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August 30, 2022
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SCORE DENVER SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE

  Table of Contents:

 

 

DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by SCORE Denver and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, SCORE Denver takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

 

 

 

 

Bonding

If you are a business owner with only a few employees, for example, a cleaning or pet-sitting service, you may want to be bonded. The bond would reimburse the client for the loss of stolen items as a result of one of your dishonest employees, but they would have to be caught and convicted before the bondholder would pay.

If you are a business owner with no employees, you may still want to consider being bonded. As a business owner, you know that you would not steal from your clients; however, to your clients, you are a complete stranger, and being bonded is that extra reassurance for your potential customers, but many people feel that insurance is all that you need and bonding is unnecessary. Speak with an attorney or an accountant who will help you make that decision.

Simply put a bond, sometimes called a surety bond, is given to you by a third party who promises to pay if you do not fulfill your work obligations under a contract. It is a financial guarantee that you will honor a business contract.  Frequently a customer will require that your company be bonded.

There are various types of bonds:

  • License: a specialty bond that is required by some states. This is where you pay the state directly rather than obtaining a bond
  • Performance:  a guarantee that you will do your work as stated in the contract
  • Bid: a guarantee you will perform the work that you bid on
  • Indemnity;  bond says that you will promise to reimburse any loss that would happen if you don't do the job
  • Payment: bond says you promise to pay all subcontractors and material providers utilized in the performance of a contract.

As the Principle to the bond, you will be required to provide your personal information and probably your spouse's personal information and the information that will actually appear on the bond, mainly your business's name and address, before you can get a bond.

To obtain a bond:

  1. Locate a bonding company through the internet or yellow pages and talk to them about your need for a bond. They will ask for your personal information.  This information will include the name and address of the obligee which is usually local or state government, the type of bond you are required to have, and the amount of the bond.
  2. You will need to complete an application to the bonding company. You may want to at this point, have an attorney look over the application and the documentation so that you completely understand what it does and does not cover.
  3. The bonding company will do a very complete background check on you, to find out if you are an honest and trustworthy person, with no criminal record. The background check will consist of speaking to previous employers, personal character references, and a computer check of the national and state records of criminal convictions.
  4. If the bonding company is satisfied with your background they will offer to bond you. This means that you have been offered insurance coverage that will pay you in case of damage or theft.
  5. At this point, you can sign the indemnity agreement and pay the premium and forward the info to the obligee.      

 SBA Surety Bond Guarantee                                                                                                                                                                                           

Insurance

 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

A business with employees must purchase Workers’ Compensation Insurance.  Corporate officers, members of an LLC, a sole proprietor, and partners must also be covered unless they own at least 10% of the business in which case a rejection of coverage must be filed with the Department of Labor.   Employers must purchase insurance coverage through a private insurance company or, if qualified, through self-insurance programs.  No portion of this cost may be deducted from an employee's wages. 

Pinnacol Insurance

 

 

Colorado Division of Insurance

Part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies.  Regulates the insurance industry and assists consumers and other stakeholders with insurance issues.

 

1560 Broadway, Suite 850

Denver, CO 80202

Phone:   (303) 894-7499

(303) 894-7490 - Consumer Information

(800) 930-3745 - Toll-Free

FAX:      (303) 894-7455

 

 

Other Insurance

Contact a local business insurance broker or agent to handle these optional insurance needs: Liability, Property, Business Interruption, Disability, Life, Health, Surety Bond Guarantee, Fidelity Bond, Earthquake/Flood, Retail Sales Tax Bond

Independent  Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

Health Savings Accounts (HSA's)

America’s Health Insurance Plans

Health Insurance Association of America – guides on various types of insurance

Health Insurance Info

Consumer guides for obtaining and keeping health insurance in each state

Connect for Health Colorado

Colorado's health insurance marketplace

 

                                      

 

 

 

Intellectual Property

 

Patents

In general, patents are granted for 20 years.  Federal Registration – U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;  There are basic filing fees for utility patent applications, design applications, and plant applications. If the owner of the invention qualifies as a small entity (that is an independent inventor, a small business, or a nonprofit organization), the filing fees are reduced by half if the small entity status is claimed.   There are numerous books on how to apply for a patent yourself, e.g. "Patent It Yourself", by David Pressman.

Fees for USPTO

Pro Bono Program at USPTO

Inventorspot

Website for and by inventors.

Online Patent Search

Site for free patent searching

Inventnet Forum

Inventions Help

Will it Sell

Invention Development and Market Research. Buy the book.

Copyrights

Library of Congress; basic registration fee is $30.

Trademarks

State registration - Colorado Secretary of State ($125 if filed on paper).  Federal Registration – U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – see fee schedule under Patents.

Phone:     (800)-786-9199 – Trademark Assistance Center

 

 

 

Accountants

Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants

Colorado Board of Accountancy

Quickbooks - accounting and tax advice

 

 

 

Lawyers

 

Colorado Bar Association

Denver Bar Association

Metropolitan Lawyer Referral Service

Colorado Lawyers for the Arts (CoLA)

Nolo Law Centers - Legal information for business

Legalzoom - Online legal documents

 

Purchasing

 

Thomas Register

Find companies and products manufactured in North America    

Sales & Marketing

 

American Marketing Association

Marketing resources and tips. 

Blue Book

Marketing research directory 

Chamber of Commerce

Business development, community facts, real estate information 

Colorado Department of Agriculture - Markets Division

The Markets Division helps Colorado food and agricultural companies sell their products in local, regional, national, and international markets. 

Direct Marketing Association

Guidelines and news, direct marketing 

Federal Government Statistics

Market research, federal statistics 

Market Power

Dictionary of day-to-day marketing terminology 

Marketing Profs

Excellent source of marketing advice 

National Retail Federation

Advice and upcoming events from this trade association 

Prweb

Resource for broadcasting PR materials 

Trade Shows and Conferences

Data on shows and conferences, including e-commerce opportunities 

Universal Product Code (UPC)

Required to sell products in a retail environment, UPC 

U.S. Census Bureau

Population counts, maps, and demographic info with links to every region in the U.S. 

Zap Data

Sales leads and mailing lists – company profiles, industry reports, customer-based analysis, and prospect lists.    

Technology

 

APICS

Educational Society for Resource Management — formerly American Production and Inventory Control Society – educational programs for organizational success 

Apple

Some how-to information, is especially helpful for Mac users. 

Technology Business Research Information 

Develop leading-edge thinking and practice on contemporary business, technology, and knowledge management issues to facilitate organizational and individual performance, success, and fulfillment. 

Colorado BioScience Association

Grows the bioscience workforce, provides networking opportunities, and educational and technical programs creates corporate partnerships and find investors. 

Colorado Software and Internet Association

Fosters innovation and growth in the technology industry 

CTEK

Expert financial and business volunteers whom mentor entrepreneurs working with innovative technologies. 

Industry Week

Manufacturing information 

Microsoft Small Business

Office templates – great business plan model Resource for broadcasting PR materials 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and National Research Council

The National Academies bring together committees of experts in all areas of scientific and technological endeavor. These experts serve pro bono to address critical national issues and give advice to the federal government and the public. Four organizations comprise the Academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology

The mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. 

National Technical Information Service

Publication by industry of NAICS, National Association of Industrial Classification Systems - replaces SIC 

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)

Federal programs encourage small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from their commercialization. 

Think Smart

Innovation is a buzzword these days, and with good reason: it's emerging as one of the most important duties of management. Contains stories, articles, links, and useful resources.  

Trade Groups

 

Colorado Retail Council

Colorado Restaurant Association

Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association

Federation of International Trade Associations

Leads, research, trade shows 

The International Council for Small Business 

Locates business assistance 

National Federation of Independent Business

A small business lobbying organization  
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Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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