Small Business Resources
Starting your business: A step-by-step small business assistance guide
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) offers various resources and funding opportunities to help you get your business established in Illinois. This guide covers the following:
- Where Do I Start?
- What ownership structure choices do I have?
- Where do I register a business?
- What are my responsibilities as an employer?
- How do I protect my invention, product or idea?
- Where can I go for help?
Contact Illinois DCEO for additional information.
Business Basics Video Series
The Illinois Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) has created a set of resources to help entrepreneurs as they navigate the process of business ownership. This page will be populated with video content, helpful documents and links to information that will assist business owners as they build a successful company in Illinois.
Business Basics Video Series
OMEE and IL Small Business Development Center Network have partnered to develop the “Business Basics” series. The goal is to share easy-to-follow information on basic business concepts that business owners need to know in order to be successful. Each video is just 30 minute long. More videos will be added in the future.
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
IMEC was established in 1996 to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. The organization links a company’s long-term plans and related goals with on-site implementation services by identifying performance gaps, solving these gaps, and building a culture to support sustained improvements. IMEC helps optimize operating capacity, implement advanced product and process innovations, increase sales and enter new markets, and improve profitability. Learn more at imec.org
Small Business Saturday
Led by the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, Kankakee County Small Business Saturday is a free, cooperative multimedia marketing campaign designed to increase exposure and sales for local small businesses. Held in conjunction with the national American Express campaign each November, our local program features a dedicated online portal where coupons can be created by businesses and shared and downloaded by the public. Chamber membership is not required for businesses to participate in the Kankakee County Small Business Saturday retail promotion.