MASTERING MANAGEMENT
Business.gov Simplifies Permit and License ProcessWASHINGTON (July 11, 2007) - The U.S. Small Business Administration, in partnership with 21 other federal agencies, has responded to feedback from its business community users by developing tools and features on its Web site, www.business.gov. The site has also expanded the content and context of the information contained in its Compliance Guides, and developed relationships with other government and non-governmental organizations to provide more in-depth compliance resources. The new enhancements at Business.gov include:
* Permit Me - This new feature provides a single source and eases burden on business owners in locating and obtaining federal, state and local permits and professional licenses for businesses. While every business in the United States is required to obtain a permit, professional license or identification number to operate, finding the right license can be a major challenge for potential business owners. Although some states offer assistance to help individuals understand their local permit and license requirements, not all provide federal information. "Permit Me" allows businesses to navigate to a single destination and presents a list of licensing and permit resources across all the federal, state and local domains.
* Feature Topics - This information source focuses on common business concerns to provide context to the compliance information provided on the site. Regulatory information is typically written from the individual agency's perspective and can fail to adequately explain the impact of the requirement on business operations or the steps required to comply. The failure to develop compliance assistance information that addresses the practical concerns of the business community adds to business owners' compliance problems.
* Content Partners Program - Established to formalize relationships with government agencies, trade associations and professional organizations this program helps to develop compliance assistance tools and resources for small and medium-sized businesses. Content Partners will provide domain-specific compliance information to Business.gov, ultimately to develop compliance resources that will be featured on the site's Featured Topics and Compliance Guides pages.
(Source: U.S. Small Business
Administration) 
