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Washington Watch
October 22, 2003
Web Site Assists Small
Business Owners Seeking To Do
Business Overseas
Last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration in
partnership with the American International Group,
Inc. (AIG) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a
new Web site designed to assist small businesses
seeking to tap into international markets.
The Web site at
www.AssessYourInternationalRisk.org is designed to
provide small businesses with information that will
help them determine what insurable exposures they may
encounter in doing business overseas. These can range
from credit and liability risks with unknown customers
to workers' compensation laws, which can vary widely.
"This is part of the SBA's ongoing efforts to provide
the best information resources to small business
owners, especially through online access," said SBA
Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "SBA, along with AIG
and the Chamber of Commerce, is committed to promoting
initiatives that give small businesses an advantage
that can create increased opportunities."
"AIG is pleased to continue our relationship with the
Chamber of Commerce and begin a relationship with the
SBA to meet the evolving needs of growing companies
across the nation,” said Kristian P. Moor, executive
vice president, AIG, Domestic General Insurance. “The
combination of public and private sector resources
will provide small business owners with the
information they need to make smart decisions
concerning overseas expansion, and how to address the
risks inherent in entering the international
marketplace.”
Small businesses are more likely to be unfamiliar with
the risks involved in doing business overseas. A lack
of knowledge may needlessly stifle or jeopardize a
company’s expansion. The site,
www.AssessYourInternationalRisk.org, will help
entrepreneurs in creating an environment where they
can gain the knowledge to expand and protect their
business on an international scale. The Web site
features a convenient ask-the-expert option where
small business owners can ask questions about the
risks in doing business overseas.
News Updates from SBA Office of
Advocacy
Stay in the loop on the happenings at the U.S.
Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy by
signing up for Advocacy's free publications. Choose from the
monthly newsletter, news releases, research results or
regulatory communications. Sign up at
http://web.sba.gov/list/.
IRS Online Classroom
You're not alone if you find the Internal Revenue Code
confusing and hard to follow. That's why the IRS created an
online classroom, with streaming video and audio, workbooks
and links to additional resources. Workshop topics cover a
basic introduction to small business tax obligations,
including types of organizations, record keeping, income,
expenses, employment taxes, employment tax depositing
requirements, electronic filing and payment, business use of
the home and wage credits.
For more information, or to take a free online workshop,
click here.
Do any of these issues affect you? Visit the NASE Legislative
Action Center and “Tell
Your Micro-Business Story.” This will help the NASE
understand - on a personal level - how key legislative issues
are affecting your business and your bottom line.
For more information about any of the articles in
Washington Watch, contact Maureen Petron, NASE public
affairs manager, at (202) 466-2100 or
mpetron@nase.org.
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