Start a New Business in Arkansas
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 Arkansas business 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 that we all do better when we come together as a community and 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!
Arkansas Government Agencies
State of Arkansas - Business Division
The State of Arkansas business division includes resources for owning a business, starting a business, business entity search, and State Divisions for labor, workers compensation, and professional licensing.
You can also apply for a child care facility license, get an alcoholic beverage permit, access the taxpayer portal, request a corporation certificate of good standing, file corporate documents, and more.
To contact a specific state agency:
State of Arkansas Business Division website
Arkansas Small Business Administration - SBA
The SBA’s Arkansas district office provides services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery assistance. They can also teach you how to register your business, access state and federal resources, and find lenders in your area.
The main office in Little Rock serves the entire state of Arkansas. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are closed on all federal holidays.
Main office:
2120 Riverfront Drive
Suite 1000
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
Phone: 501-324-7379
Arkansas Small Business Administration website
Arkansas Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center - ASBTDC
Whether your dream is to be an entrepreneur or you're already an owner, the ASBTDC helps you get to the next phase.
ASBTDC centers assist all types of for-profit businesses, from home-based to high-tech. You can receive one-on-one confidential consulting and cutting-edge market research at no charge, or expand your expertise through affordable educational events.
Additional ASBTDC offices are located in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Magnolia, Monticello, Russellville, and West Memphis.
Satellite ASBTDC locations are in Bentonville, Camden, and Hot Springs.
Main Office:
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
College of Business, Health, and Human Services
Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development
2801 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
Phone: 501-916-3700
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center website
Fuel Accelerator
Fuel Accelerator gives tech startups the training necessary to become enterprise ready.
This 12-week accelerator matches seed and growth-stage tech startups who have an established product and are ready to pursue their first enterprise customer with key enterprise partners in order to accelerate the adoption of tangible technology solutions.
Participant companies must have some initial funding or revenue to be eligible, and must have a team member present in Northwest Arkansas during the 12-week program.
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
Phone: 479-310-6261
Fuel Accelerator website
The Conductor
The Conductor empowers entrepreneurs and innovators with entrepreneurship resources, events, and programs.
Entrepreneurship resources: one-on-one consultations, the Conductor Connect SME network, the Arnold Innovation Center for co-working, meetings, and events, the Arkansas entrepreneurship policy framework that supports the entrepreneurial culture, and Kiva loans.
Event topics include Legal Insights for Entrepreneurs, Managing by the Numbers, What You Need to Know about Local and Government Contracting, Banking on Success, and How to Sell to Higher Education, among others.
Programs include 10x Growth Accelerator: Scaling Arkansas’ High-Growth Ventures, and Healthcare Innovation Sprint that creates entrepreneurial and interactive learning opportunities for college students.
1201 Oak Street
Conway, Arkansas 72032
The Conductor website
Arkansas APEX Accelerator
The mission of the Arkansas APEX Accelerator is to assist Arkansas businesses in obtaining government contracts.
The Arkansas APEX Accelerator has provided services to Arkansas-based businesses since 1993. In that time, more than a billion dollars in federal and state contract awards have been performed by APEX Accelerator clients.
Arkansas APEX Accelerator is part of the Community, Professional, and Economic Development Department of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Satellite offices:
NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
One College Drive
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: 501-650-6180
ASU Delta Center for Economic Development
319 University Loop, Office #218
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: 501-541-3051
Main office:
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
2301 South University Avenue
Room 110
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
Phone: 501-671-2390
Arkansas APEX Accelerator website
The Venture Center
The Venture Center equips entrepreneurs with free programming to launch and grow businesses.
Entrepreneur support includes turning ideas into a viable business, participate in pitch events to compete for funding, grow cybersecurity skills, access mentorship resources, and join a student collective to prepare for entrepreneurship.
Accelerator programs include events like the financial services FIS Fintech Accelerator.
417 Main Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: 501-404-9875
The Venture Center website
Funding - State and Federal Sources
U.S. Small Business Administration
The Little Rock office of the Small Business Administration serves all 75 counties in Arkansas. The office provides help with loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.
Arkansas Educational Institutions
University of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College of Business
The Sam M. Walton College of Business is ranked as a leading source for business education at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The College has undergraduate programs for students seeking bachelor’s degrees. The Graduate School of Business supports students seeking master’s or Ph.D. degrees. The Walton Executive Education program supports business leaders with custom tailored programs.
Academic departments include accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management.
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Phone: 479-575-2000
University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business website
University of Central Arkansas - College of Business
Established in 1969, the University of Central Arkansas College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, representing the highest standard of achievement for business schools.
The College provides undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Departments include accounting; economics, finance, and insurance and risk management; marketing and management; and computer information systems and analytics.
College of Business
201 Donaghey Avenue
COB 102
Conway, Arkansas 72035
Phone: 501-450-3106
University of Central Arkansas College of Business website
Arkansas State University - Neil Griffin College of Business
The Arkansas State University Neil Griffin College of Business provides business education to traditional and non-traditional students from the Mid-South and international students emphasizing leadership, international business, technology, decision tools, and social responsibility.
In addition, the College of Business is committed to the support of regional businesses and communities through research, economic development and consultative services.
PO Box 970
2007 Aggie Road
State University, Arkansas 72467
Phone: 870-972-3035
Arkansas State University Neil Griffin College of Business website
Arkansas Business Publications
Arkansas Business
Arkansas Business is a weekly business journal launched in 1984. Subjects include the latest business news, banking and finance, real estate, government and politics, small business, business services, and executive Q & A.
Industry focus includes agriculture, construction, education, healthcare, restaurants and food, transportation, energy, insurance, nonprofits, technology and telecom, legal, and more,
114 Scott Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: 888-322-6397
Arkansas Business website
Northwest Arkansas Business Journal
Business and community leaders rely on the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal for insight that goes into making critical business decisions. Business focus and industry news target agriculture, education, energy, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, retail, and tourism.
The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal is part of the Talk Business & Politics family of publications. The popular statewide business and political news magazine can be seen on TV, heard on radio and podcasts, viewed online, and in print.