Small business owners worried about surviving the current economic upheaval have a place to call for free advice: The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Massachusetts office at 617-565-5627 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Jitters about the stock market, the tightening of credit, and concerns about specific business problems voiced by small business owners, resulted in the creation of this first ever Small Business Economic Hotline.
SBA employees will listen to callers’ concerns and respond directly or refer calls to professional business counselors at the Massachusetts Small Business Development Centers, Center for Women and Enterprise or SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business, who volunteer to help entrepreneurs start, build and sustain their businesses. SBA will make every effort to respond to calls within the same business day. The advice is free and strictly confidential.
“Here in Massachusetts, the SBA is taking this proactive step. We want small business owners in the state to know that we are a resource for them and we stand ready to field questions and to hear concerns. In addition to SBA resources and SBA partner resources, the SBA is able to make referrals to other state or community resources around the state to help small businesses navigate and get the answers they need,” said Bob Nelson, Massachusetts District Director.
