

Small Business Resource Guide
This Resource Guide is designed to provide access to information needed to start or grow a business in Freeport and Stephenson County. It includes many links to documents and websites that will assist in answering questions for someone to open their business. The Starting a Business Resource Guide is designed to provide you with access to information and resources to make your entrepreneurial journey more successful!
Table of Contents to Guide
Introduction
- So You want to Start A Business
- About the Greater Freeport Partnership
- Contact information
- The Business Resource Guide
- The Business Start-Up Process (graphic)
Evaluate Your Idea
- Where Do I Start?
- 30 Questions
- Are you ready to start your own business?
Business Plan
- Components of a Business Plan
- Small Business Development Center
- SBA Business Plan
- SCORE Business Plan
Build Your Business
- Business Ownership
- Business Ownership Options
- Registering Your Business in Illinois
- State of Illinois Registration
- Illinois Department of Professional Regulations
- Stephenson County
- City of Freeport and other municipalities
- Federal Tax Identification Number
- State of Illinois Tax Number
- Sales Tax
- Developing a Startup Support Team
- Financing Your Business
- Your personal credit
- Possible Business Financing Resources
- Local Business Financing Resources
- Possible Site-Specific Financing Resources
- Business Insurance
- Lawyers
- Accountants
- Real Estate and Leasing
- Utility Contact Information
Grow Your Business
- Assembling Your Team
- Hiring Employees
- Writing a Job Description
- Writing an Employee Manual
- State of Illinois Unemployment
- Workers Compensation
- Insurance
- Minimum Wage Laws
- Sales and Marketing
- Plan for Growth
Appendices and Attachments
Appendix A: Resources
Appendix B: Employment Posters
Appendix C: Feasibility Checklist
Key Industries
Calendar Feed
Blog Feed
Local Marketing Tips for Small Business Month May 20, 2022 While there have already been so many reasons to celebrate the month of May, we can not forget National Small Business Month! Small businesses and entrepreneurs employ almost half of America’s workforce and that is an even greater percentage locally. As these businesses grow and evolve, they have found innovative ways to set themselves apart from others and become necessary […]
Entrepreneur Ecosystem & Digital Community Business Academy May 13, 2022 Happy National Economic Development Week! In the spirit of celebration, and because entrepreneurial development and small business support is important to the overall economic health of our region, I wanted to share some exciting news about an upcoming program the Partnership is developing. Since September 2021, Partnership staff have been participating in the National League of Cities, City Innovation Ecosystem […]