Interactive Educational Concepts Inc. is a SWAM Certified Small Business by the CD Program: The Interactive Guide to Starting a Business
Overview 
The new localized interactive CD that makes the process of starting and managing a small business easy! It places all the tools required by entrepreneurs at their fingertips, beginning with the city or county where the business is located and proceeding through all state and federal levels.
Each CD contains:
- A tutorial on all aspects of starting and managing a small business, from A to Z.
- Local, State, and Federal requirements in all areas including business registration, business organization, employment laws, and information on taxes.
- All required forms are located on the CD, including business registration forms, state and IRS employment related forms, unemployment insurance forms, and workers compensation information.
- A complete information section on the county or city where the business will be located, including information on demographics, zoning, local ordinances and regulations, and census information.
- A built in Business Plan Software system designed to be used by anyone, with an advanced Excel template section for more advanced existing businesses.
The program is written at the High School or GED level, with interactive links that will take the user to MBA levels of information if desired.
Each CD is custom designed by the Interactive Educational Concepts team in partnership with city, county, state, or national government agencies or organizations to match the needs at the local level.
To date, over 16 versions have been produced or are in production throughout Virginia and for the State of North Carolina. A New! National version is now available for downloading. Click here for more information.
Virginia
- Virginia Department of Business Assistance (Statewide)
- City of Chesapeake
- City of Charlottesville
- City of Newport News
- City of Richmond
- City of Norfolk
City of Hampton - City of Virginia Beach
- City of Portsmouth
- Chesterfield County
- Hanover County
- Henrico County
- Goochland County
- Stafford County
- King William County
- Town of West Point
- City of Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development
- New Kent County
North Carolina
- North Carolina Community College System
Organizations
- Metropolitan Business League
- National Association of Women's Business Owners
History of the Program
The Interactive Guide to Starting a Business was developed and produced during 2003 with funding by the Greater Richmond Partnership. The first versions were finalized in early 2004 for the City of Richmond, Virginia, and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico. Goochland County, Virginia contracted and financed its own version that was released concurrently.
The initial concept was simple: produce a CD that would begin where the business was to be based and provide the knowledge, information, forms, and tools for a potential business owner to not only start a business, but designed to be an ongoing resource that would greatly enhance the chances of success for that business after start-up.
The concept also required that the content to be written at the High School Graduate or GED level, so it could be understood at all levels, yet utilize interactive links and additional software for more advanced users and for existing business owners.
Henrico County, which has a population of roughly 300,000, received its initial order of 1,500 CDs in February 2004, and reordered an additional quantity of 1,500 in July of 2004 based on unanticipated demand. They are now on their third reorder. Updated versions are now in production for Richmond and the remaining counties.
When Henrico County initially distributed its CD, an article was published in Henrico Magazine that best describes what the CED team hoped to accomplish with the program. For a copy of that article click here for PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
Testimonials
“We have distributed over 80% of our initial production and continue to get requests daily for the guide. We are looking forward to the next version of the guide and many of the upgrades and additions you anticipate. The Guide is a valuable tool for entrepreneurs and has made a huge impact on helping entrepreneurs to better prepare their businesses and improve their chances for long-term success.”
Karen A. Aylward, Project Manager
Small and Minority Business
Chesterfield County Economic Development, Chesterfield, Virginia
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"The use of the CD has spawned a new wave of entrepreneurial energy in Hanover County , and over 125 people have attended our two business start up seminars during 2004. The Interactive Guide CD has become an invaluable tool in assisting business start ups and expanding small businesses in preparation of a business plan. I believe that this product has spurred entrepreneurship and business start ups in the County, strengthening and diversifying the local economy."
Marc S. Weiss, Director
Hanover Economic Development
Hanover, Virginia
“The new CD, An Interactive Guide to Setting up a Business in Henrico County, Virginia, is an impressive tool to add to our line of services for our small businesses. The response from those receiving the CD is overwhelmingly positive because all of the information needed to grow a business is in one place and in a format that is easy to use.”
Leonard Cake, Administrative Director
Henrico Economic Development Authority
Henrico County, Virginia
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"We have distributed 900 CDs to entrepreneurs citywide and nationally as well. A particularly positive response has been from commercial lenders who have asked for 40 CDs to distribute to their clients who were opening new businesses. Two lenders indicated the CD helped their clients to prepare a better business plan, thus enabling improved eligibility for business loans. We expect the next version to be in higher demand because of the additional tax information provided. The CD is a fantastic use of technology to assist entrepreneurs. It is also extremely helpful to us in targeting clients who want to do business in Richmond .”
Benjamin Armbruster
Richmond Dept. of Economic Development
Richmond, Virginia
To Obtain a Copy
If you are an Entrepreneur, a small business owner or planning to start a small business, or someday hope to start that business, live in Virginia or North Carolina, and wish to receive a copy of either the state-wide business CD or for a specific locality, see below for contact information.
| National Version: The EntrePlan Interactive Guide to Starting and Managing a Small Business | |
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Download now for $29.95
Most local and state versions are provided at low or no cost by support agencies. However, if you live outside of Virginia or North Carolina and don’t have access to a local CD, you can now purchase a downloadable version directly from our website. Click Here for more information. |
| Statewide Business CDs | |
Virginia Department of Virginia Department of Business Assistance |
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North Carolina North Carolina Community College System |
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Charlottesville, VA City of Charlottesville (434) 970-3110 |
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Chesapeake, VA City of Chesapeake (757) 382-8040 |
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Newport News, VA City of Newport News 757-597-2840 |
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Richmond, Virginia City of Richmond < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Henrico County, Virginia Henrico County < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Chesterfield, Virginia Chesterfield County < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Goochland, Virginia County of Goochland < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Hampton, Virginia City of Hampton < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Hanover, Virginia Hanover County < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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King William County
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Norfolk, Virginia City of Norfolk < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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Stafford, Virginia County of Stafford < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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12007 Courthouse Circle |
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| City of Portsmouth, Virginia Department of Economic Development 200 High Street, Suite 200 Portsmouth, Virginia 23704 (757) 393-8804 (800) 848-5690 (757) 393-8293 www.portsmouthvaed.com |
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| City of Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development 222 Central Park Ave, Suite 1000 < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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| Organizations | |||
Metropolitan Business League Metropolitan Business League < < back to VA menu or scroll down for other localities. |
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National Association of Women Business Owners 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800 McLean, Virginia 22102 (703) 506-3268 (703) 506-3266 Email: national@nawbo.org www.nawbo.org |
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For More Information, contact:
Stu Neal
Phone: 804-521-4320
Fax: 804-521-4300
Email: sneal@interactiveconcepts.org