial statements of comparable dates and time periods. A comparative analysis allows you to arrive at a more complete evaluation of the applicant’s financial position. 

Corporation (C-corp.): The most common form of business organization, and one, which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an entity separate from its owners. Characterized by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares of easily transferable stock, and existence as a going concern. 

Credit Elsewhere Test (CET): The test to determine the application’s disaster loan interest rate. This test analyzes the applicant’s available cash flow and net worth that may be used to overcome the disaster damage. The Business loan CET consists of two tests; 1) Cash Flow Test and 2) Available Assets Test. And, the Home loan CET consists of three tests; 1) Credit Score Test, 2) Cash Flow Test and 3) Available Assets Test. 

Credit Score Test: Part of the home loan CET show a credit score of 700 or higher may enable applicants to borrow money at reasonable rates and terms. As such, an application may qualify for the higher disaster loan interest rate if the primary wage earner’s credit score is equal to or greater than 700. 

Current Assets: A balance sheet item which equals the sum of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable , inventory, marketable securities, prepaid expenses, and other assets that could be converted to cash in less than one year. 

Current Liabilities: A balance sheet item, which equals the sum of all money owed by a company and due within one year. 

Days Payable: A measure of the average time a company takes to pay vendors, equal to accounts payable divided by annual credit purchases times 365. 

Days Receivable: A measure of the average time a company’s customers take to pay for Glossary of Business Financial Terms 3 purchases, equal to accounts receivable divided by annual sales on credit times 365

DBA: Doing Business As – generally a trade name such as “Bob’s Burgers” is used, instead of the legal name of Blocker & Sons LLC. 

Depreciation: A non-cash operating expense that reduces the value of a tangible asset as a result of wear and tear, age, or obsolescence. Depreciation is recorded in the financial statements of an entity as a reduction in the carrying value of the asset in the balance sheet and as an expense in the income statement. 

Duplicated Interest: The amount of interest expensed that is added back to cash flow to prevent understating CASAD. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): a working capital loan that provides necessary operating funds to enable eligible businesses to overcome the financial impact of a declared disaster. This loan may not be used to purchase long-term assets. 

Extraordinary Items: Additional expenses that are outside “normal” operations and caused directly by the disaster. 
GPM%: Gross Profit (GP) Net Sales (NS). The measure of every sales dollar left after paying for the product; what percent of the sales dollar is left to cover operating costs and to create a profit. 

Guarantor: The legal entity and/or person who guarantees an obligation and has a legal duty to fulfill it. 

Hardship Waiver: Method used to approve a lower interest rate, when one of the CET test conclusions results in a high rate determination. 

Income Statement: Shows the entity’s income and expenses. (similar to a Profit & Loss Statement) 

Injury Analysis: Measures the effects of the disaster on the overall financial condition of the business. 

Injury Period: The time period during which the business feels the adverse effects of the disaster. 

Liabilities: A financial obligation, debt, or claim, i.e. notes payable and accounts payable. 

Lien: A legal claim against an asset which is used to secure a loan and which must be paid when the property is sold. 

Limited Liability Entities (company/partnership): An LLE provides business owners with the favorable liability protection of corporations with the informality and tax advantages available to partnerships. It is a pass-through entity, like a partnership where the taxable income or loss is reported on the tax returns of the owners. 

Limited Partnership: A business organization with one or more general partners, who manage the business and assume legal debts and obligations, and one or more limited partners, who do not participate in day-to-day operations and are liable only to the extent of their investments. Glossary of Business Financial Terms 4 

Loan Authorization and Agreement (LA&A): A contract between SBA and the borrower that spells out the terms and conditions of the loan. 

NAICS: North American Industrial Classification System. 

Normal Annual Sales: Those sales that would have been attained had the disaster not occurred. To determine this figure, you must first review historical sales figures and identify the trends. 

Normal Gross Margin: The margin that would have been attained had the disaster not occurred. To determine this figure, you must first review historical sales figures and identify the trends. 

Operating Leases: are deducted on the company’s operating expenses. If the lease is an operating lease, then the amount is already accounted for in total expenses and should not be shown as a scheduled debt. 

P&L (Profit and Loss Statement): also considered as Income Statement or Statement of Earnings. Measures Net Income or Loss over a defined period of time. In addition, having the simple formula of Revenues – Expenses = Net Income/Loss. 

Partnership: A type of unincorporated business organization in which multiple individuals, called general partners, manage the business and are equally liable for its debts; other individuals called limited partners may invest but not be directly involved in management and are liable only to the extent of their investments. 

Phase I: Process used to determine the amount of economic injury for a business in operation for at least a year prior to the disaster that had physical damage. 

Phase II: Process to be used to determine economic injury for a business either in operation less than one year or not satisfied with result of Phase I analysis or submitted a Stand Alone EIDL request. 

Physical Loans: Funds to repair/replace disaster damaged or destroyed business assets such as real estate, inventory, machinery and equipment, etc. 

Primary Activity: The major business activity of the single legal entity or affiliated group, which is their predominant field of operation. (Commonly known as the Main Activity) 

Principal: the owner(s) of the Applicant Entity that have a controlling financial interest in the business. SBA defines controlling interest as an owner who owns 20% or more of the Applicant Entity or are a General Partner or Managing Member regardless of ownership percentage. 

Projection: An estimate of future economic or financial performance. Generally presented in the form of a Profit and Loss StatementP&L. 

SAE (Stand Alone Economic Injury Disaster Loan): provide necessary working capital to enable eligible businesses to overcome the financial impact of a declared disaster without providing assistance for physical disaster loss. 

Schedule of Liabilities: A business debt schedule that lists all of the debts the business currently owes, including creditor name; original amount due; original due date; current balance; repayment status; maturity date; payment amount and frequency; and how debt is secured. Glossary of Business Financial Terms 5 
S-Corporation: A form of corporation, allowed by the IRS for most companies with 35 or fewer shareholders, which enables the company to enjoy the benefits of incorporation but be taxed as if it were a partnership. 

Sole Proprietor: an individual who owns an unincorporated business by himself/ or herself. 

Subsidiary: A company for which a majority of the voting stock is owned by a holding company. For SBA’s purposes, a subsidiary is an affiliate; a company owned or controlled by the applicant business. 

Substantial Damage: means uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster damages: 

For homes is either: (1) 40 percent or more of the home’s pre-disaster fair market value (FMV) or replacement cost including the value of any land, whichever is less; or 
(2) 50 percent or more of the structure’s pre-disaster fair market value or replacement cost, (excluding the value of any land) whichever is less. 

For businesses is either: (1) 40 percent or more of the aggregate value (lesser of market value or replacement cost at the time of the disaster) of the damaged real property (including the value of any land) and damaged machinery and equipment; or 
(2) 50 percent or more of the aggregate value (lesser of market value or replacement cost at the time of the disaster) of the damaged real property (excluding the value of any land) and damaged machinery and equipment.

Trend Analysis: A comparative analysis of a company’s financial ratios over time. 

Working Capital (WC): The amount of current assets that is left after all current debts are paid.

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