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
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.
- Thinking About Starting
- Writing a Business Plan
- Establishing a Business
- Preparing Your Finances
- Loans, Grants & Funding
- Marketing a New Business
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.
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.
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.
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.