Start a New Business in Oklahoma
small business resources for women entrepreneurs
Being a business owner can be daunting, but you don't have to face it by yourself. I’m committed to helping you along the way - whether you’re just starting out or taking your business to the next level. That's why I’m sharing Oklahoma business development resources to support women like you on your entrepreneurial journey.
This is by no means a complete list. It’s a helping hand and a place for you to start researching the best resources for your needs. I believe we all do better when we share information with each other. If you know of a resource that would help our community and you’d like me to add it to this list, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you!
Oklahoma Government Agencies
Oklahoma Secretary of State - Business Division
The business division of the Secretary of State’s Office helps business owners organize and register their business.
The Business Filing Department processes corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, certificate of partnership fictitious name for general partnership, trade name, and trademark registration filings. Such filings include new registrations, amendments, mergers, dissolutions and withdrawals for both domestic and foreign entities.
Colcord Center
421 Northwest 13th Street
Suite 210/220
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103
Phone: 405-522-2520
Oklahoma Secretary of State Business Division website
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is committed to helping local businesses succeed and grow.
Business services include Export Services to expand your global market access, Workforce Development to take advantage of workforce training programs, Women-Owned Business Certifications, and Minority-Owned Business Information to support minority entrepreneurs.
Resources are available to help guide your business idea from inception to implementation. They include How to Start a Business, Business Licensing and Operating Requirements, Business Incubators, and Venture Capital and Private Equity Funding.
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
900 North Stiles Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Phone: 405-815-6552
Oklahoma Department of Commerce website
Oklahoma Small Business Administration - SBA
The Oklahoma SBA is supported by a main district office in Oklahoma City. They provide services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
The Oklahoma City office serves all 77 counties in Oklahoma.
Main office:
301 North West 6th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Phone: 405-609-8000
Oklahoma Small Business Administration SBA website
Oklahoma Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations
REI Women’s Business Center
REI Women’s Business Center is a non-profit organization passionate about advancing the expansion of women businesses. They operate Oklahoma’s statewide Women’s Business Center.
REI WBC provides quality business training opportunities, one-on-one business counseling, access to capital, referrals, and technical assistance including marketing, bookkeeping, business management and more.
2912 Enterprise Boulevard
Durant, Oklahoma 74701
Phone: 800-658-2823
318 NW 13th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Phone: 800-658-2823
3902 E. 51st Street
Suites 208-210
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
Phone: 800-658-2823
REI Women’s Business Center website
SCORE Oklahoma
Whether you are in the planning stages or are ready to go to the next level, SCORE helps you with free mentoring and low-cost training. Volunteers can meet with you at convenient locations across Oklahoma.
Individuals planning to start a business are the largest segment of SCORE clients. However, some clients seek advice on buying or selling a business and others want advice on managing their businesses. Businesses seeking advice from SCORE vary in size from single-owner sole proprietorships to corporations with 200 employees.
No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, SCORE mentors are ready to assist.
318 Northwest 13th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103
Phone: 405-233-3050
SCORE Oklahoma City website
907 South Detroit
Suite 1001
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74140
Phone : 918-581-7462
SCORE Tulsa website
Oklahoma Small Business Development Center - OKSBDC
Oklahoma SBDC assists small business owners and new entrepreneurs by providing no charge, one-on-one business management advising, business management workshops, and business technical assistance, as well as information on:
Agri-business
Obtaining business financing
Business startup
Cybersecurity
Government contracting
E-commerce
Human Resources
Market and industry research
Business disruption management
Business training
Buying or selling a business
Financial analysis and cash flow management
International trade
Strategic planning
301 West University Boulevard
Durant, Oklahoma 74701
Phone: 580-745-2877
Oklahoma Small Business Development Center OKSBDC website
Funding - State and Federal Sources
U.S. Small Business Administration - Funding Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:
Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.
Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.
Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.
Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.
Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
i2E - Access to Funding
From idea to enterprise, i2E helps build, launch, and grow great ideas of Oklahoma entrepreneurs into high growth ventures.
The company’s investment arm, Plains Ventures, has more than $100 million of investment capital under management and serves Oklahoma companies in all phases of the business life cycle, from startups looking for their first round of capital to established businesses seeking funding to expand their markets or products.
i2E provides access to pre-seed financing and early-stage risk capital to help Oklahoma companies prove new products and processes. Investment funds are based on achieving set milestones and can be used for proof-of-concept, market validation, business planning, critical equipment purchase, staffing, and other business needs.
840 Research Parkway
Suite 250
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Phone: 405-235-2305
100 South Cincinnati Avenue
Suite 514
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
Phone: 918-582.5592
i2E Funding website
Oklahoma Educational Institutions
Oklahoma State University - Spears School of Business - Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship exists as the entrepreneurial catalyst for OSU students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the State of Oklahoma. They offer state-of-the-art experiential programs and valuable resources to help elevate and inspire future generations of thinkers and doers.
The Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a clearinghouse for a world of resources including hands-on opportunities and events to connect and network with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.
130 Business Building
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078
Phone: 405-744-7552
Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship website
University of Oklahoma - Price College of Business - Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
As a part of the Price College of Business, the Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development has built an entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes experiential learning and enables the launching of successful ventures and successful careers.
The College’s ecosystem combines the best academic resources and experiential programming to activate students as process-oriented thinkers who build revolutionary ideas and companies. Regardless of experience, time capacity or field of study, there is a place for you in the world of entrepreneurship. The University of Oklahoma’s entrepreneurial movement enables students to discover entrepreneurship, develop specialized skills, test emerging business ideas, and launch breakthrough ventures to transform Oklahoma and the nation.
The Tom Love Center for Entrepreneurship
201 David L. Boren Boulevard
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
Phone: 405-325-7362
University of Oklahoma Price College of Business Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development website
Oklahoma Business Publications
405 Business Magazine
405 Business is central Oklahoma’s business lifestyle brand. The magazine, website. newsletter, local events and community network enable visionary business leaders and up-and-coming young professionals to stay connected and in tune with our exciting and ever-evolving business landscape.
405 Business shares stories informing tomorrow–discussing relevant events, sparking new ways of thinking, working and living, and imagining the future of business in this vibrant community.
1613 North Broadway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103
Phone: 405-842-2266
405 Business Magazine website
The Journal Record
The Journal Record newspaper is an award-winning daily general business and legal newspaper focusing on statewide business trends and in-depth stories that convey the voice of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa business communities.
211 North Robinson Avenue
Suite 201 S
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Phone: 405-235-3100
The Journal Record website
Edmond Business Magazine
Edmond Business is an online business magazine focused on Edmond, Oklahoma. Its mission is to inform, educate, and uplift Edmond area businesses and business people that live in the area.
The publication’s stories and columns are dedicated to the people, places, firms, and nonprofit organizations located in and directly around Edmond, Oklahoma.
10 North Broadway
Edmond, Oklahoma 73034
Phone: 405-285-0348