The U.S. has approximately 33 million small businesses, defined by SBA as firms with fewer than 500 employees, according to the SBA Office of Advocacy 2024 Small Business Profile. About 99.9% of U.S. businesses are small businesses, and they employ 45.9% of private-sector workers. About 80% have no employees other than the owner (nonemployer firms or "Schedule C" businesses).
Where do these businesses get help? The Small Business Administration funds three primary technical assistance networks:
Public libraries serve as a fourth, complementary network — one of the most accessible because libraries are present in nearly every U.S. zip code while SBDCs are concentrated near universities. The Libraries Build Business initiative, launched by the American Library Association with a $2 million Google.org grant in October 2020 (and refunded by USDA Rural Development funds in 2023), formalizes the library role in small business support.
As of 2026, Libraries Build Business reports more than 130 cohort libraries with formal small business programs, plus thousands of libraries offering at least basic business reference services.
The SBA Microloan Program, authorized under Section 7(m) of the Small Business Act, makes loans up to $50,000 (average $13,000) through intermediary nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The SBA itself does not lend directly; it makes loans to about 145 nonprofit intermediaries who relend at their own terms.
| Term | SBA Microloan |
|---|---|
| Maximum loan amount | $50,000 |
| Average loan | $13,000 |
| Maximum repayment term | 6 years (72 months) |
| Interest rate (typical) | 8% – 13% |
| Use of funds | Working capital, inventory, supplies, equipment, machinery |
| Use of funds NOT allowed | Real estate purchase, debt refinance |
| Collateral | Required by some intermediaries (varies) |
| Personal guarantee | Almost always required |
| Credit score minimum | Varies by lender, typically 575-640 |
| Application timeline | 30-90 days from application to funding |
Microloan intermediaries typically also offer pre-loan counseling and post-loan technical assistance, often delivered through libraries when the lender has a community partnership. To find local microlenders, use sba.gov/local-assistance with your ZIP code.
| Program | Max Loan | Purpose | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7(a) Loan Program | $5 million | General-purpose business loans | Established businesses needing working capital, equipment, or real estate |
| 504 Loan Program | $5.5 million (per project) | Real estate, major equipment | Manufacturing, owner-occupied commercial real estate |
| Microloan | $50,000 | Startup capital, equipment | New entrepreneurs, businesses without bank credit access |
| SBA Express Loan | $500,000 | Working capital line of credit | Quick approval (36 hours) for existing businesses |
| CAPLines | $5 million | Lines of credit for cyclical/contract work | Construction, seasonal businesses |
| Community Advantage | $350,000 | Underserved markets | Minority/women/veteran owners, opportunity zones |
| Disaster Loan | $2 million | Recovery from declared disasters | Businesses affected by hurricanes, fires, floods |
Source: SBA Loan Programs at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans (2026).
SCORE (originally "Service Corps of Retired Executives") is a nonprofit network founded in 1964 and resourced by SBA. Volunteers are typically retired executives, business owners, and subject-matter experts. As of 2026, SCORE reports more than 10,000 active volunteers across ~250 chapters and partner libraries.
Confidentiality is protected by SCORE volunteer agreements. Mentors do not invest in client businesses and have no financial conflict of interest.
The most valuable library business databases retail for $1,000-$10,000+ per year for individual subscriptions but are free at most public libraries.
Directory of 14 million U.S. businesses with addresses, sales volume estimates, NAICS codes, decision-maker contacts (often including direct phone and email), credit ratings, and parent company relationships. Useful for: B2B prospecting, market sizing, competitor research, target list building.
Approximately 1,000 industry reports covering U.S. industries by NAICS code. Each report includes 5-year revenue trends, key success factors, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and outlook. Retail price approximately $1,295-$1,995 per report. Free at major libraries.
Industry financial benchmarks (gross margin, profit margin, days receivable, etc.) by industry and revenue band. Essential for projecting your business's financials against industry norms — required for any business plan submitted to a lender.
Public company financials, SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q, proxy statements), executive compensation. Useful if your competitors include public companies you can study via SEC filings.
Statistics aggregator covering tens of thousands of topics: consumer behavior, demographics, market share, brand surveys. Pricing retail $39/month minimum; free with library card at many systems.
Census-derived demographic data by ZIP, county, and custom drive-time radius. Critical for retail and restaurant location decisions.
The most common business plan format taught at libraries follows the SBA template at sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan. A 4-6 week library workshop typically covers:
| Expense Category | Example: Retail Boutique | Example: Online Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| State LLC filing fee | $50-$500 | $50-$500 |
| EIN application | Free (IRS.gov) | Free |
| Local business license | $50-$400 | $50-$200 |
| Sales tax permit | Free-$50 | N/A (services often exempt) |
| Domain name (year 1) | $15 | $15 |
| Website build (Shopify or WordPress) | $500-$3,000 | $200-$2,000 |
| Initial inventory | $10,000-$50,000 | $0-$2,000 (software) |
| Lease deposit (first/last) | $5,000-$15,000 | $0 (home office) |
| Insurance (general liability, 1 year) | $600-$1,800 | $300-$1,200 |
| Equipment (POS, computer) | $2,000-$8,000 | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Marketing (first 6 months) | $3,000-$10,000 | $1,000-$3,000 |
| Operating reserve (6 months) | $18,000-$60,000 | $12,000-$24,000 |
| Estimated Total | $40,000-$150,000 | $15,000-$40,000 |
A typical SBA microloan ($13,000 average) can cover most startup costs for a service business and a meaningful portion of a small retail launch, especially when paired with personal savings and family/friend funding.
Aisha, 32, decides to launch a halal meal prep delivery service in Houston, TX. She visits Houston Public Library Central Library and meets with their business reference librarian.
Library-attributable value: $4,000+ in free database access, free 30 hours of SCORE mentoring, free workshop tuition, free space for vendor meetings. Out of pocket cost for startup: $4,200 (LLC fee, initial supplies, first month of insurance) plus the microloan principal.
| Library | Program Highlights |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Public Library | Business & Career Library at Central Branch; 1:1 business librarian; weekly SCORE office hours |
| Chicago Public Library (Harold Washington) | YOUmedia for entrepreneurial youth; CIBC business library partnership |
| Los Angeles Public Library | Octavia Lab co-working space; Bank of America entrepreneurship grants |
| San Diego Public Library | IDEA Lab maker space + business planning |
| Free Library of Philadelphia | Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) at Parkway Central |
| Detroit Public Library | FOCUS: HOPE entrepreneurship co-located |
| Toledo-Lucas County Public Library | Co-located SBDC office hours |
| Austin Public Library | Made in Austin entrepreneurship hub |
| Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System | Business Library at Auburn Avenue; ATL Tech Hub partnership |
| Salt Lake City Public Library | Innovate@SLPL maker space + small business workshops |
Yes. Public libraries are increasingly recognized as community small business hubs. Many provide free access to business databases (ReferenceUSA, IBISWorld, Mergent), SBA-affiliated counseling through SCORE mentors, business plan workshops, and grant-funded entrepreneurship programs. The American Library Association launched 'Libraries Build Business' in 2020 with Google.org funding to formalize these services nationally.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program provides loans up to $50,000 to small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers. The average microloan is approximately $13,000. Loans are made through intermediary nonprofit lenders (Community Development Financial Institutions), not directly from the SBA. Maximum term is 6 years. Interest rates typically range from 8% to 13%.
No. Libraries do not issue loans. They serve as access points and educational resources, connecting entrepreneurs to SBA, SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that do issue loans. Some libraries host CDFI office hours where loan officers meet with prospective borrowers on-site.
Common library business databases include ReferenceUSA / Data Axle (company directory, 14M U.S. businesses with executive contacts), IBISWorld (industry research reports, $1,000+ per report retail), Mergent Online (public company financials and SEC filings), BizMiner (industry KPI benchmarks), Statista (statistics across all industries), and PrivCo (private company data). Free with library card.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are SBA-funded centers providing free one-on-one business consulting and low-cost training to existing and prospective small business owners. There are approximately 1,000 SBDC locations nationwide, hosted at universities, community colleges, and economic development organizations. Many co-locate periodic office hours at public libraries.
Libraries cannot register your LLC for you — that's a state-level transaction done through your Secretary of State office. However, library computers, scanning, and printing make LLC self-filing easy. Many libraries also host workshops walking through state LLC formation, EIN (federal tax ID) application via IRS.gov, and DBA (Doing Business As) registration with the county clerk.
Libraries Build Business is an American Library Association initiative funded initially by a $2M Google.org grant in 2020, then renewed and expanded with USDA Rural Development funding. As of 2026, more than 130 libraries have implemented Libraries Build Business programs, ranging from co-working spaces to dedicated business librarians. The program focuses on entrepreneurs of color, women entrepreneurs, immigrant entrepreneurs, and rural businesses.
Libraries do not write business plans for you, but many host workshops following the SBA business plan template (executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization, products/services, marketing/sales, funding request, financial projections). One-on-one business plan review is typically referred to SCORE mentors or SBDC consultants, both free.
Libraries themselves do not typically award business grants, but they help entrepreneurs find them. Resources include: Grants.gov for federal grants, USDA Rural Business Development Grants for rural areas, state economic development grants, foundation grants (Hello Alice, Etsy Up grants, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, etc.). Libraries also subscribe to Foundation Directory Online to identify private foundation grants by topic.