Start-up Resources

State of Wisconsin Business Wizard

Welcome to the State of Wisconsin Business Wizard. Using a series of five question-and-answer pages, the Wizard provides customized information to help you start and operate a Wisconsin-based business. By investing a few minutes of your time, the Business Wizard will help you to:

Determine licensing, permitting and regulatory requirements
Obtain necessary application forms
Identify available state resources
Access other valuable business-related information

https://openforbusiness.wi.gov/Home/NewStart

http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org/business-faqs

Online Small Business Training

SBA is dedicated to helping you and your small business succeed. There are a variety of online trainings which cover many business topics for you to learn.

Starting a Business

Are you thinking about starting a business of your own? Congratulations! It's a huge step, and you'll need to be prepared. That's where SBA comes in: Learn the aspects of starting a business, plus get the answers and information you need to startup.

Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes the contributions that veterans make by owning and running businesses that employ millions of Americans. According to the most recent U.S. Census Data, veteran-owned firms represent 9 percent of all U.S. firms. SBA wants to help even more veterans grow their businesses and create jobs. The Boots to Business program uses a multi-phased approach to introduce transitioning service members to the fundamentals of small business ownership and to the SBA tools and resources available to them.

Boots to Business

Wisconsin Small Business Development Center

The UW-Madison SBDC offers Business Counseling FREE to qualified existing and start-up business owners. Experienced business people help define business goals and focus management on tasks needed to meet those goals. Owners of start-up firms can qualify for business counseling if they are taking a business planning class or diligently working on a formal business plan.

sbdc.wisc.edu/default.asp

Wisconsin Entrepreneur Network

The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN) provides entrepreneurs with access to a statewide network of resources and expertise, identifies high-potential entrepreneurs and helps move their businesses forward, facilitates collaboration between entrepreneurs and between organizations that assist entrepreneurs, and helps create and grow minority-owned businesses.

Wisconsin Business Answer Line

Receive free over-the-phone answers to your business start-up and management questions. Call an experienced Wisconsin Business Answer Line counselor at 1 (800) 940-7232 from Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 pm, or click-to-chat on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 - 4:30.

Connect with a Wisconsin Lawyer

Under the Business Assistance Program, small and emerging businesses throughout Wisconsin can receive up to two hours of counseling from a business lawyer at no cost. The program, which was formerly administered by the Wisconsin State Bar's Business Law Section, currently includes representatives from over 20 Wisconsin law firms. For more information about this program or to locate an attorney near you, fill out a request form.

Wisconsin Innovation Service Center

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) specializes in new product and invention assessments and market expansion opportunities for innovative manufacturers, technology businesses, and independent inventors. Since 1980, WISC has researched the viability of more than 8,000 projects. Technical experts and researchers use an extensive array of resources to analyze information on technical feasibility, existing patents, market size, competitive intensity, demand trends, and other areas. WISC's research products cover product feasibility, competitive intelligence, distributor assessment, customer satisfaction, and licensing partnerships.

http://wisc.uww.edu/

VETransfer Bootcamp

VETransfer's Startup Bootcamp is a course offering the necessary know how for veteran entrepreneurs to run there own business successfully. As well as the additional insight to maintain growth.

https://vetransfer.org/

NOTE: For additional Start-Up assistance, see Educational Resources.