Economic and Sustainable Development, Innovation: Pathway to Starting a Business

The Challenge

Have you ever had a wild idea for a business? Almost everyone has thought about becoming an entrepreneur and sharing their talent with the world on their terms. Why didn’t you pursue that dream? Did you even know where to start?

Business is a vital and flourishing aspect of Bloomington; but starting a business can sometimes necessitate a little guidance. Knowing the different requirements entrepreneurs need to meet before they start their business is no small task. Even just finding out where to begin can be confusing. It is easy to get lost in the paperwork, or forget who you need to meet with and when. Some may decide it is simply not worth it to pursue their ideas. The process is understandably detailed, but it does not have to be an impediment to opportunity.

The Idea

Hearing the concerns of small business owners and residents alike, former Director of Innovation Tom Miller worked with those voices, the Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Information & Technology Services Department to develop a tool for making starting a business more accessible to the public. The result is the “Pathway to Starting a Business,” an online questionnaire that results in a custom checklist specifically outlined for the type of business the respondent  wants to open.

In less than one minute, a user can have all the necessary steps to opening their business in a convenient one page document. It even explains what steps to do first, who to contact, and how to reach the appropriate department. This smooth and interactive process provides a clear starting point for potential business owners - all from the comfort of… wherever they happen to be!

The Cost

The tool utilizes facets of the existing website, meaning that beyond the time spent by Tom Miller, the folks involved in collaborating, and members of IT -- there was no additional cost.

The Benefits

The Pathway to Starting a Business has changed the business starting environment.

• The online process is smooth and interactive.

• A streamlined and centralized checklist is produced upon completion.

• Detailed resource information is available in one location.

• This is a quick method of obtaining all the requirements for starting a business.

Interested in starting your own business? Click here to use the Pathway yourself!

Metadata

City Department(s): Economic & Sustainable Developement; Innovation

City Department Point(s) of Contact: Alex Crowley

Partner(s): Chamber of Commerce

Partner Point(s) of Contact: n/a

Type of Innovation: Brand New Service 

Date Implemented: June 2017