Start a New Business in Iowa

Small businesses in need of resources to either start or grow their business can find resources such as legal requirements for Iowa businesses, information about federal funding, and help for small businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, or individuals with disabilities.

The certified Targeted Small Business (TSB) program is designed to help women, individuals with minority status, service-connected disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities overcome some of the hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa. Support for TSBs can occur either through an official third-party certification of the business or through the low-interest TSB loan program.

1963 Bell Avenue
Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Phone: 515.348.6200 or 515.348.6193

Iowa Economic Development Authority Targeted Small Business Program website

The Iowa SBA is supported by a district office in Des Moines and an additional office in Cedar Rapids. 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.

Examples of educational programs and events include How to Make Your Black-Owned Business Attractive to Bankers; Safety and Risk Management; Making Your Marketing Easy and Effective; and Running a Successful Business for Creative Types, Idea People, and Anybody with Passion.

Main district office:
210 Walnut Street
Room 749
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-284-4422

Iowa Small Business Administration SBA website

Additional location:
2750 1st Avenue North East
Suite 350
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
Phone: 319-362-6405

The Iowa Center’s Women’s Business Center is dedicated to helping Iowa women business owners launch and grow their businesses. They work to inspire women to start businesses and support them in their entrepreneurial journey.

The Iowa Center’s Women's Business Center can help with:

• Flexible courses designed to help you start or build your small business

• Special topic classes to help you learn more and do better

• One-on-one business counseling

• Help writing press releases and other business writing

• Private credit counseling with certified credit counselors

• Basic loan education and connections to a loan team

• Connections to other Iowa business resources

2210 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Phone: 515-283-0940

The Iowa Center’s Women’s Business Center website

Formerly known as the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Business Partnership serves as the voice of business for Johnson County, Iowa, uniting businesses and community to maintain a strong economy and quality of life. Advocacy efforts, networking events, and other member benefits position members, business leaders and the community for success.

The organization supports partners by:

• connecting you to the resources to grow your business

• helping you build your business through promotions

• expanding your network through events and programs

and supports the community by:

• implementing an affordable childcare initiative

• delivering workforce solutions

• and offering legislative forums

136 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Phone: 319-337-9637

Iowa City Business website

America's Small Business Development Center in Iowa offers personalized, confidential, and no-cost business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Whether you want to start a business or grow a business, America's SBDC Iowa serves all 99 counties in Iowa through 15 regional centers across the state.

Iowa SBDC Center locations can be found in Ames, Ottumwa, Davenport, Marion, West Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Debuque, Spencer, Creston, Burlington, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Sioux City, and Council Bluffs.

1805 Collaboration Place
Suite 1331
Ames, Iowa 50010
Phone: 515-294-2030

Iowa Small Business Development Center website

When you work with the Entrepreneurial Development Center, you get one on one professional support from seasoned business veterans who know how to help grow businesses. They help you nurture your skills and knowledge, navigate the appropriate resources, and pair you with the right strategic partners when needed.

Services are intended to fill the gaps in your business, no matter your stage of growth. They include:

• Strategic Planning

• Sales Team Development/Hiring

• Leadership Mentoring

• Market Research and Analysis

• Market Plan Development

• Operations Efficiencies

230 2nd Street South East
Suite 212
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Phone: 319-369-4955

Entrepreneurial Development Center website

Whether you are just starting a business or have been a woman business owner for 30 years, you will find a supportive, educational and energetic environment within NAWBO Iowa.

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is the premier national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all industries.

The NAWBO Iowa community fosters lasting connections and lifelong friendships between women on common ground.

A sampling of NAWBO Iowa event topics include Holistic Women's Healthcare, Childcare as a Workforce Issue, Small Business Health Insurance Update, and Create a Business Plan for Your Business.

1601 West Lakes Parkway
Suite 300,
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO Iowa website

The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in the New Bohemia neighborhood of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

From the classroom to the boardroom, NewBoCo helps Iowans of all ages succeed in a changing economy because the right tools, mindset, and opportunities can help develop a world-changing innovator.

The organization supports entrepreneurship, education, and innovation through hands-on programming, technical development, and community building event.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative NewBoCo website

The Iowa Women’s Foundation mission is to improve the lives of Iowa’s women and girls. The organization’s resources and focus is on housing, employment, childcare, education and training, transportation, and mentors.

Grantmaking continues to be at the heart of IWF’s work. With this as the guidepost, IWF makes three grant opportunities available to organizations whose work aligns with the organization’s mission.

Core Grants: With a focus on economic self-sufficiency for Iowa’s women and girls,

Emergency Fund Grants: Small, one-time-only cash awards given to nonprofits and grassroots organizations in Iowa that address one of the six barriers to women’s economic self-sufficiency. These awards are to be used for immediate emergency needs of the organization to keep them serving their clients.

Childcare Solutions Fund: CCSF - The CCSF focuses specifically on increasing the number of childcare spaces available for children throughout the state of Iowa.

2201 East Grantview Drive
Suite 200
Coralville, Iowa 52241
Phone: 319-774-3813

Iowa Women’s Foundation website

SCORE Quad Cities includes a group of experienced business professionals who provide guidance to those wanting to start a new small business or to assist existing small businesses in improving their profitability. The Quad Cities SCORE Chapter covers a territory comprising the counties of Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Washington, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas, Monroe, and Wapello in Iowa, and Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Mercer, Lee, Henderson, Hancock, Adams, and Whiteside in Illinois.

Volunteers are successful real-world business professionals who offer thousands of hours to help existing and startup businesses succeed. These volunteers have experience in areas such as accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

Main office:
331 West 3rd Street
Davenport, Iowa 52801
Phone: 309-797-0082

SCORE Quad Cities website

Muscatine Branch
Phone: 309-797-0082

Ottumwa Branch
Phone: 309-797-0082

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses to 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.

U.S. Small Business Administration funding website

The Siouxland Economic Development Corporation - SEDC - offers borrowers much more than a loan. They offer borrowers the opportunity to own instead of rent or modernize instead of just getting by, which allows them to build wealth and guarantee future prosperity.

Loan programs include a SBA 504 Loan (fixed asset financing), Real Estate Revolving Loan Fund (real estate financing), Revolving Loan Fund (gap financing for working capital and/or fixed assets),and Microloans (working capital, inventory, and equipment).

617 Pierce Street
Suite 202
Sioux City, Iowa 51101
Phone 712-279-6430

Siouxland Economic Development Corporation website

IASourceLink provides a comprehensive 24/7 online Resource Navigator, as well as direct services to Iowa small business owners. Your Iowa-based company can get helpful referrals and monthly free online business webinars. IASourceLink also houses the Business License Information Center, which can assist you in finding any additional licensing required to operate your business in Iowa.

IASourceLink has also published a variety of industry specific and general “How-to” guides to help Iowa entrepreneurs including "Fund Your Business" which discusses Bootstrapping Your Business, Friends and Family Funding, Angel Investors and Venture Capital, Types of Loans Available, SBA and Bank Loans, Iowa Loan Programs, Crowdfunding, Government Grants, Programs and Resources for Agriculture, and Resources for Women, Minority, Veteran, and Disabled Owned Businesses.

IASourceLink is made possible through a partnership between the University of Northern Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

8120 Jennings Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614
Phone: 319-273-5444

IASourceLink website

Having begun operations in 1981 as an SBA 504 loan company, Iowa Business Growth (IBG) has a long history of providing alternative financing resources that complement the more traditional products available through conventional lenders.

IBG’s various programs including the SBA 504 loan program and the New Markets Tax Credit Program, all enhance rather than duplicate or compete with the lending community that it serves.

Both the Board and the staff are dedicated to the goal of assisting small businesses throughout the state of Iowa in their financing needs.

IBG is a certified development company (CDC) that has achieved a high-level certification with the SBA in administering the government’s premier loan program geared toward expanding businesses.

5409 North West 88th Street
Suite 100
Johnston, Iowa 50131
Phone: 515-223-4511

Iowa Business Growth website

Venture capitalists are committed to funding America’s most innovative entrepreneurs and working alongside them to transform breakthrough ideas into emerging growth companies that drive U.S. job creation and economic growth.

As the voice of the Iowa venture capital community, the Iowa Venture Capital Association provides a meaningful platform for engagement and collaboration between its members to fulfill a shared goal of a strengthened ecosystem. Additionally, the Association empowers its members and the entrepreneurs they fund by advocating for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment in Iowa.

2260 Financial Center
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Iowa Venture Capital Association website

Since 1847, the Tippie College of Business has cultivated a legacy of innovation, thought leadership, and excellence in business education.

BBA and graduate programs span six academic departments—accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, marketing, and management and entrepreneurship.

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at Tippie College of Business inspires thousands of entrepreneurs to start a business in Iowa. The Center is committed to helping every entrepreneur, no matter their age or experience level.

Tippie College of Business
108 John Pappajohn Business Building
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Phone: 319-335-0862

Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa website

The Ivy College of Business enables you to explore the world of business in meaningful ways, both inside and outside of the classroom, through a variety of hands-on experiences, internships, co-ops, classroom projects, study abroad adventures, and more with undergraduate, masters, and PhD programs..

The Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University now offers customized executive education to businesses and organizations throughout Iowa. Ivy Custom Education is designed to take a focused and personal approach to professional development, offering in-person, hybrid, and interactive sessions designed to meet the particular needs of corporate clients.

Ivy Custom Education brings the expertise of the Ivy College of Business’s leading faculty to you. Whether your company is looking to develop and retain talent, manage change, or meet strategic business objectives, our program taps into the expertise of Ivy’s research faculty and teaching professionals to offer learning interventions and add strategic value to your organization.

Iowa State University
Ivy College of Business
Gerdin Business Building
2167 Union Drive
Ames, Iowa 50011
Phone: 515-294-8300

Iowa State University Ivy College of Business website

In addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees, the Zimpleman College of Business offers a number of certificate programs available to businesses through their Center for Professional Studies. It provides professional learning experiences to enhance creativity, boost productivity, and influence overall organizational effectiveness.

The Business Clinic at Drake University also offers support to help you grow your business or create a new business,

Its Business Accelerator program enables you to grow your current business or start working on a new business idea in a 12-week business accelerator. Meet and collaborate with local business leaders and entrepreneurs for guidance and support. Graduate with a final pitch for investment dollars to accelerate the growth of your business.

Upon completion of the Business Accelerator program, you can enroll in Venture Mentoring Service - VMS. Team mentoring sessions are face-to-face meetings with at least two highly experienced volunteer mentors. Regular meetings are conducted with these trained mentors to target the specific needs of your business. From analyzing business costs to preparing a pitch for a large investment opportunity, the mentor team can help.

Aliber Hall
2847 University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
Phone: 515-271-3142

Drake University Zimpleman College of Business

Cityview’s Business Journal is the most widely circulated business publication in central Iowa with 30,000 copies distributed to nearly 700 locations, reaching 78,000 monthly readers with the print edition and more than 9,600 digital subscribers. With regular features on subjects that matter to business owners, along with photos from business events, commercial real estate transactions and how-to advice from business professionals, this is where business owners look for news and information about the central Iowa business community.

Phone: 515-953-4822

Cityview’s Business Journal website

Business Monthly is a published monthly by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry - ABI. The publication features stories on the latest business trends, columns by key ABI members and updates from ABI’s public policy team and foundation leaders.

The Business Monthly is published as an insert in both the Corridor Business Journal - CBJ - and the Quad Cities Business Journal (QCBJ).

400 East Court Avenue
Suite 100
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-280-8000

Business Monthly website

Every week, the Corridor Business Journal provides its readers with comprehensive coverage of local business news and analysis. It covers news that is of interest, use and importance for anyone who does business in the growing Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Corridor.

A portion of each issue is dedicated to one sector of the business community. Among many other focus issues, these topics range from diversity and small business, to politics, elections and banking.

In an effort to highlight the thriving business community in the Corridor and the people that make it happen, CBJ also hosts a series of events throughout the year designed to honor the Corridor’s Women of Influence and Forty Under 40. CBJ also hosts the annual Corridor Economic Forecast luncheon and the Fastest Growing Companies event.

2345 Landon Road
Suite 100
North Liberty, Iowa 52317

Corridor Business Journal website

Quad Cities Business Journal - QCBJ - delivers business news in the greater Quad Cities area including the counties of Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer in Illinois and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa.

In addition to coverage of the people, businesses, and issues that impact business in the Quad Cities area, QCBJ also regularly produces numerous podcasts and newsletters. It also hosts several business network and recognition events including Forty Under 40, Mid-Year Economic Review, 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes, and others.

2117 State Street
Suite 105
Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
Phone: 563-345-7225

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal website