Starting a Business—serves
as a link to information relevant to businesses and
entrepreneurs who are getting started, including
licensing procedures, permits and checklists. Here,
users can get an accurate picture of what to expect
during the first years of business development. For
those still unsure of whether or not they are cut out
for entrepreneurship, this section provides
evaluations, as well as popular business ideas.
Running a Business—includes information
like regulations, employment and tax laws for existing
businesses. For seasoned business owners interested in
expansion, this section provides assistance on
accessing new markets by exporting products, public
procurement procedures, contracting and marketing.
Business Resources—connects
businesses to services including counseling and
industry organizations. This section is applicable to
all businesses, providing information and resources on
safety regulations, employment and other general
resources.
Out of State
Businesses—provides information applicable to
out-of-state businesses looking to do business in
Virginia. For businesses interested in relocation, this
section provides site selection, building codes and
permits, and licensing.
Logistically, this massive amount
of overlapping data made the design of the portal
somewhat difficult. The mission was to design the site
to be relevant and informational to its users, keeping
in mind users would range from young entrepreneurs to
seasoned corporate executives. A survey is also
available within the portal to collect feedback in
order to make further refinements.
“The biggest challenge in
creating the business portal was organizing the vast
amount of information and resources to ensure that the
questions and needs of business users and community are
answered in the most efficient manner possible,”
said Scott Somerhalder, general manager of VITA’s
Virginia.gov.
The categories were developed
based on the volume and feedback received through an
existing DBA business service, the Virginia Business
Information Center (VBIC). The VBIC has been responding
to an average of 375 requests for assistance each week
from existing businesses and budding entrepreneurs
