Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Governor Matt Blunt yesterday launched a new Web site to make it easier for Missourians to start their own small businesses. Carnahan and Blunt worked together to create the Missouri Business Portal, a one-stop access point for business owners to interact with support agencies within state government.

"The Missouri Business Portal is a terrific resource for businesses large and small," said Carnahan. "As a small business owner myself, I know how valuable it will be in helping business owners access the resources they need from state government."

"As the result of the hard work of Missourians, the economy is growing, new small businesses are starting and high quality family-supporting jobs are being created," Blunt said. "This project is part of our continuing efforts to partner with entrepreneurs by helping create a pro-jobs, pro-growth climate in our state. The new business portal combines resources making it as easy as possible for entrepreneurs to get the information they need to start or grow their business."

The Missouri Business Portal is organized into four main categories for users: Research, Register, Maintain, and Resources. The Research section of the portal allows entrepreneurs to research their business ideas and obtain assistance in writing business plans. The Register section guides business owners through the processes and contact points to complete all of the required registration forms for the state. It also provides Internet links to cities and counties to assist businesses in complying with local requirements.

The Maintain section provides businesses with information that helps with filings, taxes, employee issues and steps required to end a business. The Resources section of the portal helps businesses maintain growth by providing access to information about raising capital, market development, employee concerns and environmental compliance.

The Missouri Business Portal is a multi-agency collaboration between the Secretary of State, the Department of Economic Development, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Revenue, the Office of Administration and the Small Business Development Centers to offer assistance to businesses throughout their lifecycle.
KW