SME Toolkit
Even when we go it alone we are seldom without help. From books to software to websites, young entrepreneurs are surrounded by a thousand resources dedicated to aiding them in their private quests. All the combined wisdom and experience of the generations which have come before is available to you…for a price. That’s why Tuesdays are dedicated to the tools of trade. Check here every Tuesday for reviews, previews, comparisons, and exposés on the vital organizations, support networks, and products relevant to you and your burgeoning enterprise.
Not every one sets up business in their own backyard.
Emerging markets, budding industries, and rapid globalization are drawing more and more entrepreneurs out of the safety of their first-world homes and into the Wild West frontier of developing nations all over the world. Politicians and aid workers are free to debate their endless rounds as to whether large corporations exploit or uplift local populations as they move in to leverage low-cost labor pools, but no one argues that small businesses are anything but positive. Entrepreneurs receives powerful incentives to bring their start-ups into the third world, the better to stimulate economies, modernize workforces, and energize communities.
One of those incentives is at www.smetoolkit.org. A product of World Bank Group member IFC, the SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Toolkit is a catchall collection of free resources gathered and presented for the benefit of small businesses investing, moving to, or starting-up in a wide range of developing nations.
The shear depth and breadth of the SME Toolkit is staggering. From VC links to online seminars to free software to Business Plan authoring pointers. The region specific breakdown of the site means that all information is poignant and immediate to the unique legal and regional concerns of your business.
On the down side, the same vastness of scope and intricacy of detail that this site offers also makes it pretty difficult so first timers to find what they need. The site’s navigation assumes visitors have some idea what they are doing, where they are doing it, and what the terminology means.
I am not suggesting that first time business owners avoid the SME toolkit. Rather I suggest that any neophytes and explorers who click over to the site be prepared to spend some time exploring and orienting themselves. Set aside a block of time to check out the forums, the course offerings, even the advertisements. You are sure to learn something new and find something invaluable.
For experienced business owners and serial entrepreneurs however, this site is a must. If you are setting up a business in a developing nation anywhere in the world, bookmark this link: www.smetoolkit.org. The SME Toolkit will be an invaluable asset to you, useful throughout every stage of founding, establishing, and stabilizing your enterprise.
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