New small business technology coalition helps small enterprises go digital
America's small business community is an economic powerhouse. Their sweat and labor creates two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. and contributes almost half of the nation's economic productivity. Yet the latest research tells us that less than half of those small businesses have a website and only about half use digital tools to manage their accounting.
Meanwhile, their larger counterparts are rapidly adopting these resources and gaining a significant competitive advantage.
That's why SBA launched the Small Business Technology Coalition last week in partnership with Amazon, Box, Facebook, LegalZoom, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Zenefits: to help ensure America's small enterprises have the resources and tools they need to compete.
This unprecedented partnership will open the door for America's 28 million small enterprises to build the capacity many of them need to compete. Resources like these make it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to start businesses, innovate, and scale up in today's modern economy. And we'll continue adding new educational opportunities and other resources as the coalition continues to grow.
Through this SBA-led effort, we'll educate entrepreneurs on topics that include connecting with customers, integrating into new market channels, maximizing online commerce and payment platforms, simplifying shopping experiences, improving operational efficiency and overall productivity, and ensuring cybersecurity protection.
SBA started this effort with our 'Startup in a Day' initiative in mind, coordinating across federal state and local government to cut red tape and simplify the process of starting a business. Now, with the launch of this coalition, America's startups will also have the know-how and access to training they need to take their first steps toward success.
The growing popularity of digital enterprise software and services has made it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to start businesses, innovate, and scale up in today's modern economy. Expanding small business access and training with these tools will mean more successful American startups that are ready to compete from day one.
Bottom line, this coalition means you no longer have to do it alone. SBA is harnessing modern business technologies as part of our mission to find smart, bold, and accessible solutions for our nation's leading job creators: our entrepreneurs and small businesses.
We look forward to adding new members to this coalition as we work to further strengthen the SBA as America's small business resource. And we stand ready to help small business owners and entrepreneurs all across the country move your companies forward.
More information about SBA's Small Business Technology Coalition can be found at www.sba.gov/techcoalition.
• Maria Contreras-Sweet is administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reprinted with permission from the SBA.