All Connect has created a business internet resource that is designed to help business owners find the right plan at the right price for their needs. Their page includes information on various business internet plans, the difference between business and residential internet, and their ranking for the top business internet providers based on plans, price and average speed.

Loans

Small Business Administration (Micro Loans)

The Microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand.

Two-Percent Loans

Two-Percent Loans provide financing to small Minneapolis businesses (retail, service or light manufacturing) to purchase equipment and/or to make building improvements.

Business Development Fund

Loans up to $75,000. Loans may be partially forgiven if living wage jobs created are filled by Minneapolis residents. Funds may be used for capital improvements and general business operations.

Grants

Grants.gov

A searchable database of available grants

A Guide to Starting A Business in Minnesota (Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office)

• A Minnesota-specific guide encompassing topics common to new entrepreneurs

• Includes a business plan template (pg. 103) and information about various resources

Minnesota Small Business Resource Guide (SBA)

• A general guide to a number of resources available to entrepreneurs

How to Start a Business (Small Business Administration)

• A useful guide that generally steps through considerations common during starting a business

Have a Question About Your Business?

Contact the Minneapolis Small Business Team

The Small Business Team is here to make it easy for you to successfully start, sustain, and grow your business in Minneapolis. Their staff can assist you in navigating City permitting and licensing processes, connect you to relevant resources and supports, and answer your questions about regulations and requirements.

(612) 673-2499

smallbusiness@minneapolismn.gov

• FLSA Basics- These videos provide employers and employees the basic information they need to understand their rights and obligations under the Fair Labor Standard Acts.

• “Know Your Rights” video series- These videos are geared toward workers to provide valuable basic information around topics including; what the federal minimum wage is; when overtime pay is due; when an employer has to pay an employee; whether off the clock work is compensable or not; who is an employee and who is an independent contractor; what rights young workers have; whether seasonal workers are subject to wage and hour laws or not. These videos are available in English and Spanish.

• Fact Sheet Index Page- This an index of 1-2 page Fact Sheets ranging from industry specific issues and relevant issues to those employers to individual topics such as “hours worked”. Examples of Fact Sheets available include; Restaurant and New Businesses. Many of these fact sheets are available in many languages.

• Compliance Toolkits- DOL/WHD also offers a series of interactive step-by-step toolkits to walk employers through a variety of scenarios, in-depth guides to help employers navigate the requirements of the wage and hour laws. These compliance assistance toolkits answer the most frequent questions about federal labor standards, and include posters that meet federal labor law notice requirements.

• Power Point presentations- These presentations are for employers and employees to self-educate on many in-depth topics concerning The Department of Labor and the FSLA.

• Many of the these resources are available in many different languages, These languages include: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Haitian, Russian, Hmong, Tagalog, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Urdu, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesian, Somali, Samoan and Punjabi. To find out if a publication you need is available in a certain language by visiting the Publications by Language page.

• If you have questions or concerns, you can contact the Department of Labor anonymously via their hotline at 1-866-487-9243