Open Government Initiative

Business.gov

Small Business Administration

First Government-Sponsored Online Community for Small Businesses.

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Launch Business.gov

The Challenge

Interactions between small businesses and government can be inefficient and ineffective. This problem is compounded by the fact that small business resources exist across the government on stove-piped websites. As a user-driven site, Business.gov solicits input and feedback both directly and indirectly from the small business community to drive content and features. The objective of the online community is to allow business owners to interact directly with government and industry professionals, as well as with each other. The community provides access to information in a conversational way, as well as a forum for business owners to voice their ideas and needs.

The Solution

The Business.gov community leverages familiar online tools and plain language content to engage and facilitate conversation between the small business community and all levels of government.

The community engages citizens through discussion forums that include a broad range of topics relevant to starting and managing a business, staying in compliance, and understanding governmental assistance and support programs.

  • The "In the Loop" blog provides citizens insight into the planning process, content, and features being considered and invites members to comment on direction and priorities. Three additional blogs, "Small Business Matters," "Business Law Advisor," and "Loans and Grants Advisor," provide timely information, often driven directly from user inquiries on both Business.gov and the Community.
  • The "Tell Us …" ideas exchange enables citizens to submit a content, feature or service idea and facilitates comment and conversation around those ideas.
  • A focus on usability, simplified navigation, and clearly articulated content segmentation increases the transparency of information provided by Business.gov and the ease of use for citizens. Navigation is consistent throughout the site and information is labeled in plain language.

The Benefit

The small business community benefits from expanded access to other small business owners and experts who can help answer their questions. The community facilitates and expedites the exchange of information between a business owner and a wide range of resources including other small business owners, intermediaries representing small business, and federal, state, and local government employees. Additionally, the government gains very valuable input from the customers it serves so that resources and policy can best help the small business community thrive and grow.

Additional Details

  • The Business.gov community has gained more than 6,500 registered users since launching in February 2009, representing a wide range of small businesses and all levels of government, and has garnered a lot of attention.
  • The community is changing the dynamic of one-on-one interactions to extend the usefulness of information shared.
  • The primary challenge for the Business.gov community is not motivating small businesses, who are ready to engage. Rather, it is shepherding government, at all levels, into online conversations that are meaningful and helpful.

For more information, email customer-service@business.gov