IBM and the World Bank Launch a Small Business Toolkit to support Black Business Owners.

IBM and the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, have launched a new version of a free small business
toolkit specifically for small business owners in emerging markets as well as Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and women entrepreneurs in the U.S., to receive highly developed business information, tools, and training
services usually reserved for Fortune 1000 companies.

While small businesses generated between 60 to 80 percent of the new jobs annually in the U.S. over the past decade, they are often hurt by the lack of skills, knowledge and access to the information that larger businesses routinely use to grow and succeed. The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Toolkit (www.us.smetoolkit.org) is a free program that enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn how to implement the
sustainable business management practices needed for growth in areas such as finance, accounting, international business, marketing, human resources or legal.

Among the specially designed free tools are:

• a multilingual business directory to help small businesses link locally, regionally and globally,
• an opportunity to create a webpage to promote your business
• an online calculator that helps small businesses determine their readiness for financing,
• free software to build a web site,
• free business forms used for employee performance evaluations, and
• community tools such as chat rooms and forums.

Small businesses can also receive business training delivered via classroom workshops and partnerships with local support providers. The Toolkit can also help small businesses go global by providing detailed market access, investment and trade information for the 64 countries most exported to countries.

Visit the SME Toolkit and register today (click on "register" on the top right corner) to get your business listed in the directory and create a
webpage to promote your business!