Standard Contacts, Resources
and Tax Benefits for Small Businesses in Iowa
Owning a small business has long been an exciting and rewarding
part of the American Dream. Entrepreneurs throughout the nation’s history
have risked their capital for an opportunity to turn ideas into wealth. Textbooks
are full of the success stories: Carnegie, Ford, Rockefeller, Forbes, Walton,
Gates. While not every would-be businessperson aspires to these dizzying heights,
small business ventures continue to be the engine of the American economy –
and the Iowa economy as well.
Businesses with fewer than 50 employees make up more than 95 percent
of the total number of employers in Iowa; more than half of the state’s
businesses employ fewer than five people. The vitality and diversity of Iowa’s
economic future are dependent on the success of small business start-ups and
expansions in the state.
This brochure provides basic information about resources available
to new and existing small businesses in Iowa.
Because of its mission to assist and nurture business, the Iowa
Department of Economic Development is the best starting place for anyone interested
in starting or expanding a business in Iowa. Contact that agency’s Bureau
of Small Business Development first. You will receive individualized guidance
to all the resources and contacts which will benefit your endeavor.
Contact any other agency listed here for assistance with issues
which fall under the specific regulatory jurisdiction of that agency. If you
cannot find satisfactory answers to your questions, call the office of the Iowa
Citizen’s Aide/Ombudsman toll-free at 888.426.6283.
ASSISTANCE AND
INFORMATION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Iowa Department of Economic
Development
- Comprehensive assistance and informational materials for Iowa small business
start-ups
- Financial assistance for small business start-ups and expansions
- Comprehensive business license information
- Minority- and female-owned small business assistance
Contacting IDED
- Internet
- E-mail
- Mail: Bureau of Small Business Development, 200 East Grand, Des Moines IA
50309
- Call: 1.800.532.1216 in Iowa or 515.242.4700
- For assistance in bidding on federal government contracts, call the Iowa
Procurement Outreach Center at 1.800.458.4465.
United States Small Business
Administration
- Largest single financial backer of small businesses
- Provides financial, technical and management assistance to start, run and
grow businesses
- Federal procurement, research and development, counseling and training, assistance
for target groups, referrals to other resources, such as SCORE (Service Corps
of Retired Executives) and Iowa Small Business Development Centers
Contacting the U.S. SBA
Small Business Development Center
Provides hands-on, practical assistance to Iowa 's businesses.
• Helps new and existing business owners develop and grow their businesses.
• Provides free counseling, conducts market research, and trains business people in many topics, including business planning, management, financing, and operating small businesses.
• Has 15 regional business assistance centers across Iowa.
The SBDC web site ( www.iowasbdc.org ) is the Internet resource tool of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers. It provides:
- Resources to start and grow a business and use technology
- Access to articles on various small business topics
- Listings of training workshops, programs, and events
- Discussion boards on timely business topics
- Links to other useful sites
- Disaster assistance information
An additional Internet resource is coming soon that will help businesses get connected to tools and resources that make the human resources aspect of running a business easier and more economical. Visit the Iowa SBDC web site for more information on this new service.
Contacting the Small Business Development Centers
Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE)
- Counselors to America’s Small Business
- Help with start-ups and business plans
- No-fee mentoring and counseling
- Low-cost workshops
- Locations throughout Iowa
Contacting SCORE
LICENSES, PERMITS AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED
Federal
- Internal
Revenue Service (IRS)
- Federal tax information, forms and publications
Call: 1.800.829.3676
Internet
- Answers to your business questions
Call: 1.800.829.4933
- Presentations and workshops in Iowa
Call:
515-564-6837
Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR)
- Tax permits for sales, use, motor vehicle fuel, hotel/motel, automobile
rental, withholding
- Iowa tax information, publications and forms
- Register to withhold Iowa income tax and/or make estimated tax payments
- Classes about Iowa taxes
Find Out About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:
- Income tax deduction for hiring ex-offenders
- Income tax deduction for hiring persons with disabilities
- New jobs tax credit
- Assistive device tax credit
- Property rehabilitation tax credit
- Investment tax credit
- Franchise tax credit
- Research activities tax credit
- Seed capital tax credit
- Capital gains deduction for certain businesses
- Motor vehicle fuel tax credit
- Tax exemption for purchase of machinery and equipment used in agricultural
production
- Cow-calf beef operation refund
- Any of more than 150 separate exemptions from sales tax provided by the
Iowa Code
Contacting IDR
- Internet
- E-mail
- TaxFax: 1-800-572-3943
- Mail: Taxpayer Services, Iowa Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 10457, Des
Moines IA 50306-0457
- Call
- From the Des Moines calling area or out of state: 515.281.3114
- From elsewhere in Iowa or from the Omaha or Rock Island-Moline calling
areas: 1.800.367.3388
The Iowa Department of Revenue conducts hundreds of classes to thousands of
taxpayers and business owners each year. Check the Web site for the latest
class
schedule or call 515.281.5722 to schedule a customized class for your business.
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD)
Contact Information
E-mail
Web site
One-stop resource for Iowa businesses to find workforce information and
solutions
Unemployment Insurance
online filing of quarterly
Employer's Contribution & Payroll Report and payment of Unemployment
Insurance (UITS)
UITS assists employers by calculating taxable wages
and contributions due based on information provided. Employers can
pay their Unemployment Insurance contributions by eCheck, credit card (MasterCard
only) or paper check with a payment remittance voucher. Use of
the system is voluntary for employers.
Mail: Iowa Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des
Moines IA 50319-0209
Fax: (515) 242-6074
Iowa Secretary of State
Information for corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships,
limited liability companies and state trademarks
Contacting Secretary of State
- Internet
- E-mail
- Mail: Iowa Secretary of State, Lucas Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th St.,
Des Moines, IA 50319
- Call: 515.281.5204
Iowa Department of Transportation
(DOT)
- Motor vehicle dealership information and licensing
- Information for trucking
businesses
- Information concerning vehicles subject to registration
Contacting DOT general information
- Internet:
Home page
Motor Vehicle Services
- Mail: Iowa Dept. of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, Park Fair Mall,
100 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines IA 50306
- Call: 515.239.1101 or in Iowa 1.800.532.1121
Iowa Department of Agriculture
- Regulatory information for food-related and animal-related businesses
- Information concerning weights and measures
- Information for commercial grain storage and grain sales businesses
Contacting the Department of Agriculture
- Internet
- Mail: Iowa Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th
St., Des Moines, IA 50319
- Call: 515.281.5321
Iowa Department of Inspections and
Appeals (DIA)
- Inspect and license food establishments, including restaurants,
and grocery and convenience stores
- Inspect and license hotels and motels
- License social and charitable
gambling activities, including
bingo and raffles
- Certify targeted small businesses
- Inspect and license/certify long-term
care facilities, and
medical providers and suppliers
Contacting DIA:
- Internet
- E-mail
- Mail: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Lucas State Office Building,
321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
- Telephone: (515) 281-7102
- Fax: (515) 242-6863
Iowa Department of Commerce
- Licensing for retail and wholesale sales of alcoholic liquor, wine and beer
Call: 515.281.7430
- Information concerning rates and services of certain electric, gas, phone
and water utilities
Call: 515.281.5979
- Oversees “Relay Iowa,” which provides communication access for
persons with hearing or speech impairments
Call: 515.281.5979
- Problem resolution and information concerning insurance for small businesses
Call: 515.281.5705
- Assistance to small businesses concerning the sale of stock
Call: 515.281.4441
- Licensing for the following professions: Certified Public Accountants; Accounting
Practitioners; Architects; Engineers and Land Surveyors; Landscape Architects;
Real Estate Brokers; Real Estate Salespersons; Real Estate Appraisers
Call: 515.281.7393
- Regulation of state chartered banks, finance companies, mortgage brokers
and others in the business of delivering financial products and services;
source of public inquiry from users of financial services
Call: 515.281.4014
Contacting Commerce for general information
- Internet
- Mail: Iowa Department of Commerce, 1918 S.E. Hulsizer Avenue, Ankeny IA 50021
Iowa Department of Public Health
- Licenses: athletic trainers, barbers and cosmetologists, chiropractors,
podiatrists, optometrists, hearing aid dealers, speech pathologists and audiologists,
morticians, massage and physical and occupational therapists, psychologists,
respiratory care practitioners, social workers
Contacting Public Health
- Internet
- E-mail
- Mail: Lucas State Office Building,
321 E. 12th Street,
Des Moines, IA
50319-0075
- Call: 515.281.7689
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Water and air quality regulatory information for manufacturers
- Information concerning sales of Household Hazardous Materials
Contacting DNR general information
- Internet
- Mail: Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502
E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319
- Call: 515.281.5918
COUNTY RESOURCES
County Governments
- Local ordinances, licensing and zoning regulations
- Cigarette and liquor license applications
- Property tax information
- Building permits
Ask About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:
- Urban revitalization tax exemption
- Tax provision for purchase of computers
- Special tax provisions for purchase of industrial machinery and equipment
- Partial exemption of actual value added to industrial real estate, research-service
facilities, warehouses and distribution centers
- Exemption for pollution control devices
Contacting county governments
See your local telephone directory for phone numbers and mailing addresses.
Internet:
List of county Web
sites
Iowa Association of
Counties
County Recorder
- Information for
sole proprietorships and simple partnerships
- Certificates of Assumed Name (if doing business under a name other than your
own)
County Treasurer
- Property tax information
- Vehicle registration
Contacting county treasurers
See your local telephone directory for phone numbers and mailing addresses.
Internet
CITY RESOURCES
- Building permits
- Programs available for business expansion or new business or development
projects
- Loans and grants
- Training programs
Contacting city governments
See your local telephone directory for phone numbers and mailing addresses.
Internet:
List
of city Web sites
List of
city directories
OTHER FEDERAL RESOURCES
Federal Trade Commission
- Promote competition, protect consumers
Contacting the FTC
- Call: 202.326.2222
- Internet
- Contact options
- Mail: Federal Trade Commission,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580
Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
& Firearms
- Manufacture or sales of firearms
Contacting the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
U.S. Department of Labor
Contacting the U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Commerce
- Economic development, exporting, tariffs
Contacting the U.S. Department of Commerce
- Call: 515.284.4422 (Iowa office)
- Internet
PERSONAL RESOURCES
Your Community Bank or Credit Union
Your Attorney’s
Office
- Legal advice and representation
Your Accountant’s Office
- Bookkeeping advice or service
Your Insurance Agent
- Loss and liability protection
A University or College Business Center
Program
- Business plans
- General assistance
78-579 (12/12/07)
Iowa Department of Revenue