Legal Tech: Small Business Administration makes free iPhone app available

By Peter LaSorsa The government comes under fire often for being slow, over bloated and the enemy of small businesses.  Well here is good news for small business owners, which would include many solo practitioners and small firms.  Now business owners may receive updates, tips and other ideas about starting their company or just improving it thanks to a new smart phone app.  The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) along with Palo Alto Software created this special free app called SBA mobile and it is available at: www.sba.gov/content/sba-mobile-app The app provides owners with business news, and features tailored for small businesses and are designed to help increase business.  App users will also have access to SBA video content, social media alerts and live updates from Twitter and YouTube.  The app has a built-in startup cost calculator—custom designed to help estimate the expenses needed to start a business (useful for yourself and clients who may hire you as part of their desire to start a business).  The app also has a feature that allows you to find any SBA office nationwide and allows direct access to SBA district office staff for easier assistance. The final feature of the app is access to the Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SCORE. The SCORE Association “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association comprised of 11,500 volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories. Of course the best feature is the price—it’s free.  The app is currently only for iPhone users however a future release will be made available for other smart phones so check back at the website listed above if you have a Blackberry. Peter LaSorsa can be reached at lasorsalaw.com. He also publishes a blog at www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com