Seek advice from state business leaders

The Arkansas Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) offer free counseling and consulting services for small businesses. The staff's areas of expertise include computerization, financial management, loans, accounting and bookkeeping, and more.

I recommend: Schedule an appointment at a nearby center.

Read about start-up basics

The ASBDC's New Venture Guides outlines the basic steps for launching a small business in Arkansas.

I recommend: The 17 online guides cover start-up topics like how to draft a loan proposal, calculate cost analysis, and determine insurance needs.

Apply for small business loans

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $50 million in annual gross sales may qualify for loans through the Arkansas Department of Economic Development. The ADED works with commercial lenders across the state to help with expanding businesses and start-ups.

I recommend: Find ADED-approved lenders at Arkansas Lenders.

Take advantage of tax incentives

Small businesses can benefit from several state tax incentive programs. Advantage Arkansas offers a state income tax credit for job creation based on the payroll of new, full-time employees. The Tax Back program allows refunds from the approved purchase of certain building materials, machinery and equipment.

I recommend: Review eligibility requirements at Advantage Arkansas and Tax Back.

File your business licenses online

You can apply and pay for many permits and licenses online at Arkansas' official state Web site. Others are issued on the city and county level.

I recommend: Apply for professional licenses and search for local governments.

Hire the best employees

Recruit more qualified workers in less time with the help of Arkansas Workforce Centers. Here you can access the largest and most diverse source of job-seekers in your area. A worker's skills and abilities are matched with your specified job requirements.

I recommend: Locate the closest center and expedite your hiring process at Arworks.org. You can also post jobs and search for potential employees at Arkansasjobs.net.

Snag state-level help from the SBA

District, state and regional offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration can put a more focused face on federal programs and resources, and plug you into local training and assistance solutions.

I recommend: Just plug in a Zip Code, select a specific city from the pull-down menu or check your state on the U.S. map in the middle of the SBA home page.

SCORE more free help for your biz

SCORE, "Counselors to America's small business" is a terrific national organization that provides free mentoring for small business owners.

I recommend: SCORE's Arkansas office: El Dorado - South Central SCORE.