Starting a Business
If you are looking to start a business in Harrison County, utilize the resources below!
Business Resource Guide
The objective of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber is to help businesses succeed. That’s why it has partnered with several organizations to provide its members with a Business Resource Guide. Each business resource provides several types of professional assistance, such as mentoring, training and services to help start a business. Our partners, along with their contact information, are listed in the guide to better service our valued business community.
If you have questions concerning the Business Resource Guide, contact the Chamber’s Workforce Development Department at 228-604-0014.
Local Resources
The Innovation Center
Known as a business “incubator” that provides basic business services to start-up businesses; office and light manufacturing space, business counseling, access to shared services, office equipment, telecom/internet capabilities, and access to common areas. Great success rate in “graduating” successful small businesses!
228-392-9741 / www.innovatems.com
Gulf Coast Business Council
The Gulf Coast Business Council is the strong and united voice of business on public policy issues of importance to the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. Through leadership and collaboration on targeted strategic issues, it promotes and advances the economic vitality and quality of life in our region.
228-897-2020 / www.msgcbc.org
WIN Job Center
The Workforce Investment Network (WIN) in Mississippi is an innovative strategy designed to provide convenient, one-stop employment and training services to employers and job seekers. It combines federal, state and community workforce programs and services into physical locations and electronic sites.
228-539-6800 / www.wininmississippi.org
South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center
SMCPC provides assistance to Mississippi businesses in identifying and pursuing federal, state, and local government contracting opportunities through electronic bid matching. SMCPC also works with the business community in marketing themselves to these agencies, prime contractors, and other private and public companies. SMCPC assists businesses in becoming registered in CCR, ProNet, and ORCA, certified as 8(a), HUBZone, WBE, MBE, and any other programs of interest.
228-396-1288 / www.mscpc.com
Mississippi Development Authority
The MDA provides services to foster investment in Mississippi businesses and industry. Counseling and professional assistance is also provided. It maintains extensive resource materials including demographic data, industry reports, census statistics, as well as maintaining several databases pertaining to resources throughout the state.
228-523-4034 / www.mississippi.org
Mississippi Small Business Development Center
The Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center provides a variety of services to small businesses in the south six counties in Mississippi. Services include counseling, workshops, and information services. Resources that are available include business plan development, market analysis, capital sources, technology transfer, federal grant information and other managerial and technical support services. The GC SBDC is a partnership with SBA, the Mississippi Legislature and the University of Mississippi.
228-396-8661 / www.olemiss.edu/depts/mssbdc
Harrison County Development Commission
Created in 1958, the Harrison County Development Commission is the lead economic development agency for Harrison County, including the cities of Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi and D’Iberville. HCDC is committed to promoting Harrison County as a positive place to do business, to developing quality jobs for our citizens and to “Moving the Mississippi Gulf Coast forward.”
228-896-3355 / www.mgccc.edu
Service Corps of Retired Executives
SCORE is a non-profit organization of working and retired business managers/owners and other professionals who provide free and confidential business counseling and mentoring to entrepreneurs.
228-863-0054 / www.scoregulfport.org
Small Business Administration
The SBA provides guaranty loans to finance start-up and existing small businesses, disaster loans for commercial and residential property, and procurement programs such as 8(a) and HUBZone to help small businesses sell their goods and services to the Federal Government.
228-863-4449 / www.sba.gov/ms
Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District
The SMPDD operates various direct loan programs designed to finance new and expanding businesses that otherwise would not be able to obtain conventional financing. It serves the 15 counties in south central and southeastern Mississippi. SMPDD also provides some training and census/demographic information.
228-868-2311 / www.smpdd.com
Building Code Services in Harrison County, MS:
Biloxi Building Code Office:
676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-435-6270
www.biloxi.ms.us/formspermits/
Gulfport Building Code Office:
William H. Hardy Building
1410 24th Ave.
Gulfport, MS 39501
228-868-5715
ci.gulfport.ms.us/NEWsite/building_main.htm
Long Beach Building Code Office:
P.O. Box 929
645 Klondyke Rd.
Long Beach, MS 39560
228-863-1554
cityoflongbeachms.com/FormsPermits/forms.htm
Pass Christian Building Code Office:
203 Fleitas Ave.
Pass Christian, MS 39571
228-452-3316
www.ci.pass-christian.ms.us
State Resources
Mississippi Economic Development Council
www.medc.ms
Mississippi Employment Security Commission
http://www.mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal#null
Mississippi State Tax Commission
www.mstc.state.ms.us
Mississippi Worker’s Compensation Commission
www.mwcc.state.ms.us
Mississippi Insurance Commission
www.doi.state.ms.us
Mississippi Secretary of State
www.sos.state.ms.us
Federal Resources
IRS Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
www.irs.gov/businesses/small
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
www.osha.gov
U.S.Government’s official web portal
www.firstgov.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov
Internal Revenue Service
www.irs.ustreas.gov/
Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov
U.S. Department of Labor
www.dol.gov
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
U.S. Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
www.eeoc.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce
www.doc.gov
Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov/
Federal Tax Center
If you run a small business or are self-employed, the Small Business Self-Employed community website is for you! The site offers industry and/or profession-specific information to help you work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Industry or Profession http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/industries/index.html.
Were you aware that the IRS offers several electronic filing options designed specifically for the business filer? There are several ways you may choose to participate in the IRS e-file for Business programs. Whatever your choice, participation in IRS e-file for Business programs is e-efficient with increased accuracy, it’s more e-ffective since you’ll spend less time filing tax returns and more time focused on your business, and it’s more e-conomical with less paperwork.
Up until now Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) has been a service that businesses and individuals can use to pay all their federal taxes electronically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via the phone or personal computer (PC) software. Now taxpayers can pay via the Internet. Visit the EFTPS web site for all the latest information! Or visit the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services web page on EFTPS.
If you’re starting a new business and you don’t know where to begin, then visit the Checklist for Starting a Business.
Or choose any one of these other resources:
* Small Business Resource Guide – A free CD that can be ordered online, or viewed online.
* Virtual Small Business Workshop – A free CD that can be ordered online. This CD contains video instructions on what you need to know to start and maintain your business. Or view this online classroom.
Take advantage of these other free offerings:
* Small Business Tax Calendar – Publication 1518
* Introduction to Federal Taxes – Publication 3693
Not sure if you need an EIN (Employer Id Number)? Everything you need to answer that question can be found on the EIN web page. Or if you already have an EIN, and have begun a new business, find out if you’ll need a New EIN.
Having employees requires businesses to meet certain laws and regulations, especially if you have employees with disabilities.
IRS Abusive Scheme Toolkits
This exciting new product provides you with up-to-date information on several abusive schemes in an easy to read format that addresses how each scheme works and what the potential tax consequences are. These toolkits were designed to be used by Taxpayers as an aid in counter marketing against abusive tax schemes.
Additional Resources
Entrepreneur Magazine Online
www.entrepreneur.com
National Business Incubation Association
www.nbia.org
Trademarks, copyrights, patent information
www.nolo.com
Sample business plans
www.bplans.com
General population & demographic information
www.census.gov
Harrison County data
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28047.html
Manufacturers, Industry type, Location, Employee size
www.mississippi.org/manufacturers/advancedsrch.aspx