OKLAHOMA - Building on SBA’s Record Year pdf

BUSINESS
RESOURCE
RESOURCE
SMALL
SMALL
OKLAHOMA
www.SBA.gov • connect with us @ facebook.com/SBAgov twitter.com/sbagov youtube.com/sba
Building on SBA’s
Record Year
page 31
Counseling
Capital
Contracting
PAGE
10
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17
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32
SMALL BUSINESS
contents
2012-2013 OKLAHOMA
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Phone: 863-294-2812 • 800-274-2812
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English Small Business Resource Advertising

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The Small Business Resource Guide is published
under the direction of SBA’s Office of Marketing and
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Editorial Content

Graphic Design
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SBA’s participation in this publication is not an
endorsement of the views, opinions, products or
services of the contractor or any advertiser or other
participant appearing herein. All SBA programs
and services are extended to the public on a
nondiscriminatory basis.
Printed in the United States of America
While every reasonable effort has been made
to ensure that the information contained herein
was accurate as of the date of publication, the
information is subject to change without notice.
Neither the contractor, the federal government,
or agents thereof shall be held liable for any

damages arising from the use of or reliance on the
information contained in this publication.
SBA Publication # MCS-0018
This publication is provided under SBA Contract
# SBAHQ11C0005.
R
eni
Publishing
Publishers of Small Business Resource
6 Introduction
6 Administrator’s Message
7 Regional Administrator’s
Message
8 District Director’s Letter
10 Counseling
Getting help to start up, market and
manage your business.
10 SBA Resource Partners
13 SBA’s Online Tools and Training
14 Reaching Underserved
Communities
15 Are You Right for Small
Business Ownership?
16 Writing a Business Plan
17 Capital
Financing options to start or grow
your business.
17 SBA Business Loans
18 What to Take to the Lender
23 Small Business Investment

Company Program
24 Small Business Innovation
Research Program
24 Small Business Technology
Transfer Program
25 Surety Bond Guarantee
Program
27 SBA Loan Program Chart
FEATURES
29 Lender Listing
31 Building on SBA’s Record
Year
32 Contracting
Applying for Government
Contracts.
32 How Government Contracting
Works
33 SBA Contracting Programs
36 Getting Started in Contracting
37 Disaster
Knowing the types of assistance
available for recovery.
38 Advocacy and Ombudsman
Watching out for small business
interests.
39 Additional Resources
Taking care of start up logistics.
42 Business Organization:
Choosing your Structure
43 Other Assistance

“Everything you need to know
about setting up, marketing
and managing the revenue of
your business.
”
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
4 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
2011 was a record year for
the SBA. We helped over
60,000 small businesses
secure over $30 billion in
lending through our flagship
7(a) and 504 programs – an
all-time record. We also
worked with private-sector
partners to drive a record
amount of capital ($2.8 billion) into the
hands of over 1,000 high-growth businesses
through Small Business Investment
Companies.
As we entered 2012, the President signed
a six-year extension of the Small Business
Innovation Research program which
supports small R&D companies that drive
innovation and game-changing technologies
to keep America on the cutting edge. We
also continue to streamline the paperwork
on SBA loans in order to help more lending
partners and their small-business customers.

You can check out all of these programs in
this guide. Also, be sure to take a look at all
of the SBA’s 2011 accomplishments.
As our economy continues to strengthen in
2012, the Obama Administration is focused
on making sure that entrepreneurs and small
business owners have the tools they need
to grow and create jobs. After all, half of
working Americans either own or work for a
small business, and two of every three new
jobs are created by small businesses.
Finally, check out our online tools. For
example, at www.sba.gov/direct you can
type in your zip code and a few details about
your business, and you’ll immediately get
connected to SBA resources in your local
area.
America’s small businesses are gearing up
to lead our nation’s economic recovery and
create the jobs we need now. Please feel free
to contact your local SBA office if you have
any questions. We stand ready to help in
whatever way we can.
Sincerely,
Karen G. Mills
Administrator
Small Business Administration
Every year, the U.S. Small Business Administration and its nationwide
network of partners help millions of potential and current small
business owners start, grow and succeed.

Resources and programs targeting small businesses provide an
advantage necessary to help small businesses compete effectively in
the marketplace and strengthen the overall U.S. economy.
SBA offers help in the following areas:
 • Counseling
 • Capital
 • Contracting
 • DisasterAssistance
 • AdvocacyandtheOmbudsman
Visit SBA online at www.sba.gov for 24/7 access to small business
news, information and training for entrepreneurs.
All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory
basis.
About the SBA
www.sba.gov
Your Small Business Resource
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
The U.S. Small Business Administration
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
6 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
I love to meet creative and
tenacious entrepreneurs
throughout SBA’s Region
VI who are doing their
part to create an American
economy built to last.
When you launch a small
business or expand a
venture, you are not alone.

The SBA is here to help. This guide is a
toolbox of resources to lead you to finding
access to capital, building a strategy to enter
the federal contracting market place, and
equally important, identifying counselors or
mentors to address the specific needs of your
business.
In fiscal 2011, SBA-backed loans touched
the lives of 6,308 small business owners
in Region VI states – Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. That
amounts to more than $2.7 billion in
financing, helping small businesses here
create jobs and build the economies of their
communities.
The positive impact small businesses
have on their communities and on the
national economy is part of the reason
SBA Administrator Karen Mills supports
President Obama who is urging legislation
to keep America’s small businesses moving
forward. The President already has signed
18 tax cuts into law over the last two years
( />tax-breaks-small-businesses). These tax
cuts include billions of dollars in tax relief
from laws such as the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, the Small Business
Jobs Act, the HIRE Act, the Affordable Care
Act, and the Tax Relief and Job Creation
Act. From the beginning, the Obama

Administration has been focused on making
sure entrepreneurs and small business
owners have the tools they need to grow and
create jobs.
Please visit your local Small Business
Development Centers, SCORE locations,
Women’s Business Centers, Export
Assistance Centers and Veterans Business
Outreach Centers. These resources provide
professional business counselors who can
offer free one-on-one counseling and
business training classes. When you’re
looking for small business financing, go
to a lender that can offer the option of an
SBA-backed loan. We are continuing to
streamline the paperwork on SBA loans
to help our lending partners support your
access to small business capital.
Opportunities to stretch your business can
be found in the arena of federal contracts.
Small businesses are winning a record
number of federal contract dollars. Contact
your local SBA District Office to find out
how you can develop your business to
compete in the federal marketplace.
As a small business owner – or a would-be
small business owner – you are an American
job creator. You play a vital role in the health
of our nation’s economy and help to inspire
the next generation of entrepreneurs and

small business owners.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Please visit us at www.sba.gov or follow SBA
on Twitter and Facebook.

Warmest Regards,
Yolanda Garcia Olivarez
Regional Administrator
Small Business Administration
FROM THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
The U.S. Small Business Administration
Regional Administrator for SBA’s Region VI
To America’s Job Creators
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 7
SBA - Living the
Entrepreneurial
Dream
Message From The District Director
W
elcome to the
2013 edition of the
Oklahoma Small
Business Resource
Guide, your key for
accessing information to help you start
or grow a business in Oklahoma. The
time is right. Recent reports tell us our
State is:
•#1intheUSformanufacturing

jobsgrowth–6.6%.
•#2intheUSforjobgrowthrate
amongstates.
•#4intheUSforlaborforce
growth,showingthatpeopleare
actuallycomingtoOKtowork.
•#5intheUSforlowest
unemploymentrate(4.8%).Ofthe
twomainmetroareas,OKCgrew
4.1%andTulsagrew2.1%
With statistics like that why would
you want to go anywhere else but
Oklahoma? Through a highly effective
relationship with the Oklahoma
Department of Commerce, SBA and
our funded partners are able to provide
you with free or low cost training and
counseling. The SBA/State funded
resource partners are located throughout
the 77 counties and include the
Oklahoma Small Business Development
Center Network (SBDC), SCORE, and
the Women’s Business Centers.
It doesn’t stop there. The network goes
on to include Chambers of Commerce;
Metro Technology Centers; Oklahoma
Bid Assistance Centers; Procurement and
Technical Assistance Centers; Incubators
and many other Economic Development
Organizations throughout the State.

There is even an option for 24/7 online
training and counseling for those with
irregular schedules. We at SBA know
small businesses come in many sizes and
shapes so whether yours is a store front
operation, a mobile unit or a part time
home based business there is a source of
assistance out there for you.
Throughout this publication you will nd
a synopsis of the many SBA programs
from small business loans to research
funding and government contracts
to surety bonds along with contact
information for entrepreneurial training
and counseling. So what are you waiting
for – live your dream!
Sincerely,
Dorothy “Dottie” Overal
District Director of
SBA’s Oklahoma District Ofce
www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA
SBA Staff Listing
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
8 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
District Director
Dottie Overal
405-609-8011

Deputy District Director

Tim Jeffcoat
405-609-8020

Lead Business Development
Specialist
Fred Munden
405-609-8017

ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development
Specialist
Pam Walker
405-609-8013

Economic Development
Specialist
Tina Jackson
405-609-8010

LENDER RELATIONS
Lender Relations Specialist
Sandra Ransome
405-609-8019

Lender Relations Specialist
Cindi Carter
405-609-8018

Program Support Assistant

Bobbie DeBerry
405-609-8022

8(a) BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM/CONTRACTING
Business Opportunity
Specialist
L. Pat Smith
405-609-8027

Business Opportunity
Specialist
Veterans Affairs Officer
John D. Veal, Jr.
405-609-8023

Business Opportunity
Specialist
Vanessa Woodfork
405-609-8029

PROCUREMENT
Procurement Center
Representative/
Commercial Market
Representative
Terri Shook
405-609-8026

LEGAL
District Counsel
Rosalee Morris
405-609-8015

Paralegal Specialist
Paula Music Green
405-609-8016

THE OKLAHOMA DISTRICT OFFICE
The Oklahoma District Ofce is
responsible for the delivery of SBA’s
many programs and services throughout
the state’s 77 counties. The District
Director is Dottie Overal. The District
Ofce is located at 301 N.W. 6th Street,
Suite 116, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
Ofce hours are from 8:00 AM until 4:30
PM, Monday through Friday.
SBA in Oklahoma guaranteed just under
12 loans per week (or around 1,200
loans) to start or expand Oklahoma small
businesses during 2010 and 2011, valued
at about $750 million. Our resource
partners counseled and/or trained over
19,000 entrepreneurs in the same time
period. These accomplishments have had
a big impact on the local economy and in
creating jobs.
CONTACTING THE OKLAHOMA

DISTRICT OFFICE
For program and service information,
please call 405-609-8000.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
• Financial assistance for new
or existing businesses through
guaranteed loans made by area bank
and non-bank lenders, including
special loan programs available for
businesses involved in international
trade.
• Free counseling, advice and
information on starting, better
operating or expanding a small
business through SCORE, Small
Business Development Centers
(SBDC) and Women’s Business
Centers (WBC).
• Training events throughout the
district. Those conducted by our
Resource Partners may require a
nominal registration fee.
• Assistance to socially and
economically disadvantaged
individuals that own and control
a business via our 8(a) Business
Development Program.
• A Veterans Affairs Ofcer is
available to assist veterans. Please
contact John D. Veal Jr. at 405-609-

8023 or e-mail:
• A Women’s Business Ownership
Representative is available to assist
women business owners. Please
contact Pam Walker at 405-609-8013
or e-mail:
Doing Business in Oklahoma
The SBA helps business
owners grow and expand
their businesses every day.
We Welcome Your
Questions
For extra copies of this publication or
questions please contact:
Oklahoma District Ofce
301 N.W. 6th Street, Suite 116
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: 405-609-8000 Fax: 405-609-8990
SBA Answer Desk: 800-827-5722
Website: www.sba.gov/ok
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 9
Susan Spring, owner of Stone Mill, Inc. in
Bixby, Okla., is creating jobs and expanding
her business after graduating from the
SBA e200 class, held annually in Tulsa. The
company manufactures concrete products
such as manufactured stone, pavers, and
masonry accessories that look and feel
like natural stone. “It’s been over a year

since graduating from the 2010 E200 class.
Since last year, we have doubled our sales,
hired 1 full-time employee and 3 part-time
employees,” said Susan. “And, we started an
installation crew that we have been able to
keep employed throughout the year.” “The
3-year Strategic Growth Plan we created for
our business was a huge help to me,” Susan
said. “It forced me to sit down and break
down my nancials so I was able to see
where I was headed. It was also great to have
access to my peers and bounce ideas off of
them.”
How did you get started? My husband and
I dreamed of owning our own business and
had used manufactured stone in the past and
were very interested in making the product.
We sold our house and used the proceeds
from that and a small bank loan to get started
in 2008. We apprenticed under another
manufacturer, who trained us and sold us his
formulas and some equipment, and molds.
What type of business assistance or
education/training did you receive before
launching your business? The SBA was
instrumental in helping us get started.
Bill Mount from the Northeastern State
University Small Business Development
Center helped me write a business plan,
which helped us get our rst bank loan.

John Blue, director of the Northeastern State
University Small Business Development
Center was a sea of information, from giving
us contacts to directing me to various classes
to helping us nd funding. I have also taken
several of the other SBA classes and seminars
for small businesses. Herman Meyer from
SCORE visited our facility on many occasions
to help me with the accounting and give
us business guidance. I am very surprised
and pleased with the amount of help that
is out there for the taking. James Ray from
REI’s Oklahoma Native American Business
Enterprise Center visited our business and
helped us with marketing and nding
contracts.
What are your current gross revenues? Last
year’s sales were almost $500,000, which
is twice as much as the year before. This
January was our best month yet, with sales at
$100,000.
How many employees? We have 5 full time
employees and 3 part time employees.
What types of obstacles did you overcome
to staying business and become successful?
The decline in construction and our economy
have been obstacles, and since banks are very
tight right now, we’ve had to rely on prots
to grow our business, one small step at a
time.

What do you nd is the greatest benet of
being an entrepreneur? Learning to overcome
challenges
What advice do you have for other who are
considering going into business? Owning
your own business takes sacrice, time, and
money. Be prepared. Get connected with
other business people and the help that is out
there for the taking from organizations such
as the SBA, REI, and SCORE.
SUCCESS STORY
Stone Mill, Inc.
Susan Spring
Owner
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
10 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
E
veryyear,theU.S.Small
BusinessAdministration
anditsnationwidenetwork
ofresourcepartnershelp
millionsofpotentialand
existingsmallbusinessownersstart,
growandsucceed.
 Whetheryourtargetmarketisglobal
orjustyourneighborhood,theSBAand
itsresourcepartnerscanhelpatevery
stageofturningyourentrepreneurial
dreamintoathrivingbusiness.
 Ifyou’rejuststartingout,theSBA

anditsresourcescanhelpyouwith
loansandbusinessmanagementskills.
Ifyou’realreadyinbusiness,youcan
usetheSBA’sresourcestohelpmanage
andexpandyourbusiness,obtain
governmentcontracts,recoverfrom
disaster,ndforeignmarkets,and
makeyourvoiceheardinthefederal
government.
 YoucanaccessSBAinformationat
www.sba.govorvisitoneofourlocal
ofcesforassistance.
SBA’S RESOURCE
PARTNERS
 Inadditiontoourdistrictofceswhich
serveeverystateandterritory,SBA
workswithavarietyoflocalresource
partnerstomeetyoursmallbusiness
needs.Theseprofessionalscanhelp
withwritingaformalbusinessplan,
locatingsourcesofnancialassistance,
managingandexpandingyourbusiness,
ndingopportunitiestosellyourgoods
orservicestothegovernment,and
recoveringfromdisaster.Tondyour
localdistrictofceorSBAresource
partner,visitwww.sba.gov/sba-direct.
SCORE
 SCOREisanationalnetworkof
over14,000entrepreneurs,business

leadersandexecutiveswhovolunteeras
mentorstoAmerica’ssmallbusinesses.
SCOREleveragesdecadesofexperience
fromseasonedbusinessprofessionals
tohelpsmallbusinessesstart,grow
companiesandcreatejobsinlocal
communities.SCOREdoesthisby
harnessingthepassionandknowledge
ofindividualswhohaveownedand
managedtheirownbusinessesand
wanttosharethis“realworld”expertise
withyou.
 Foundinmorethan370ofcesand
800locationsthroughoutthecountry,
SCOREprovideskeyservices–both
face-to-faceandonline–tobusy
entrepreneurswhoarejustgetting
startedorinneedofaseasoned
businessprofessionalasasounding
boardfortheirexistingbusiness.As
membersofyourcommunity,SCORE
mentorsunderstandlocalbusiness
licensingrules,economicconditionsand
importantnetworks.SCOREcanhelp
youastheyhavedoneformorethan9
millionclientsby:
• Matchingyourspecicneedswitha
businessmentor
• Travelingtoyourplaceofbusinessfor
anon-siteevaluation

• TeamingwithseveralSCOREmentors
toprovideyouwithtailoredassistancein
anumberofbusinessareas
 Acrossthecountry,SCOREoffers
nearly7,000localbusinesstraining
workshopsandseminarsranging
intopicandscopedependingonthe
needsofthelocalbusinesscommunity
suchasofferinganintroductionto
thefundamentalsofabusinessplan,
managingcashowandmarketingyour
business.Forestablishedbusinesses,
SCOREoffersmorein-depthtraining
inareaslikecustomerservice,hiring
practicesandhome-basedbusinesses.
 Foraround-the-clockbusinessadvice
andinformationonthelatesttrendsgo
totheSCOREwebsite(www.score.org).
Morethan1,500onlinementorswith
over800businessskillsetsansweryour
questionsaboutstartingandrunninga
business.Inscalyear2011,SCORE
mentorsserved400,000entrepreneurs.
 ForinformationonSCOREandtoget
yourownbusinessmentor,visit
www.sba.gov/score, go to www.SCORE.org
or call 1-800-634-0245 for the SCORE
ofcenearestyou.
Oklahoma SCORE Locations
ARDMORE

P.O. Box 1585
Ardmore, OK 73402
5 8 0 - 2 2 6 - 2 6 2 0 • 5 8 0 - 2 2 6 - 2 6 2 0 F a x

NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
201 S. Main
Grove, OK 74344
918-787-2796 • 918-787-2796 Fax

COUNSELING
Getting Help to Start Up, Market and Manage Your Business
• You get to be your own boss.
• Hard work and long hours directly benet you,
rather than increasing prots for someone else.
• Earnings and growth potential are unlimited.
• Running a business will provide endless
variety, challenge and opportunities to learn.
ON THE UPSIDE
It’s true, there are a lot of
reasons not to start your
own business. But for the
right person, the advantages
of business ownership far
outweigh the risks.
COUNSELING
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 11
OKLAHOMA CITY
301 N.W. Sixth St., Ste. 116
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

405-609-8004 • 405-609-8990 Fax

TULSA
907 S. Detroit, Ste. 1012
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-581-7462 • 918-581-6908 Fax

SMALL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
TheU.S.SmallBusiness
Administration’sSmallBusiness
DevelopmentCenter(SBDC)program’s
missionistobuild,sustain,and
promotesmallbusinessdevelopment
andenhancelocaleconomiesby
creatingbusinessesandjobs.This
isaccomplishedbytheprovisionand
ensuingoversightofgrantstocolleges,
universitiesandstategovernmentsso
thattheymayprovidebusinessadvice
andtrainingtoexistingandpotential
smallbusinesses.
 TheSmallBusinessDevelopment
Centerprogram,vitaltoSBA’s
entrepreneurialoutreach,hasbeen
providingservicetosmallbusinesses
formorethan30years.Itisoneofthe
largestprofessionalsmallbusiness
managementandtechnicalassistance
networksinthenation.Withover900

locationsacrossthecountry,SBDCs
offerfreeone-on-oneexpertbusiness
adviceandlow-costtrainingbyqualied
smallbusinessprofessionalstoexisting
andfutureentrepreneurs.
Inadditiontoitscoreservices,the
SBDCprogramoffersspecialfocusareas
suchasgreenbusinesstechnology,
disasterrecoveryandpreparedness,
internationaltradeassistance,veteran’s
assistance,technologytransferand
regulatorycompliance.
 Theprogramcombinesaunique
mixoffederal,stateandprivate
sectorresourcestoprovide,inevery
stateandterritory,thefoundation
fortheeconomicgrowthofsmall
businesses.Thereturnoninvestment
isdemonstratedbytheprogramduring
2011:
• Assistedmorethan13,660entrepreneurs
tostartnewbusinesses–equatingto37
newbusinessstartsperday.
• Providedcounselingservicestoover
106,000emergingentrepreneursand
nearly100,000existingbusinesses.
• Providedtrainingservicesto
approximately353,000clients.
 TheefcacyoftheSBDCprogram
hasbeenvalidatedbyanationwide

impactstudy.Oftheclientssurveyed,
morethan80percentreportedthatthe
businessassistancetheyreceivedfrom
theSBDCcounselorwasworthwhile.
Similarly,morethan50percent
reportedthatSBDCguidancewas
benecialinmakingthedecisionto
startabusiness.Morethan40percent
oflong-termclients,thosereceiving5
hoursormoreofcounseling,reported
anincreaseinsalesand38percent
reportedanincreaseinprotmargins.
 ForinformationontheSBDC
program,visitwww.sba.gov/sbdc.
COUNSELING
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
12 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Small Business
Development Centers
Inscal2011,Oklahoma’sSBDC
networkhelpedlaunch275new
businessesandcreateorretain1,070
jobs.Theyalsoheld165trainingevents
forsmallbusinesses,helpedOklahoma
smallbusinessndover$22millionof
funding,andassistedsmallbusinesses
seekinggovernmentcontractstosecure
ordersworthover$47million.
ADA
East Central University

Ann Ritter, Director
E. 12th St. & S. Francis St.
Administration Bldg., Rm. 251
Ada, OK 74820-6915

580-436-3190 • 580-436-5616 Fax
ALVA
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Jeanne Cole, Coordinator
1038 8th St.
Shockley Hall, Rm. 107
Alva, OK 73717-2799

580-327-8608 • 580-327-8408 Fax
BROKEN ARROW
Northeastern State University
John Blue, Director ext. 6282
3100 E. New Orleans
Broken Arrow, OK 74014

918-449-6280 • 918-449-6284 Fax
DURANT
*OSBDC State Office*
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Bill Carter, State Director
301 W. University Blvd.
Durant, OK 74701-0609

580-745-2877 • 580-745-7471 Fax
Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Bregan Heitz, Business Dev. Specialist
301 W. University Blvd.
Durant, OK 74701-0609

580-745-2954 • 580-745-7471 Fax
EDMOND
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond Chamber of Commerce
Phil Kalivoda, PT BDS
825 E. 2nd St., Ste. 107
Edmond, OK 73034
405-216-2023 • 405-232-1967 Fax
ENID
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Missy Cole, Business Development Specialist
2929 E. Randolph
Enid, OK 73701-4667

580-213-3197 • 580-213-3196 Fax
LAWTON
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Lawton Satellite
Mary Eichinger, Director
711 S.W. “D”, Ste. 203
Lawton, OK 73501-4509

580-248-4946 • 580-357-4964 Fax
MIDWEST CITY
Rose State College
Director

1720 Hudiburg Dr.
Professional Training & Education Ctr.
Midwest City, OK 73110
405-733-7348 • 405-733-7495 Fax
MUSKOGEE
Northeastern State University
Sharon Nichols, Business Dev. Specialist
2400 W. Shawnee St., Rm. 146
Muskogee, OK 74401

918-444-5412 • 918-458-2106 Fax
NORMAN
University of Central Oklahoma
eTec
Julie Lueck, Business Development Specialist
710 Asp Ave., Ste. 307
Norman, OK 73069
405-801-2131 • 405-232-1967 Fax
OKLAHOMA CITY
Langston University
Della Dean, Director
4205 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 112
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-530-7519 • 405-962-1639 Fax
University of Central Oklahoma
Susan Urbach, Director
One Santa Fe Plaza, Ste. 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

405-232-1968 • 405-232-1967 Fax
STILLWATER
Oklahoma State University
Anthony Cambas, Director
103 Wes Watkins Center
Watkins Center for International Trade &
Development
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-4272 • 405-744-7639 Fax
TULSA
Northeastern State University
Tulsa Satellite Tulsa Chamber of Commerce
Liz Heffington, Business Dev. Specialist
2 W. 2nd St.
Tulsa, OK 74523
918-583-2676 • 918-599-6173 Fax
WEATHERFORD
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Lisa Thiessen, Business Dev. Specialist
301 E. Davis St.
Center for Economic & Business Dev.
Weatherford, OK 73096

580-774-7095 • 580-774-7096 Fax
WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS
 TheSBA’sWomenBusinessCenter
(WBC)programisanetworkof110
community-basedcenterswhich
providebusinesstraining,coaching,
mentoringandotherassistancegeared

towardwomen,particularlythose
whoaresociallyandeconomically
disadvantaged.WBCsarelocatedin
nearlyeverystateandU.S.territory
andarepartiallyfundedthrougha
cooperativeagreementwiththeSBA.
 Tomeettheneedsofwomen
entrepreneurs,WBCsofferservices
atconvenienttimesandlocations,
includingeveningsandweekends.
WBCsarelocatedwithinnon-prothost
organizationsthatofferawidevariety
ofservicesinadditiontotheservices
providedbytheWBC.Manyofthe
WBCsalsooffertrainingandcounseling
andprovidematerialsindifferent
languagesinordertomeetthediverse
needsofthecommunitiestheyserve.
 WBCsoftendelivertheirservices
throughlong-termtrainingorgroup
counseling,bothofwhichhaveshownto
beeffective.WBCtrainingcoursesare
oftenfreeorareofferedatasmallfee.
Somecenterswillalsoofferscholarships
basedontheclient’sneeds
 WhilemostWBCsarephysically
locatedinonedesignatedlocation,a
numberofWBCsalsoprovidecourses
andcounselingviatheInternet,mobile
classroomsandsatellitelocations.

 WBCshaveatrackrecordofsuccess.
Inscalyear2011,theWBCprogram
counseledandtrainednearly139,000
clients,creatinglocaleconomicgrowth
andvitality.Inaddition,WBCshelped
entrepreneursaccessmorethan$134
milliondollarsincapital,representing
a400%increasefromthepreviousyear.
OftheWBCclientsthathavereceived3
ormorehoursofcounseling,15percent
indicatedthattheservicesledtohiring
newstaff,34percentindicatedthat
theservicesledtoanincreasedprot
margin,and47percentindicatedthat
theservicesledtoanincreaseinsales.
 Inaddition,theWBCprogramhas
takenaleadinpreparingwomen
businessownerstoapplyforthe
Women-OwnedSmallBusiness
(WOSB)FederalContractprogram
thatauthorizescontractingofcersto
setasidecertainfederalcontractsfor
eligiblewomen-ownedsmallbusinesses
oreconomicallydisadvantagedwomen-
ownedsmallbusinesses.Formore
informationontheprogram,visit
www.sba.gov/wosb.
 TondthenearestSBAWBC,visit
www.sba.gov/women.
COUNSELING

Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 13
COUNSELING
Oklahoma Women’s Business Centers
PROGRAM MANAGER
Contact: Dr. Barbara Rackley
REI Oklahoma, Inc.
2912 Enterprise Blvd./P.O. Box 1335
Durant, OK 74702

800-658-2823 • 580-920-2745 Fax
DURANT
Contact: Tara Hill
REI Oklahoma, Inc.
2912 Enterprise Blvd./P.O. Box 1335
Durant, OK 74702

800-658-2823 • 580-920-2745 Fax
OKLAHOMA CITY
Contact: Jennifer Edwards
REI Oklahoma, Inc.
Presbyterian Health Foundation Research
Park
800 Research Pkwy., Ste. 305
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

405-319-8190 • 405-319-8194 Fax
EMERGING LEADERS
(e200) INITIATIVE
SBA’sEmergingLeaders(e200)

Initiativeiscurrentlyhostedin27
marketsacrossthecountryusinga
nationallydemonstratedresearch-based
curriculumthatsupportsthegrowth
anddevelopmentofsmalltomedium-
sizedrmsthathavesubstantial
potentialforexpansionandcommunity
impact.Acompetitiveselection
processresultsincompanyexecutives
participatinginhigh-leveltraining
andpeer-networkingsessionsledby
professionalinstructors.
Post-training,socialandeconomic
impactresultsfromresponding
executiveswhoparticipatedinthe2008
–2010trainingclassesindicate:
• Morethanhalfofparticipating
businessesreportedanincreasein
revenue,withanaveragerevenueof
$1,879,266.
• Participatingbusinessesaveraged$2
millioninrevenue,withnewcumulative
nancingof$7.2millionsecuredin2010.
• Nearlyhalfoftheparticipantssecured
federal,state,localandtribalcontracts
withacumulativetotalof$287million.
• Approximatelyhalfoftheparticipants
havehirednewworkers,creating275
newjobsin2010.
• Allparticipantsweretrainedon

becomingSBA8(a)certiedrms;
nearly25percentofrespondentsare
currentlycertiedasSBA8(a)rms,
whileotherparticipantsreporteda
focusedintentiononapplyingtothe8(a)
program.
• Nearly50percentofparticipating
respondentswerefemaleexecutives
and70percentwereminoritybusiness
executives.
• 85percentofrespondingexecutives
wereSatisedorVerySatisedwiththe
overalltrainingseriesandresults.
Tondoutmoreaboutthisexecutive-
leveltrainingopportunity,please
visitwww.sba.gov/e200forhostcities,
trainingschedules,andselection
criteria.
SBA’S ONLINE
TOOLS AND TRAINING
 SBA’sSmallBusinessTraining
Networkisavirtualcampuscomplete
withfreeonlinecourses,workshops,
podcasts,learningtoolsandbusiness-
readinessassessments.
Key Features of the Small Business
Training Network:
Trainingisavailableanytimeand
anywhere—allyouneedisacomputer
withInternetaccess.

• Morethan30freeonlinecoursesand
workshopsavailable.
• Templatesandsamplestogetyour
businessplanningunderway.
• Online,interactiveassessmenttoolsare
featuredandusedtodirectclientsto
appropriatetraining.
 Coursetopicsincludeanancial
primerkeyedaroundSBA’sloan-
guaranteeprograms,acourseon
exporting,andcoursesforveterans
andwomenseekingfederal
contractingopportunities,aswellas
anonlinelibraryofpodcasts,business
publications,templatesandarticles.
 Visitwww.sba.gov/trainingforthese
freeresources.
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
14 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
COUNSELING
 SBAalsooffersanumberofprograms
specicallydesignedtomeettheneeds
oftheunderservedcommunities.
WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
Womenentrepreneursarechanging
thefaceofAmerica’seconomy.Inthe
1970s,womenownedlessthanve
percentofthenation’sbusinesses.
 Today,theyaremajorityowners
ofaboutathirdofthenation’ssmall

businessesandareatleastequal
ownersofabouthalfofallsmall
businesses.SBAserveswomen
entrepreneursnationwidethroughits
variousprogramsandservices,some
ofwhicharedesignedespeciallyfor
women.
 TheSBA’sOfceofWomen’sBusiness
Ownership(OWBO)servesasan
advocateforwomen-ownedbusinesses.
OWBOoverseesanationwidenetwork
of110women’sbusinesscentersthat
providebusinesstraining,counseling
andmentoringgearedspecicallyto
women,especiallythosewhoaresocially
andeconomicallydisadvantaged.The
programisapublic-privatepartnership
withlocally-basednonprots.
 Women’sBusinessCentersserve
awidevarietyofgeographicareas,
populationdensities,andeconomic
environments,includingurban,
suburban,andrural.Localeconomies
varyfromdepressedtothriving,and
rangefrommetropolitanareastoentire
states.EachWomen’sBusinessCenter
tailorsitsservicestotheneedsofits
individualcommunity,butalloffera
varietyofinnovativeprograms,often
includingcoursesindifferentlanguages.

Theyprovidetraininginnance,
management,andmarketing,aswellas
accesstoalloftheSBA’snancialand
procurementassistanceprograms.
CENTER FOR FAITH-BASED AND
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
 Faith-BasedandNeighborhood
Partnershipsknowtheircommunities,
andtheyhaveearnedthecommunities
trust.Becauseoftheircredibility,
theyareuniquelypositionedtobuild
awarenessofprogramsthatencourage
entrepreneurship,economicgrowthand
jobcreation.
 SBAiscommittedtoreaching
outtofaith-basedandcommunity
organizationsthatareeligibleto
participateintheagency’sprogramsby
informingtheircongregants,members
andneighborsaboutSBA’sprograms.
Inparticular,manyfaith-basedand
communitynon-protorganizations
canprovidealocalnancingoption
forentrepreneursbybecomingSBA
MicroloanIntermediaries.AnSBA
MicroloanIntermediaryoftenactsas
abankforentrepreneursandsmall
businessesthatmightotherwisebe
unabletondaccesstocapital.
VETERANS AND RESERVISTS

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
 Veterans,service-disabledveterans
andReserveandNationalGuard
memberentrepreneursreceive
specialconsiderationinallofSBA’s
entrepreneurialprogramsand
resources.Eachyear,theOfceof
VeteransBusinessDevelopment
(OVBD)reachesthousandsofveterans,
ReserveComponentmembers,
transitioningservicemembersand
otherswhoare–orwhowantto
become–entrepreneursandsmall
businessowners.OVBDdevelopsand
distributesinformationalmaterialsfor
entrepreneurshipsuchastheVeterans
BusinessResourceGuide,VETGazette,
andGettingVeteransBacktoWork.
Inaddition,thereare16Veterans
BusinessOutreachCentersstrategically
locatedthroughoutthecountrythat
providebothonlineandin-person
training,counseling,mentoring,
workshops,referrals,andmore.Each
oftheSBA’s68DistrictOfcesalso
hasadesignatedveteran’sbusiness
developmentofcer.
 TheSBAoffersspecialassistancefor
smallbusinessesownedbyactivated
ReserveandNationalGuardmembers.

Anyself-employedReserveorGuard
memberwithanexistingSBAloan
canrequestfromtheirSBAlender
orSBAdistrictofceloanpayment
deferrals,interestratereductionsand
otherreliefaftertheyreceivetheir
activationorders.Inaddition,the
SBAoffersspeciallow-interest-rate
nancingtosmallbusinesseswhenan
owneroressentialemployeeiscalled
toactiveduty.TheMilitaryReservist
EconomicInjuryDisasterLoanProgram
(MREIDL)providesloansupto$2
milliontoeligiblesmallbusinessesto
coveroperatingcoststhatcannotbemet
duetothelossofanessentialemployee
calledtoactivedutyintheReservesor
NationalGuard.
 AmongtheSBA’suniqueservicesfor
veteransare:anEntrepreneurshipBoot
CampforVeteranswithDisabilitiesin
partnershipwith6topU.S.universities
(www.whitman.syr.edu/ebv),aprogram
toreachwomenveteran-entrepreneurs
(www.syr.edu/vwise),andaprogramfor
ReserveComponentfamilymembers
calledOperationEndureandGrow
(www.whitman.syr.edu/endureandgrow).
 Formoreinformationaboutsmall
businesslendingprogramsforveteran

businessownersandReserveor
Guardmemberswhoareactivated,
includingPatriotExpress,microloans,
andAdvantageloans,seethesection
onAccesstoCapital.Tolearnmore
abouttheVeteransBusinessOutreach
programorndthenearestSBAVBOC,
visitwww.sba.gov/vets.
NATIVE AMERICAN
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
 TheSBAOfceofNativeAmerican
Affairs(ONAA)ensuresAmerican
Indians,AlaskaNativesandNative
Hawaiiansseekingtocreate,develop
andexpandsmallbusinesseshave
fullaccesstothenecessarybusiness
developmentandexpansiontools
availablethroughtheagency’s
entrepreneurialdevelopment,lending,
andcontractingprograms.ONAA
providesanetworkoftraining
(includingtheonlinetool“Small
BusinessPrimer:Strategiesfor
Growth”)andcounselingservices
andengagesinnumerousoutreach
activities,suchastribalconsultations,
developmentanddistributionof
educationalmaterials,attendanceand
participationineconomicdevelopment
eventsandassistingthesesmall

businesseswithSBAprograms.
 Visitwww.sba.gov/naaformore
information.TheOklahomaofceof
SBAincludesaNativeAmericanAffairs
Representative.Contacttheofceat
405-609-8000.
American Indian Chamber of Commerce
5103 S. Sheridan Rd., Ste. 695
Tulsa, OK 74145
800-652-4226
www.aiccok.org

Native American Business Development
Tribal Government Institute
Norman, OK
www.tgiok.com

405-329-5542 • 405-329-5543 Fax
TGI, the Native American Procurement
Technical Assistance Center assists
Native American businesses in identifying,
pursuing and performing government
contracts.

Oklahoma Native American Business
Enterprise Center
Three Memorial Place
7615 East 63rd Place, Ste. 201
Tulsa, OK 74133
918-994-4371 or 918-237-2824

918-994-4394 Fax

www.oknabec.com
REACHING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 15
COUNSELING
 Mostnewbusinessownerswho
succeedhaveplannedforeveryphase
oftheirsuccess.ThomasEdison,the
greatAmericaninventor,oncesaid,
“Geniusis1percentinspirationand
99percentperspiration.”Thatsame
philosophyalsoappliestostartinga
business.
 First,you’llneedtogeneratealittle
bitofperspirationdecidingwhether
you’retherighttypeofpersontostart
yourownbusiness.
IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FOR YOU?
 Thereissimplynowaytoeliminate
alltherisksassociatedwithstarting
asmallbusiness,butyoucanimprove
yourchancesofsuccesswithgood
planning,preparation,andinsight.
Startbyevaluatingyourstrengthsand
weaknessesasapotentialownerand
managerofasmallbusiness.Carefully
considereachofthefollowing

questions:
•Are you a self-starter?Itwillbe
entirelyuptoyoutodevelopprojects,
organizeyourtime,andfollow
throughondetails.
•How well do you get along with
different personalities?Business
ownersneedtodevelopworking
relationshipswithavarietyof
peopleincludingcustomers,vendors,
staff,bankers,employees,and
professionalssuchaslawyers,
accountants,orconsultants.Can
youdealwithademandingclient,
anunreliablevendor,oracranky
receptionistifyourbusinessinterests
demandit?
•How good are you at making
decisions?Smallbusinessownersare
requiredtomakedecisionsconstantly
–oftenquickly,independently,and
underpressure.
•Do you have the physical and
emotional stamina to run a
business?Businessownershipcan
beexciting,butit’salsoalotofwork.
Canyoufacesixorseven12–hour
workdayseveryweek?
•How well do you plan and
organize?Researchindicatesthat

poorplanningisresponsibleformost
businessfailures.Goodorganization
—ofnancials,inventory,schedules,
andproduction—canhelpyouavoid
manypitfalls.
•Is your drive strong enough?
Runningabusinesscanwearyou
downemotionally.Somebusiness
ownersburnoutquicklyfromhaving
tocarryalltheresponsibilityforthe
successoftheirbusinessontheir
ownshoulders.Strongmotivation
willhelpyousurviveslowdownsand
periodsofburnout.
•How will the business affect
your family?Therstfewyearsof
businessstart-upcanbehardon
familylife.It’simportantforfamily
memberstoknowwhattoexpect
andforyoutobeabletotrustthat
theywillsupportyouduringthis
time.Therealsomaybenancial
difcultiesuntilthebusinessbecomes
protable,whichcouldtakemonths
oryears.Youmayhavetoadjusttoa
lowerstandardoflivingorputfamily
assetsatrisk.
 Onceyou’veansweredthose
questions,youshouldconsiderwhat
typeofbusinessyouwanttostart.

Businessescanincludefranchises,
at-homebusinesses,onlinebusinesses,
brick-and-mortarstoresorany
combinationofthose.
FRANCHISING
 Therearemorethan3,000business
franchises.Thechallengeistodecide
ononethatbothinterestsyouandis
agoodinvestment.Manyfranchising
expertssuggestthatyoucomparison
shopbylookingatmultiplefranchise
opportunitiesbeforedecidingonthe
onethat’srightforyou.
 Someofthethingsyoushould
lookatwhenevaluatingafranchise:
historicalprotability,effective
nancialmanagementandother
controls,agoodimage,integrity
andcommitment,andasuccessful
industry.
 Inthesimplestformoffranchising,
whileyouownthebusiness,its
operationisgovernedbytheterms
ofthefranchiseagreement.For
many,thisisthechiefbenetfor
franchising.Youareabletocapitalize
onabusinessformat,tradename,
trademarkand/orsupportsystem
providedbythefranchisor.Butyou
operateasanindependentcontractor

withtheabilitytomakeaprotor
sustainalosscommensuratewithyour
ownership.
 Ifyouareconcernedaboutstarting
anindependentbusinessventure,then
franchisingmaybeanoptionforyou.
Rememberthathardwork,dedication
andsacricearekeyelementsin
thesuccessofanybusinessventure,
includingafranchise.
 Visitwww.sba.gov/franchiseformore
information.
HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
 Goingtoworkusedtomean
travelingfromhometoaplant,store
orofce.Today,manypeopledosome
oralltheirworkathome.
Getting Started
 Beforedivingheadrstintoahome-
basedbusiness,youmustknowwhy
youaredoingit.Tosucceed,your
businessmustbebasedonsomething
greaterthanadesiretobeyour
ownboss.Youmustplanandmake
improvementsandadjustmentsalong
theroad.
 Workingunderthesameroofwhere
yourfamilylivesmaynotprovetobe
aseasyasitseems.Onesuggestionis
tosetupaseparateofceinyourhome

tocreateaprofessionalenvironment.
Ask yourself these questions:
•CanIswitchfromhome
responsibilitiestobusinesswork
easily?
•DoIhavetheself-disciplineto
maintainscheduleswhileathome?
•CanIdealwiththeisolationof
workingfromhome?
Legal Requirements
 Ahome-basedbusinessissubjectto
manyofthesamelawsandregulations
affectingotherbusinesses.
Some general areas include:
•Zoning regulations.Ifyourbusiness
operatesinviolationofthem,you
couldbenedorshutdown.
•Product restrictions.Certain
productscannotbeproducedinthe
home.Moststatesoutlawhome
productionofreworks,drugs,
poisons,explosives,sanitaryor
medicalproductsandtoys.Some
statesalsoprohibithome-based
businessesfrommakingfood,drink
orclothing.
 Besuretoconsultanattorneyand
yourlocalandstatedepartments
ofstate,laborandhealthtond
outwhichlawsandregulationswill

affectyourbusiness.Additionally,
checkonregistrationandaccounting
requirementsneededtoopenyour
home-basedbusiness.Youmayneed
aworkcerticateorlicensefromthe
state.Yourbusinessnamemayneed
toberegisteredwiththestate.A
separatebusinesstelephoneandbank
accountaregoodbusinesspractices.
 Alsoremember,ifyouhave
employeesyouareresponsiblefor
withholdingincomeandsocial-
securitytaxes,andforcomplyingwith
minimumwageandemployeehealth
andsafetylaws.
ARE YOU RIGHT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
16 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
COUNSELING
WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN
 Afteryou’vethoughtaboutwhat
typeofbusinessyouwant,the
nextstepistodevelopabusiness
plan.Thinkofthebusinessplan
asaroadmapwithmilestones
forthebusiness.Itbeginsasa
pre-assessmenttooltodetermine
protabilityandmarketshare,then
expandsasanin-businessassessment
tooltodeterminesuccess,obtain

nancinganddeterminerepayment
ability,amongotherfactors.
 Creatingacomprehensivebusiness
plancanbealongprocess,andyou
needgoodadvice.TheSBAandits
resourcepartners,includingSmall
BusinessDevelopmentCenters,
Women’sBusinessCenters,Veterans
BusinessOutreachCenters,and
SCORE,havetheexpertisetohelpyou
craftawinningbusinessplan.SBA
alsooffersonlinetemplatestogetyou
started.
 In general, a good business plan
contains:
Introduction
•Giveadetaileddescriptionofthe
businessanditsgoals.
•Discussownershipofthebusiness
anditslegalstructure.
•Listtheskillsandexperienceyou
bringtothebusiness.
•Discusstheadvantagesyouandyour
businesshaveovercompetitors.
Marketing
•Discusstheproductsandservices
yourcompanywilloffer.
•Identifycustomerdemandforyour
productsandservices.
•Identifyyourmarket,itssizeand

locations.
•Explainhowyourproductsand
serviceswillbeadvertisedand
marketed.
•Explainyourpricingstrategy.
Financial Management
•Developanexpectedreturnon
investmentandmonthlycashowfor
therstyear.
• Provideprojectedincomestatements,
 andbalancesheetsforatwo-year
 period.
•Discussyourbreak-evenpoint.
•Explainyourpersonalbalancesheet
andmethodofcompensation.
•Discusswhowillmaintainyour
accountingrecordsandhowtheywill
bekept.
•Provide“whatif”statements
addressingalternativeapproachesto
potentialproblems.
Operations
•Explainhowthebusinesswillbe
managedday-to-day.
•Discusshiringandpersonnel
procedures.
•Discussinsurance,leaseorrent
agreements,andissuespertinentto
yourbusiness.
•Accountfortheequipmentnecessary

toproduceyourgoodsorservices.
•Accountforproductionanddelivery
ofproductsandservices.
Concluding Statement
 Summarizeyourbusinessgoals
andobjectivesandexpressyour
commitmenttothesuccessofyour
business.Onceyouhavecompleted
yourbusinessplan,reviewitwith
afriendorbusinessassociateand
professionalbusinesscounselor
likeSCORE,WBCorSBDC
representatives,SBAdistrictofce
businessdevelopmentspecialists
orveteransbusinessdevelopment
specialists.
 Remember,thebusinessplanisa
exibledocumentthatshouldchange
asyourbusinessgrows.
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 17
M
anyentrepreneursneed
nancialresourcestostart
orexpandasmallbusiness
themselvesandmust
combinewhattheyhave
withothersourcesofnancing.These
sourcescanincludefamilyandfriends,
venture-capitalnancing,andbusiness

loans.
 ThissectionoftheSmallBusiness
ResourceguidediscussesSBA’sprimary
businessloanandequitynancing
programs.Theseare:the7(a)Loan
Program,theCertiedDevelopment
Companyor504LoanProgram,the
MicroloanProgramandtheSmall
BusinessInvestmentCompany
Program.Thedistinguishingfeatures
fortheseprogramsarethetotaldollar
amountsthatcanbeborrowed,thetype
oflenderswhocanprovidetheseloans,
theusesfortheloanproceeds,andthe
termsplacedontheborrower.
Note:TheSBAdoesnotoffergrants
toindividualbusinessownerstostartor
growabusiness.
SBA BUSINESS LOANS
 Ifyouarecontemplatingabusiness
loan,familiarizeyourselfwiththeSBA’s
businessloanprogramstoseeifthey
maybeaviableoption.Keepinmind
thedollaramountyouseektoborrow
andhowyouwanttousetheloan
proceeds.Thethreeprincipalplayers
inmostoftheseprogramsarethe
applicantsmallbusiness,thelenderand
theSBA.SBAguaranteesaportion
oftheloan(exceptforMicroloans).

Thebusinessshouldhaveitsbusiness
planpreparedbeforeitappliesfora
loan.Thisplanshouldexplainwhat
resourceswillbeneededtoaccomplish
thedesiredbusinesspurposeincluding
theassociatedcosts,theapplicants’
contribution,useofloanproceeds,
collateral,and,mostimportant,an
explanationofhowthebusinesswill
beabletorepaytheloaninatimely
manner.
 Thelenderwillanalyzethe
applicationtoseeifitmeetsthelender’s
criteriaandSBA’srequirements.SBA
willlooktothelendertodomuch,ifnot
all,oftheanalysisbeforeitprovides
itsguarantyonthelender’sloan.In
thecaseofmicrolenders,SBAloans
theseintermediariesfundsatfavorable
ratestore-lendtobusinesseswith
nancingneedsupto$50,000.The
SBA’sbusinessloanprogramsprovidea
keysourceofnancingforviablesmall
businessesthathaverealpotentialbut
cannotqualifyforlong-term,stable
nancing.
7(a) LOAN PROGRAM
 The7(a)LoanprogramistheSBA’s
primarybusinessloanprogram.It
istheagency’smostfrequentlyused

non-disasternancialassistance
programbecauseofitsexibilityin
loanstructure,varietyofloanproceed
uses,andavailability.Theprogramhas
broadeligibilityrequirementsandcredit
criteriatoaccommodateawiderangeof
nancingneeds.
 ThebusinessloansthatSBA
guaranteesdonotcomefromthe
agency,butratherfrombanksand
otherapprovedlenders.Theloansare
fundedbytheseorganizations,andthey
makethedecisionstoapproveornot
approvetheapplicants’requests.
 TheSBAguarantyreducesthe
lender’sriskofborrowernon-payment.
Iftheborrowerdefaults,thelender
canrequestSBAtopaythelenderthat
percentageoftheoutstandingbalance
guaranteedbySBA.Thisallowsthe
lendertorecoveraportionfromSBAof
whatitlentiftheborrowercan’tmake
thepayments.Theborrowerisstill
obligatedforthefullamount.
 ToqualifyforanSBAloan,asmall
businessmustmeetthelender’s
criteriaandthe7(a)requirements.In
addition,thelendermustcertifythatit
wouldnotprovidethisloanunderthe
proposedtermsandconditionsunless

itcanobtainanSBAguaranty.Ifthe
SBAisgoingtoprovidealenderwith
aguaranty,theapplicantmustbe
eligibleandcreditworthyandtheloan
structuredunderconditionsacceptable
toSBA.
Percentage of Guaranties
and Loan Maximums
 TheSBAonlyguaranteesaportion
ofanyparticularloansoeachloanwill
alsohaveanunguaranteedportion,
givingthelenderacertainamountof
exposureandriskoneachloan.The
percentageSBAguaranteesdepends
oneitherthedollaramountorthe
programthelenderusestoobtainits
guaranty.Forloansof$150,000orless
theSBAmayguarantyasmuchas85
percentandforloansover$150,000the
SBAcanprovideaguarantyofupto75
percent.
 Themaximum7(a)loanamount
is$5million.(Loansmadeunder
theSBAExpressprogram,whichis
discussedlaterinthissection,havea50
percentguaranty.)
Interest Rates and Fees
 Theactualinterestratefora7(a)
loanguaranteedbySBAisnegotiated
betweentheapplicantandlenderand

subjecttoSBAmaximums.Bothxed
andvariableinterestratestructures
CAPITAL
Financing Options to Start or Grow Your Business
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
18 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
areavailable.Themaximumrateis
comprisedoftwoparts,abaserateand
anallowablespread.Therearethree
acceptablebaserates(WallStreet
JournalPrime*,LondonInterbankOne
MonthPrimeplus3percent,andan
SBAPegRate).Lendersareallowed
toaddanadditionalspreadtothebase
ratetoarriveatthenalrate.For
loanswithmaturitiesoflessthanseven
years,themaximumspreadwillbeno
morethan2.25percent.Forloanswith
maturitiesofsevenyearsormore,the
maximumspreadwillbe2.75percent.
Thespreadonloansunder$50,000
andloansprocessedthroughExpress
proceduresmaybehigher.
 LoansguaranteedbySBAare
assessedaguarantyfee.Thisfeeis
basedontheloan’smaturityandthe
dollaramountguaranteed,notthe
totalloanamount.Theguarantyfeeis
initiallypaidbythelenderandthen

passedontotheborroweratclosing.
Thefundstoreimbursethelendercan
beincludedintheloanproceeds.
 Onanyloanwithamaturityofone
yearorless,thefeeisjust0.25percent
oftheguaranteedportionoftheloan.
Onloanswithmaturitiesofmorethan
oneyear,thenormalguarantyfeeis2
percentoftheSBAguaranteedportion
onloansupto$150,000;3percenton
loansover$150,000butnotmorethan
$700,000;and3.5percentonloansover
$700,000.Thereisalsoanadditional
feeof0.25percentonanyguaranteed
portionover$1million.
* All references to the prime rate
refer to the base rate in effect on the
first business day of the month the
loan application is received by SBA.
7(a) Loan Maturities
 SBAloanprogramsaregenerally
intendedtoencouragelongerterm
smallbusinessnancing,butactual
loanmaturitiesarebasedonthe
abilitytorepay,thepurposeoftheloan
proceedsandtheusefullifeoftheassets
nanced.However,maximumloan
maturitieshavebeenestablished:25
yearsforrealestate;upto10yearsfor
equipment(dependingontheusefullife

oftheequipment);andgenerallyupto
sevenyearsforworkingcapital.Short-
termloansandrevolvinglinesofcredit
arealsoavailablethroughtheSBAto
helpsmallbusinessesmeettheirshort-
termandcyclicalworkingcapitalneeds.
Structure
 Most7(a)loansarerepaidwith
monthlypaymentsofprincipaland
interest.Forxed-rateloansthe
paymentsstaythesame,whereas
forvariablerateloansthelendercan
re-establishthepaymentamount
CAPITAL
 Documentationrequirementsmay
vary;contactyourlenderforthe
informationyoumustsupply.
Common requirements include the
following:
•Purposeoftheloan
•Historyofthebusiness
•Financialstatementsforthreeyears
(existingbusinesses)
•Scheduleoftermdebts(existing
businesses)
•Agingofaccountsreceivableand
payable(existingbusinesses)
•Projectedopening-daybalancesheet
(newbusinesses)
•Leasedetails

•Amountofinvestmentinthebusiness
bytheowner(s)
•Projectionsofincome,expensesand
cashowaswellasanexplanationof
theassumptionsusedtodevelopthese
projections
•Personalnancialstatementsonthe
principalowners
•Resume(s)oftheprincipalownersand
managers.
How the 7(a) Program Works
 Applicantssubmittheirloan
applicationtoalenderfortheinitial
review.Thelenderwillgenerally
reviewthecreditmeritsoftherequest
beforedecidingiftheywillmakethe
loanthemselvesoriftheywillneedan
SBAguaranty.Ifaguarantyisneeded,
thelenderwillalsorevieweligibility.
Theapplicantshouldbepreparedto
completesomeadditionaldocuments
beforethelendersendstherequest
forguarantytotheSBA.Applicants
whofeeltheyneedmorehelpwiththe
processshouldcontacttheirlocalSBA
districtofceoroneofSBA’sresource
partnersforassistance.
 Thereareseveralwaysalender
canapplyfora7(a)guarantyfrom
SBA.Themaindifferencesbetween

thesemethodsarerelatedtothe
documentationwhichthelender
provides,theamountofreviewwhich
SBAconducts,theamountoftheloan
andthelenderresponsibilitiesincase
theloandefaultsandthebusiness’
assetsmustbeliquidated.The
methodsare:
•Standard7(a)Guaranty
•CertiedLenderProgram
•PreferredLenderProgram
•RuralLenderAdvantage
•SBAExpress
•PatriotExpress
•ExportExpress
•SmallLoanAdvantage
•CommunityAdvantage

 FortheStandard,Certiedand
Preferredmethods,theapplicant
llsoutSBAForm4,andthelender
completesSBAForm4-1.When
requestsforguaranteesareprocessed
usingExpressorAdvantagemethods,
theapplicantusesmoreoftheregular
formsofthelenderandjusthasafew
federalformstocomplete.WhenSBA
receivesarequestthatisprocessed
throughStandardorCertied
LenderProgramprocedures,iteither

reanalyzesorreviewsthelender’s
eligibilityandcreditanalysisbefore
decidingtoapproveorreject.For
requestsprocessedthroughPreferred
LenderProgramorExpressprograms,
thelenderisdelegatedtheauthorityto
makethecreditdecisionwithoutSBA’s
concurrences,whichhelpsexpeditethe
processingtime.
 Inguaranteeingtheloan,theSBA
assuresthelenderthat,intheevent
theborrowerdoesnotrepaytheloan,
thegovernmentwillreimbursethe
lendinginstitutionforaportionofits
loss.Byprovidingthisguaranty,the
SBAisabletohelptensofthousands
ofsmallbusinesseseveryyearget
nancingtheymightnototherwise
obtain.
 AfterSBAapproval,thelender
isnotiedthatitsloanhasbeen
guaranteed.Thelenderthenwill
workwiththeapplicanttomakesure
thetermsandconditionsaremet
beforeclosingtheloan,disbursingthe
funds,andassumingresponsibility
forcollectionandgeneralservicing.
Theborrowermakesmonthlyloan
paymentsdirectlytothelender.
Aswithanyloan,theborroweris

responsibleforrepayingthefull
amountoftheloaninatimelymanner.
What the SBA Looks for:
•Abilitytorepaytheloanontimefrom
theprojectedoperatingcashow;
•Ownersandoperatorswhoareofgood
character;
•Feasiblebusinessplan;
•Managementexpertiseand
commitmentnecessaryforsuccess;
•Sufcientfunds,includingtheSBA
guaranteedloan,tooperatethe
businessonasoundnancialbasis
(fornewbusinesses,thisincludesthe
resourcestomeetstart-upexpenses
andtheinitialoperatingphase);
•Adequateequityinvestedinthe
business;and
•Sufcientcollateraltosecuretheloan
orallavailablecollateraliftheloan
cannotbefullysecured.
What To Take To The Lender
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 19
whentheinterestrateschangeorat
otherintervals,asnegotiatedwith
theborrower.Applicantscanrequest
thatthelenderestablishtheloanwith
interest-onlypaymentsduringthe
start-upandexpansionphases(when

eligible)toallowthebusinesstimeto
generateincomebeforeitstartsmaking
fullloanpayments.Balloonpayments
orcallprovisionsarenotallowedonany
7(a)loan.Thelendermaynotchargea
prepaymentpenaltyiftheloanispaid
offbeforematurity,buttheSBAwill
chargetheborroweraprepaymentfee
iftheloanhasamaturityof15ormore
yearsandispre-paidduringtherst
threeyears.
Collateral
 TheSBAexpectsevery7(a)loan
tobefullysecured,buttheSBAwill
notdeclinearequesttoguarantya
loaniftheonlyunfavorablefactoris
insufcientcollateral,providedall
availablecollateralisoffered.What
thesetwopoliciesmeanisthatevery
SBAloanistobesecuredbyall
availableassets(bothbusinessand
personal)untiltherecoveryvalue
equalstheloanamountoruntilall
assetshavebeenpledgedtotheextent
thattheyarereasonablyavailable.
Personalguarantiesarerequired
fromalltheprincipalownersofthe
business.Liensonpersonalassetsofthe
principalsmayberequired.
Eligibility

 7(a)loaneligibilityisbasedonfour
differentfactors.Therstissize,as
allloanrecipientsmustbeclassied
as“small”bySBA.Thebasicsize
standardsareoutlinedbelow.Amore
in-depthlistingofstandardscanbe
foundatwww.sba.gov/size.
SBA Size Standards have the following
general ranges:
•Manufacturing—from500to1,500
employees
•WholesaleTrades—Upto100
employees
•Services—$2millionto$35.5million
inaverageannualreceipts
•RetailTrades—$7millionto$35.5
millioninaverageannualreceipts
•Construction—$7millionto$33.5
millioninaverageannualreceipts
•Agriculture,Forestry,Fishing,and
Hunting—$750,000to$17.5million
inaverageannualreceipts
 Thereisanalternatesizestandard
forbusinessesthatdonotqualifyunder
theirindustrysizestandardsforSBA
funding–tangiblenetworth
($15millionorless)andaveragenet
income($5millionorlessfortwo
years).Thisnewalternatemakes
morebusinesseseligibleforSBAloans

andappliestoSBAnon-disasterloan
programs,namelyits7(a)Business
LoansandDevelopmentCompany
programs.
Nature of Business
 Thesecondeligibilityfactorisbased
onthenatureofthebusinessandthe
processbywhichitgeneratesincomeor
thecustomersitserves.TheSBAhas
generalprohibitionsagainstproviding
nancialassistancetobusinesses
involvedinsuchactivitiesaslending,
speculating,passiveinvestment,
pyramidsales,loanpackaging,
presentingliveperformancesofa
prurientsexualnature,businesses
involvedingamblingandanyillegal
activity.
 TheSBAalsocannotloanguaranties
tonon-protbusinesses,privateclubs
thatlimitmembershiponabasis
otherthancapacity,businessesthat
promoteareligion,businessesownedby
individualsincarceratedoronprobation
orparole,municipalities,andsituations
wherethebusinessoritsowners
previouslyfailedtorepayafederalloan
orfederallyassistednancing.
Use of Proceeds
 Thethirdeligibilityfactorisuseof

proceeds.7(a)proceedscanbeused
to:purchasemachinery;equipment;
xtures;supplies;makeleasehold
improvements;aswellaslandand/or
buildingsthatwillbeoccupiedbythe
businessborrower.
Proceeds can also be used to:
•Expandorrenovatefacilities;
•Acquiremachinery,equipment,
furniture,xturesandleasehold
improvements;
•Financereceivablesandaugment
workingcapital;
•Financeseasonallinesofcredit;
•Acquirebusinesses;
•Startupbusinesses;
•Constructcommercialbuildings;and
•Renanceexistingdebtundercertain
conditions.
 SBA7(a)loanproceedscannotbeused
forthepurposeofmakinginvestments.
SBAproceedscannotbeusedto
providefundstoanyoftheowners
ofthebusinessexceptforordinary
compensationforactualservices
provided.
Miscellaneous Factors
 Thefourthfactorinvolvesavariety
ofrequirementssuchasSBA’scredit
elsewheretestandutilizationof

personalassetsrequirements,where
thebusinessanditsprincipalowners
mustusetheirownresourcesbefore
gettingaloanguaranteedbySBA.It
alsoincludesSBA’santi-discrimination
rulesandlimitationsonlendingto
agriculturalenterprisesbecause
thereareotheragenciesofthefederal
governmentwithprogramstofundsuch
businesses.
Generally,SBAloansmustmeetthe
followingcriteria:
•Everyloanmustbeforasound
businesspurpose;
•Theremustbesufcientinvested
equityinthebusinesssoitcanoperate
onasoundnancialbasis;
•Theremustbeapotentialforlong-
termsuccess;
•Theownersmustbeofgoodcharacter
andreputation;and
•Allloansmustbesosoundasto
reasonablyassurerepayment.
 Formoreinformation,goto
www.sba.gov/apply.
SPECIAL PURPOSE
7(a) LOAN PROGRAMS
 The7(a)programisthemostexible
ofSBA’slendingprograms.Theagency
hascreatedseveralvariationstothe

basic7(a)programtoaddressthe
particularnancingneedofcertain
smallbusinesses.Thesespecialpurpose
programsarenotnecessarilyforall
businessesbutmaybeveryuseful
tosomesmallbusinesses.Theyare
generallygovernedbythesamerules,
regulations,fees,interestrates,etc.as
theregular7(a)loanguaranty.Lenders
canadviseyouofanyvariations.
SBAExpress
 TheSBAExpressguarantyisavailable
tolendersasawaytoobtainaguaranty
onsmallerloansupto$350,000.
Theprogramauthorizesselected,
experiencedlenderstousemostlytheir
ownforms,analysisandprocedures
toprocess,serviceandliquidateSBA-
guaranteedloans.TheSBAguarantees
upto50percentofanSBAExpressloan.
Loansunder$25,000donotrequire
collateral.Theuseofloanproceedsis
thesameasforanybasic7(a)loan.Like
most7(a)loans,maturitiesareusually
vetosevenyearsforworkingcapital
andupto25yearsforrealestateor
equipment.Revolvinglinesofcreditare
allowedforamaximumofsevenyears.
Patriot Express and Other
Lending Programs For Veterans

 ThePatriotExpresspilotloan
initiativeisforveteransandmembers
ofthemilitarycommunitywantingto
establishorexpandasmallbusiness.
Eligiblemilitarycommunitymembers
include:
• Veterans;
• Service-disabledveterans;
• Active-dutyservicememberseligible
forthemilitary’sTransitionAssistance
Program;
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
20 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
• ReservistsandNationalGuard
members;
• Currentspousesofanyoftheabove,
includinganyservicemember;
• Thewidowedspouseofaservicemember
orveteranwhodiedduringserviceorof
aservice-connecteddisability.
 ThePatriotExpressloanisoffered
bySBA’snationwidenetworkof
privatelendersandfeaturesthefastest
turnaroundtimeforloanapprovals.
Loansareavailableupto$500,000and
qualifyforSBA’smaximumguaranty
of85percentforloansof$150,000
orlessand75percentforloansover
$150,000upto$500,000.Forloans

above$350,000,lendersarerequired
toeitherobtainallcollateralorenough
collateralsothevalueisequaltothe
loanamount,whichevercomesrst.
 ThePatriotExpressloancanbeused
formostbusinesspurposes,including
start-up,expansion,equipment
purchases,workingcapital,and
inventoryorbusiness-occupiedreal-
estatepurchases.
 PatriotExpressloansfeatureSBA’s
lowestinterestratesforbusinessloans,
generally2.25percentto4.75percent
overprimedependinguponthesize
andmaturityoftheloan.Yourlocal
SBAdistrictofcewillhavealistingof
PatriotExpresslendersinyourarea.
Moreinformationisavailableat
www.sba.gov/patriotexpress.
 Self-employedReserveorGuard
memberswithanexistingSBAloan
canrequestfromtheirSBAlender
orSBAdistrictofce,loanpayment
deferrals,interestratereductionsand
otherreliefaftertheyreceivetheir
activationorders.TheSBAalsooffers
speciallow-interest-ratenancingof
upto$2millionwhenanowneror
essentialemployeeiscalledtoactive
dutythroughtheMilitaryReservist

EconomicInjuryDisasterLoanprogram
(MREIDL)tohelpcoveroperatingcosts
duetothelossofanessentialemployee
calledtoactiveduty.
Rural Lender Advantage
 TheSmall/RuralLenderAdvantage
(S/RLA)initiativeisdesignedto
accommodatetheuniqueloan
processingneedsofsmallcommunity/
rural-basedlendersbysimplifyingand
streamliningloanapplicationprocess
andprocedures,particularlyforsmaller
SBAloans.ItispartofabroaderSBA
initiativetopromotetheeconomic
developmentoflocalcommunities,
particularlythosefacingthechallenges
ofpopulationloss,economicdislocation,
andhighunemployment.Visitwww.sba.
gov/content/rural-business-loansformore
information.
Advantage Loans
 Inearly2011,SBArolledouttwo
Advantageloaninitiativesaimed
athelpingentrepreneursandsmall
businessownersinunderserved
communitiesgainaccesstocapital.
Bothofferastreamlinedloan
applicationprocessandtheregular
7(a)loanguaranteeforloansunder
$350,000.

 The Small Loan Advantageprogram
isavailabletoalllenders.
 Thekeyfeaturesoftherevisedand
expandedSLAareasfollows:
• Anincreaseinthemaximumloansize
from$250,000to$350,000;
• ExpansiontoallSBAparticipating
lenders;
• AllSLAloanapplicationswillbecredit-
scoredbySBApriortoloanapproval
(orissuanceofaloannumberfor
applicationssubmittedbyPLPlenders);
• ChangeinformsfromtheS/RLAforms
(SBAForms2301PartsA,BandC)and
thePLPEligibilityChecklist(SBA
 Form7)totheformsusedintheSBA
ExpressandPilotLoanPrograms(SBA
Forms1919and1920PartsBandC);
• AllSLAloanapplicationswillcontinue
tobesubmittedelectronically;
• Lenderswillcontinuetohavetheoption
ofusingtheirownnotesandguaranty
forms,ratherthanSBAForms147,148
and148L;
InclosinganddisbursingSLAloans,
lenderswillfollowthesameclosing
anddisbursementproceduresand
documentationasitusesforits
similarly-sizednon-SBAguaranteed
commercialloans

 TheCommunity Advantage pilot
programopensup7(a)lendingto
mission-focused,community-based
lenders–suchasCommunity
DevelopmentFinancialInstitutions
(CDFIs),CertiedDevelopment
Companies(CDCs),andmicrolenders
–whoprovidetechnicalassistance
andeconomicdevelopmentsupportin
underservedmarkets.Loanamount
maximumis$250,000.
 Moreinformationonbothprogramsis
availableatwww.sba.gov/advantage.
CAPLines
 TheCAPLinesprogramisdesigned
tohelpsmallbusinessesmeettheir
short-termandcyclicalworkingcapital
needs.Theprogramscanbeusedto
nanceseasonalworkingcapitalneeds;
nancethedirectcostsofperforming
certainconstruction,serviceandsupply
contracts,subcontracts,orpurchase
orders;nancethedirectcostassociated
withcommercialandresidential
construction;orprovidegeneralworking
capitallinesofcredit.SBAprovidesup
toan85percentguarantee.Thereare
fourdistinctloanprogramsunderthe
CAPLineumbrella:
•The Contract Loan Programisused

tonancethecostassociatedwith
contracts,subcontracts,orpurchase
orders.Proceedscanbedisbursed
beforetheworkbegins.Ifusedforone
contractorsubcontract,itisgenerally
notrevolving;ifusedformorethan
onecontractorsubcontractatatime,
itcanberevolving.Theloanmaturity
isusuallybasedonthelengthofthe
contract,butnomorethantenyears.
Contractpaymentsaregenerallysent
directlytothelenderbutalternative
structuresareavailable.
•The Seasonal Line of Credit Program
isusedtosupportbuildupofinventory,
accountsreceivableorlaborand
materialsabovenormalusagefor
seasonalinventory.Thebusiness
musthavebeeninbusinessfora
periodof12monthsandmusthavea
deniteestablishedseasonalpattern.
Theloanmaybeusedoveragain
aftera“clean-up”periodof30days
tonanceactivityforanewseason.
Thesealsomayhaveamaturityofup
toveyears.Thebusinessmaynot
haveanotherseasonallineofcredit
outstandingbutmayhaveotherlines
fornon-seasonalworkingcapitalneeds.
•The Builders Line Programprovides

nancingforsmallcontractorsor
developerstoconstructorrehabilitate
residentialorcommercialproperty.
Loanmaturityisgenerallythree
yearsbutcanbeextendedupto
veyears,ifnecessary,tofacilitate
saleoftheproperty.Proceedsare
usedsolelyfordirectexpensesof
acquisition,immediateconstruction
and/orsignicantrehabilitation
oftheresidentialorcommercial
structures.Thepurchaseoftheland
canbeincludedifitdoesnotexceed20
percentoftheloanproceeds.Upto5
percentoftheproceedscanbeusedfor
physicalimprovementsthatbenetthe
property.
•The Working Capital Lineis
arevolvinglineofcredit(upto
$5,000,000)thatprovidesshortterm
workingcapital.Theselinesare
generallyusedbybusinessesthat
providecredittotheircustomers.
Disbursementsaregenerally
basedonthesizeofaborrower’s
accountsreceivableand/orinventory.
Repaymentcomesfromthecollection
ofaccountsreceivableorsaleof
inventory.Thespecicstructureis
negotiatedwiththelender.Theremay

beextraservicingandmonitoringof
thecollateralforwhichthelendercan
chargeuptotwopercentannuallyto
theborrower.
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 21
International Trade Loan Program
 TheSBA’sInternationalTradeLoan
(ITL)providessmallbusinesseswith
enhancedexportnancingoptionsfor
theirexporttransactions.Itisdesigned
tohelpsmallbusinessesenterand
expandintointernationalmarkets
and,whenadverselyaffectedbyimport
competition,maketheinvestments
necessarytobettercompete.TheITL
offersacombinationofxedasset,
workingcapitalnancinganddebt
renancingwiththeSBA’smaximum
guaranty 90percent onthetotal
loanamount.Themaximumloan
amountis$5millionintotalnancing.
Guaranty Coverage
 TheSBAcanguarantyupto90
percentofanITLuptoamaximum
of$4.5million,lesstheamountof
theguaranteedportionofotherSBA
loansoutstandingtotheborrower.
Themaximumguarantyforany

workingcapitalcomponentofanITL
is$4million.Additionally,anyother
workingcapitalSBAloanstheborrower
hasarecountedagainstthe$4million
guarantylimit.
Use of Proceeds
•Forthefacilitiesandequipmentportion
oftheloan,proceedsmaybeusedto
acquire,construct,renovate,modernize,
improveorexpandfacilitiesor
equipmentintheU.S.toproducegoods
orservicesinvolvedininternational
trade.
•Workingcapitalisanallowableuseof
proceedsundertheITL.
•Proceedsmaybeusedfortherenancing
ofdebtstructuredwithunreasonable
termsandconditions,includinganydebt
thatqualiesforrenancingunderthe
standardSBA7(a)LoanProgram.
Loan Term
•Maturitiesontheworkingcapital
portionoftheITLaretypicallylimited
to10years.
•Maturitiesofupto10yearson
equipmentunlesstheusefullifeexceeds
10years.
•Maturitiesofupto25yearsare
availableforrealestate.
•Loanswithamixeduseofxed-asset

andworking-capitalnancingwillhave
ablended-averagematurity.
Interest Rates
 Lendersmaychargebetween2.25to
2.75percentabovetheprimerate(as
publishedintheWallStreetJournal)
dependinguponthematurityofthe
loan.Interestratesonloansof$50,000
andlesscanbeslightlyhigher.
Exporter Eligibility
•Applicantsmustmeetthesame
eligibilityrequirementsasfortheSBA’s
standard7(a)LoanProgram.
•Applicantsmustalsoestablishthat
theloanwillallowthebusinessto
expandordevelopanexportmarketor,
demonstratethatthebusinesshasbeen
adverselyaffectedbyimportcompetition
andthattheITLwillallowthebusiness
toimproveitscompetitiveposition.
Foreign Buyer Eligibility
 Foreignbuyersmustbelocatedin
thosecountrieswhereintheExport-
ImportBankoftheU.S.isnot
prohibitedfromprovidingnancial
assistance.
Collateral Requirements
•Onlycollaterallocatedinthe
U.S.(includingitsterritoriesand
possessions)isacceptable.

•Firstlienonpropertyorequipment
nancedbytheITLoronotherassets
ofthebusinessisrequired.However,
anITLcanbesecuredbyasecondlien
positioniftheSBAdeterminesthereis
adequateassuranceofloanpayment.
•Additionalcollateral,including
personalguarantiesandthoseassets
notnancedwithITLproceeds,may
beappropriate.
How to Apply
•AsmallbusinessseekinganITLmust
applytoanSBA-participatinglender.
Thelenderwillsubmitacompleted
ApplicationforBusinessLoan(SBA
Form4),includingallexhibits,tothe
SBA.Visitwww.sba.govtondyour
localSBAdistrictofceforalistof
participatinglenders.
•Asmallbusinessexporterwantingto
qualifyasadverselyimpactedfrom
importcompetitionmustsubmit
supportingdocumentationthatexplains
thatimpact,andaplanwithprojections
thatexplainshowtheloanwillimprove
thebusiness’competitiveposition.
Export Express
 SBAExportExpressoffersexibility
andeaseofusetobothborrowersand
lenders.Itisthesimplestexportloan

productofferedbytheSBAandallows
participatinglenderstousetheir
ownforms,proceduresandanalyses.
TheSBAprovidesthelenderwitha
responsewithin36hours.
 Thisloanissubjecttothesame
loanprocessing,closing,servicingand
liquidationrequirementsaswellasthe
samematurityterms,interestratesand
applicablefeesasforotherSBAloans
(exceptasnotedbelow).
Guaranty Coverage
 TheSBAprovideslenderswitha
90percentguarantyonloansupto
$350,000anda75percentguaranty
onloansmorethan$350,000uptothe
maximumof$500,000.
Use of Proceeds
 Loanproceedsmaybeusedfor
businesspurposesthatwillenhancea
company’sexportdevelopment.Export
Expresscantaketheformofaterm
loanorarevolvinglineofcredit.As
anexample,proceedscanbeusedto
fundparticipationinaforeigntrade
show,nancestandbylettersofcredit,
translateproductliteratureforusein
foreignmarkets,nancespecicexport
orders,aswellastonanceexpansions,
equipmentpurchases,andinventoryor

realestateacquisitions,etc.
Ineligible Use of Proceeds
 Proceedsmaynotbeusedtonance
overseasoperationsotherthanthose
strictlyassociatedwiththemarketing
and/ordistributionofproducts/services
exportedfromtheU.S.
Exporter Eligibility
 Anybusinessthathasbeenin
operation,althoughnotnecessarilyin
exporting,foratleast12fullmonths
andcandemonstratethattheloan
proceedswillsupportitsexportactivity
iseligibleforExportExpress.
Foreign Buyer Eligibility
 Theexporter’sforeignbuyermustbea
creditworthyentityandthemethodsof
paymentmustbeacceptabletotheSBA
andtheSBAlender.
How to Apply
 Interestedbusinessesshouldcontact
theirexistinglendertodetermine
iftheyareanSBAExpresslender.
LendersthatparticipateinSBA’s
Expressprogramarealsoabletomake
ExportExpressloans.Applicationis
madedirectlytothelender.Lenders
usetheirownapplicationmaterialin
additiontoSBA’sBorrowerInformation
Form.Lenders’approvedrequestsare

thensubmittedwithalimitedamount
ofeligibilityinformationtoSBA’s
NationalLoanProcessingCenterfor
review.
Export Working Capital Program
 TheSBA’sExportWorkingCapital
Program(EWCP)assistslendersin
meetingtheneedsofexportersseeking
short-termexportworkingcapital.
ExporterscanapplyforEWCPloans
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
22 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
inadvanceofnalizinganexportsale
orcontract.WithanapprovedEWCP
loaninplace,exportershavegreater
exibilityinnegotiatingexportpayment
terms—secureintheassurancethat
adequatenancingwillbeinplace
whentheexportorderiswon.
Benefits of the EWCP
• Financingforsuppliers,inventoryor
productionofexportgoods.
• Exportworkingcapitalduringlong
paymentcycles.
• Financingforstand-bylettersofcredit
usedasbidorperformancebondsor
downpaymentguarantees.
• Reservesdomesticworkingcapitalfor
thecompany’ssaleswithintheU.S.

• Permitsincreasedglobalcompetitiveness
byallowingtheexportertoextendmore
liberalsalesterms.
• Increasessalesprospectsinunder-
developedmarketswhichhavehigh
capitalcostsforimporters.
• Lowfeesandquickprocessingtimes.
Guaranty Coverage
• Maximumloanamountis$5,000,000.
• 90percentofprincipalandaccrued
interestupto120days.
• Lowguarantyfeeofone-quarterofone
percentoftheguaranteedportionfor
loanswithmaturitiesof12monthsor
less.
• Loanmaturitiesaregenerallyfor12
monthsorless.
Use of Proceeds
• Topayforthemanufacturingcostsof
goodsforexport.
• Topurchasegoodsorservicesforexport.
• Tosupportstandbylettersofcreditto
actasbidorperformancebonds.
• Tonanceforeignaccountsreceivable.
Interest Rates
 TheSBAdoesnotestablishor
subsidizeinterestratesonloans.The
interestratecanbexedorvariable
andisnegotiatedbetweentheborrower
andtheparticipatinglender.

Advance Rates
• Upto90percentonpurchaseorders.
• Upto90percentondocumentaryletters
ofcredit.
• Upto90percentonforeignaccounts
receivable.
• Upto75percentoneligibleforeign
inventorylocatedwithintheU.S.
• Inallcases,nottoexceedtheexporter’s
costs.
Collateral Requirements
 Theexport-relatedinventoryandthe
receivablesgeneratedbytheexport
salesnancedwithEWCPfundswill
beconsideredadequatecollateral.The
SBArequiresthepersonalguarantee
ofownerswith20percentormore
ownership.
How to apply
 ApplicationismadedirectlytoSBA-
participatinglenders.Businessesare
encouragedtocontactSBAstaffattheir
localU.S.ExportAssistanceCenter
(USEAC)todiscusswhethertheyare
eligiblefortheEWCPandwhetheritis
theappropriatetooltomeettheirexport
nancingneeds.Participatinglenders
review/approvetheapplicationand
submittherequesttoSBAstaffatthe
localUSEAC.

U.S. Export Assistance Center
 Thereare20U.S.ExportAssistance
Centerslocatedthroughoutthe
U.S.TheyarestaffedbySBA,U.S.
DepartmentofCommerceandExport-
ImportBankoftheU.S.personnel,
andprovidetradepromotionand
export-nanceassistanceinasingle
location.TheUSEACsalsoworkclosely
withotherfederal,stateandlocal
internationaltradeorganizationsto
provideassistancetosmallbusinesses.
TondyournearestUSEAC,visit:
www.sba.gov/content/us-export-assistance-
centers.Youcanndadditionalexport
trainingandcounselingopportunities
bycontactingyourlocalSBAofce.
U.S. Export Assistance Center Location
(USEAC)
John Blum, Regional Manager
Office of International Trade
Export Solutions Group
8235 Forsyth Blvd., Ste. 520
St. Louis, MO 63105
314-425-3304 • 314-425-3381 Fax


CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY LOAN PROGRAM
(504 LOANS)

 The504Loanprogramisaneconomic
developmentprogramthatsupports
Americansmallbusinessgrowthand
helpscommunitiesthroughbusiness
expansionandjobcreation.ThisSBA
programprovideslong-term,xed-
rate,subordinatemortgagenancing
foracquisitionand/orrenovationof
capitalassetsincludingland,buildings
andequipment.Somerenancingis
alsopermitted.Mostfor-protsmall
businessesareeligibleforthisprogram.
Thetypesofbusinessesexcludedfrom
7(a)loans(listedpreviously)arealso
excludedfromthe504loanprogram.
 LoansareprovidedthroughCertied
DevelopmentCompanies.CDCswork
withbanksandotherlenderstomake
loansinrstpositiononreasonable
terms,helpinglendersretaingrowing
customersandprovideCommunity
RedevelopmentActcredit.
 TheSBA504loanisdistinguished
fromtheSBA7(a)loanprogramin
theseways:
The maximum debenture, or long-term
loan, is:
•$5millionforbusinessesthatcreatea
certainnumberofjobsorimprovethe
localeconomy;

•$5millionforbusinessesthatmeeta
specicpublicpolicygoal,including
veterans;and
•$5.5millionformanufacturersand
energypublicpolicyprojects.
Recentadditionstotheprogram
allow$5.5millionforeachproject
thatreducestheborrower’senergy
consumptionbyatleast10percent;
and$5.5millionforeachprojectthat
generatesrenewableenergyfuels,such
asbiodieselorethanolproduction.
Projectseligibleforupto$5.5million
underoneofthesetworequirements
donothavetomeetthejobcreation
orretentionrequirement,solongas
theCDCportfolioaverageisatleast
$65,000.
•Eligibleprojectcostsarelimited
tolong-term,xedassetssuchas
landandbuilding(occupiedbythe
borrower)andsubstantialmachinery
andequipment.Workingcapitalisnot
aneligibleuseofproceeds,exceptina
temporaryprogramwhichisscheduled
toexpireonSeptember27,2012.
•Mostborrowersarerequiredtomake
aninjection(borrowercontribution)
ofjust10percentwhichallows
thebusinesstoconservevaluable

operatingcapital.Afurtherinjection
of5percentisneededifthebusiness
isastart-upornew(lessthan2
yearsold),andafurtherinjectionof5
percentisalsorequirediftheprimary
collateralwillbeasinglepurpose
building(suchasahotel).
•Two-tieredprojectnancing:Alender
nancesapproximately50percentof
theprojectcostandreceivesarst
lienontheprojectassets(butnoSBA
guaranty);ACDC(backedbya100
percentSBA-guaranteeddebenture)
nancesupto40percentoftheproject
costssecuredwithajuniorlien.The
borrowerprovidesthebalanceofthe
projectcosts.
•FixedinterestrateonSBAloan.SBA
guaranteesthedebenture100percent.
Debenturesaresoldinpoolsmonthly
toprivateinvestors.Thislow,xed
rateisthenpassedontotheborrower
andestablishesthebasisfortheloan
rate.
•Allproject-relatedcostscanbe
nanced,includingacquisition(land
andbuilding,landandconstructionof
building,renovations,machineryand
equipment)andsoftcosts,suchastitle
insuranceandappraisals.Someclosing

costsmaybenanced.
•Collateralistypicallyasubordinate
lienontheassetsnanced;allows
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 23
otherassetstobefreeofliensand
availabletosecureotherneeded
nancing.
•Long-termrealestateloansareupto
20-yearterm,heavyequipment10-or
20-yeartermandareself-amortizing.
Businesses that receive 504 loans are:
• Small—networthunder$15million,
netprotaftertaxesunder$5million,or
meetotherSBAsizestandards.
• Organizedfor-prot.
• Mosttypesofbusiness—retail,service,
wholesaleormanufacturing.
 TheSBA’s504certieddevelopment
companiesservetheircommunitiesby
nancingbusinessexpansionneeds.
Theirprofessionalstaffsworkdirectly
withborrowerstotailoranancing
packagethatmeetsprogramguidelines
andthecreditcapacityoftheborrower’s
business.Forinformation,visit
www.sba.gov/504.
Certified Development Companies

Metro Area Development Corporation
Dan Fitzpatrick
6412 N. Santa Fe Ave., Ste. C
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405-424-5181 • 405-424-1781 Fax

Small Business Capital Corporation
Peggy Rice
Judy Roach
15 W. Sixth St., Ste. 1214
Tulsa, OK 74119-5406
918-584-3638 • 918-599-8339 Fax


www.sbcc-ok.com
Tulsa Economic Development Corporation
Rose Washington
Peggy Prudom
125 W. Third St.
Tulsa, OK 74103
918-585-8332 • 918-585-2473 Fax


www.tedcnet.com
Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.
P.O. Box 1335
Durant, OK 74702
800-658-2823 • 580-920-2745 Fax
www.ruralenterprises.com
Alva Office

Contact TBD
580-327-2095
Durant Office
Contact Susan Bates
580-924-5094

Lawton Office
Contact Gilmer Capps
580-327-2095

Oklahoma City Office
Contact Katherine Faison
405-319-8190


Tulsa Office
Contact Sam Vaverka
918-994-4370

MICROLOAN PROGRAM
 TheMicroloanprogramprovides
smallloansrangingfromunder$500
to$50,000towomen,low-income,
minority,veteran,andothersmall
businessownersthroughanetwork
ofapproximately160intermediaries
nationwide.Underthisprogram,the
SBAmakesfundsavailabletononprot
intermediariesthat,inturn,makethe
smallloansdirectlytoentrepreneurs,

includingveterans.Proceedscanbe
usedfortypicalbusinesspurposessuch
asworkingcapital,orthepurchaseof
furniture,xtures,machinery,supplies,
equipment,andinventory.Microloans
maynotbeusedforthepurchaseofreal
estate.Interestratesarenegotiated
betweentheborrowerandthe
intermediary.Themaximumtermfora
microloanis7years.
 Theprogramalsoprovidesbusiness-
basedtrainingandtechnicalassistance
tomicroborrowersandpotential
microborrowerstohelpthembe
successfulatstartingorgrowingtheir
businesses.Suchtrainingandtechnical
assistancemayincludegeneralbusiness
education,assistancewithbusiness
planningindustry-specictraining,
andothertypesoftrainingsupport.
Entrepreneursandsmallbusiness
ownersinterestedinsmallamounts
ofbusinessnancingshouldcontact
thenearestSBADistrictOfcefor
informationaboutthenearestMicroloan
ProgramIntermediaryLenderorgoto
www.sba.gov/microloans.
Microloan Program Intermediary Lenders
Greenwood Community Development
Corporation

Reginald King
131 N. Greenwood Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-585-2226 or 918-585-2084
918-585-9268 Fax

Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.
Susan Bates
P.O. Box 1335
Durant, OK 74702
800- 658-2823 or 580-924-5094
580-920-2745 Fax

Little Dixie Community Action Agency
Carol Buster
209 N. 4th
Hugo, OK 74743
580-326-5165 • 580-326-0556 Fax

Tulsa Economic Development Corp.
Rose Washington or Tara Martin
125 W. Third St.
Tulsa, OK 74103
918-585-8332 • 918-585-2473 Fax


SMALL BUSINESS
INVESTMENT COMPANY
PROGRAM
 Thereareavarietyofalternativesto

banknancingforsmallbusinesses.
TheSmallBusinessInvestment
Company(SBIC)programllsthegap
betweenwhatownerscanfunddirectly
andtheneedsofthesmallbusinessfor
growthcapital.Licensedandregulated
bytheSBA,SBICsareprivatelyowned
andmanagedinvestmentfundsthat
makecapitalavailabletoqualifying
U.S.smallbusinesses.Thefundsraise
privatecapitalandcanreceiveSBA-
guaranteedleverageupto3xprivate
capital,withaleverageceilingof$150
millionperSBICand$225millionfor
twoormorelicensesundercommon
control.LicensedSBICsarefor-prot
investmentrmswhoseincentiveisto
shareinthesuccessofasmallbusiness.
TheSBICprogramprovidesfunding
forabroadrangeofindustries.Some
SBICsinvestinaparticulareldor
industrywhileothersinvestmore
generally.Formoreinformation,visit
www.sba.gov/inv.
Oklahoma Small Business Investment
Companies
Council Oak Investment Corporation
William O. Johnstone, Manager
101 N. Broadway, Ste. 400
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

405-218-4696 • 405-218-4672 Fax

Investment Size Range
Preferred Min: $1,000,000
Preferred Max: $10,000,000
Type of Capital Provided: Loans, Equity
Funding Stage References: Early Stage,
Expansion
Industry Preference: Diversified
Geographic Preferences: Oklahoma

CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
24 — Small Business Resource OKLAHOMA
First United Venture Capital Corporation
Bert Davison, Sr. Vice President
P.O. Box 19100
Oklahoma City, OK 73144
405-636-4500 • 877-263-1308 Fax
bertd@firstunitedbank.com
Investment Size Range
Preferred Min: $500,000
Preferred Max: $1,000,000
Type of Capital Provided: Equity & Debt
Funding Stage References: Early Stage,
Growth
No Seed Money Investments
Industry Preference: Most Industries
Considered
No High-Tech or Life Sciences

Geographic Preferences: Oklahoma & North
Texas
SMALL BUSINESS
INNOVATION RESEARCH
PROGRAM
 TheSmallBusinessInnovation
Research(SBIR)programencourages
smallbusinessestoadvancetheir
technicalpotentialfromfunds
committedbyfederalagencieswith
largeextramuralresearchand
developmentbudgets.TheSBIR
programservestofundthecritical
startupanddevelopmentstages
foratechnologyandencourages
commercializationofthetechnology,
productorservice.Inturn,this
stimulatestheU.S.economy.
SBIR Requirements
 Smallbusinessesmustmeet
thefollowingeligibilitycriteriato
participateintheSBIRprogram.
•Be51percentownedandcontrolledby
oneormoreindividualswhoareU.S.
citizensorpermanentresidentaliens
intheU.S.orbeafor-protbusiness
concernthatisatleast51percent
ownedandcontrolledbyanother
for-protbusinessconcernthatisat
least51percentownedandcontrolled

byoneormoreindividualswhoare
citizensof,orpermanentresident
aliensin,theU.S.
•Befor-prot.
•Principalresearchermustbeemployed
bythesmallbusiness.
•Companysizecannotexceed500
employees.
 FormoreinformationontheSBIR
programvisitwww.sba.gov/sbir.
Participating Agencies
 Eachyear,thefollowingeleven
federaldepartmentsandagenciesare
requiredtoreserve2.5percentoftheir
extramuralR&Dfundsforawardto
smallbusinessesthroughtheSBIR
program:DepartmentsofAgriculture;
Commerce;Defense;Education;
Energy;HealthandHumanServices;
HomelandSecurity;Transportation;
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency;
NationalAeronauticsandSpace
Administration;andNationalScience
Foundation.
SMALL BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
PROGRAM
 TheSmallBusinessTechnology
Transfer(STTR)programreserves
aspecicpercentageoffederalR&D

fundingforawardtosmallbusinessand
non-protresearchinstitutionpartners.
Centraltotheprogramisexpansionof
thepublic/privatesectorpartnershipto
includethejointventureopportunities
forsmallbusinessandthenation’s
premiernonprotresearchinstitutions.
Smallbusinesshaslongbeenwhere
innovationandinnovatorsthrive,but
theriskandexpenseofconducting
seriousR&Deffortscanbebeyond
themeansofmanysmallbusinesses.
Non-protresearchlaboratories
arealsoinstrumentalindeveloping
high-techinnovations,butfrequently
innovationisconnedtothetheoretical.
STTRcombinesthestrengthsofboth
entitiesbyintroducingentrepreneurial
skillstohigh-techresearchefforts.
Thetechnologiesandproductsare
transferredfromthelaboratorytothe
marketplace.Thesmallbusinessprots
fromthecommercialization,which,in
turn,stimulatestheU.S.economy.
STTR Requirements
 Smallbusinessesmustmeet
thefollowingeligibilitycriteriato
participateintheSTTRprogram.
•Be51percentownedandcontrolledby
oneormoreindividualswhoareU.S.

citizensorpermanentresidentaliens
intheU.S.
•Befor-prot.
•Principalresearcherneednotbe
employedbythesmallbusiness.
•Companysizecannotexceed500
employees.(Nosizelimitfornonprot
researchinstitution).
 The nonprofit research institution
partner must also meet certain
eligibility criteria: 
•BelocatedintheUnitedStatesandbe
oneofthefollowing:
•Nonprotcollegeoruniversity.
•Domesticnonprotresearch
organization.
•FederallyfundedR&Dcenter.
Participating Agencies
 EachyearthefollowingveFederal
departmentsandagenciesarerequired
bySTTRtoreserve0.3percentoftheir
extramuralR&Dfundsforawardto
smallbusiness/nonprotresearch
institutionpartnerships:Department
ofDefense;DepartmentofEnergy;
DepartmentofHealthandHuman
Services;NationalAeronauticsand
SpaceAdministration;andNational
ScienceFoundation.
OCAST-Oklahoma Center for the

Advancement of Science and
Technology
 Oklahoma’ssmalltechnologyrms
havemuchtogainfromtheOCAST-
OklahomaCenterfortheAdvancement
ofScienceandTechnologySBIR/STTR
supportprogram.OCASTprovides
bothnancialsupportandexpertise
tohelpqualifyingrmsdeveloptheir
federalproposals.Theprogramdefrays
aportionoftheproposalpreparation
costsforqualifyingrms,providing
upto$3,000tohelpoffsetthecosts
ofdevelopingafederalproposal;and
providescritical“bridge”funding
betweenPhaseIandPhaseIIofthe
federalproject–upto$25,000.
 Inadditiontobeingthedesignated
OklahomastateagencyfortheSBIR/
STTRprograms,OCASTprovides
fundingopportunitiesthroughthe
followinggrantprograms:
•OklahomaAppliedResearchSupport
 (OARS)
•OklahomaHealthResearch(OHR)
•R&DInternPartnership(RDIP)
•OklahomaPlantScienceResearch
 (OPSR)
•OklahomaNanotechnologyApplications
 Project(ONAP)

 Foradditionalinformation,please
visit:www.ocast.ok.govorcontactTessa
North:
OCAST
755 Research Pkwy., Ste. 110
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3612
405-319-8410 or 866-265-2215 Toll Free

The Collaborative
 OCASTisimprovingitsresources
toaidOklahoma’ssmallbusinesses
inpursuingfederalfundingby
launchingtheOklahomaSBIR/STTR
CollaborativeProjectinMarchof2011;
referredtoas“TheCollaborative.”The
Collaborative’sgoalsaretoincrease
thequalityandquantityofSBIR/STTR
Oklahomaapplicationssubmittedtothe
participatingfederalfundingagencies
andtoimprovecommercializationin
Oklahoma’sprivatesectorandstate
government.
 ContactStevenMartineztolearn
moreaboutTheCollaborativeproject
andtoseeifyourcompanyqualiesfor
SBIR/STTRfunding.
CAPITAL
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok
OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 25
SURETY BOND

GUARANTEE PROGRAM
 TheSuretyBondGuaranteeprogram
isapublic-privatepartnershipbetween
thefederalgovernmentandsurety
companiestoprovidesmallbusinesses
withthebondingassistancenecessary
forthemtocompeteforpublicand
privatecontractingandsubcontracting
opportunities.Theguaranteeprovides
allincentiveforsuretiestobondsmall
businessesthatwouldotherwisebe
unabletoobtainbonding.Theprogram
isaimedatsmallbusinessesthatlack
theworkingcapitalorperformance
trackrecordnecessarytosecure
bondingonareasonablebasisthrough
regularcommercialchannels.
 Throughthisprogram,theSBA
guaranteesbid,payment,performance
andancillarybondsissuedbysurety
companiesforindividualcontractsand
subcontractsupto$2million.The
SBAreimbursessuretiesbetween70
and90percentoflossessustainedifa
contractordefaultsonthecontract.
 TheSBAhastwoprogramoptions
available,thePriorApprovalProgram
(PlanA)andthePreferredSurety
BondProgram(PlanB).InthePrior
ApprovalProgram,SBAguarantees

90percentofsurety’spaidlossesand
expensesonbondedcontractsupto
$100,000,andonbondedcontracts
greaterthan$100,000thatare
awardedtosociallyandeconomically
disadvantagedconcerns,HUBZone
contractors,andveterans,and
service-disabledveteranownedsmall
businesses.Allotherbondsguaranteed
inthePlanAProgramreceivean80
percentguarantee.Suretiesmust
obtainSBA’spriorapprovalforeach
bondguaranteeissued.UnderPlanB,
SBAguarantees70percent,butsureties
mayissue,monitorandservicebonds
withoutSBA’spriorapproval.
SEATTLE AREA OFFICE
Bettina Bradley, Surety Bond Guaranty
Specialist
2401 Fourth Ave., Ste. 450
Seattle, WA 98121
206-553-7056 • 206-553-6259 Fax

BOND AGENCIES
American Contracting Services, Inc.
5933 Glenway Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45238
513-793-5333

Assurance Brokers, LTD

95 N. Research Dr.
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-692-9800 • 618-692-9865 Fax

Babb Bonding, Inc.
801 E. Kiehl
Sherwood, AR 72124
501-834-5801

Barbour Group, LLC
20 Liberty St.
Westminster, MD 21157
410-876-9610 • 410-876-9954 Fax

BondPro, Inc.
217 S.E. Choctaw Ave.
Bartlesville, OK 74003
918-337-4100 • 918-337-4101 Fax

CB Insurance, LLC
1 South Nevada Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-477-4278 • 719-228-1071 Fax

CCI Surety, Inc.
1710 N. Douglas Dr.
Golden Valley, MN 55422
763-543-6993 • 763-546-1822 Fax

Contractors Bonding & Insurance

Company
11188 Tesson Ferry Rd.
Saint Louis, MO 63123
314-729-1334

Freedom Bonding, Inc.
11100 Liberty Rd.
Randallstown, MD 21133
410-922-2221

Insurance Source, Inc.
4111 Telegraph Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63129
314-416-2602 • 314-416-1011 Fax

Integrity Surety, LLC
19924 Aurora Ave.
Seattle, WA 98133
209-546-1397

KPS Insurance Services, Inc.
10650 Treena St.
San Diego, CA 92131
858-538-8822 • 858-346-9298 Fax

Kaercher Campbell & Associates
2500 N. Buffalo St.
Las Vegas, NV 89128
702-304-7800

Surety 1
3225 Monier Cir.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
916-737-5730

Surety Support Services Inc
7255 W. 98th Terr.
Overland Park, KS 66282
913-385-7760 • 913-385-7699 Fax

The Surety Group Agency, LLC
1900 Emery St.
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-352-8211 • 404-351-3237 Fax

Viking Bond Service, Inc.
22601 N. 19th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85027
623-933-9334 ext. 16

Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.
5755 Mark Dabling Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
719-592-1177

CAPITAL