Starting a Business

City of Chicago Business Resources

The Chicago region boasts a wealth of public and private entities providing resources, intelligence, guidance, and direct assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs. These organizations are available to help simplify the process of starting a new business or growing established ones.

Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
The Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection’s mission is to empower businesses to grow and succeed by providing information and services to help businesses act responsibly and create economic vitality and vibrant communities for the people of Chicago. DBA’s “one-stop-shop” for businesses provides business consultants to guide businesses through the government process.

Readily available on the Department’s website are information and resources aimed at facilitating and supporting business creation and serving as answer source to a wide range of business concerns.

State of Illinois Business Resources

For prospective or current business owners the State of Illinois provides a wide variety of information and resources on some of the most common business concerns.

  • Start and Manage a Business: For information and resources on starting, running, expanding, relocating, or closing a business
  • Laws & Regulations: Learn about business laws and regulations in Illinois.
  • Business Forms: Find applications and forms your business needs.
  • State Procurement: To bid on contracts and learn how to sell goods, services, commodities,
    equipment and for supplies to the State

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the lead state agency responsible for improving Illinois’ competitiveness in the global economy. Guided by an innovative regional approach, DCEO administers a wide range of economic and workforce development programs, services and initiatives designed to create and retain high quality jobs and build strong communities. DCEO leads the Illinois economic development process in partnership with businesses, local governments, workers and families.

Agriculture & Industry: To obtain information about agri-business, economic and workforce development, and industries.

United States Sponsored Business Resources

Small Business Administration (SBA) Illinois District Office
The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same.

About the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce is to create and support a thriving business environment, contributing to a vibrant Edgewater community.  We organize and present marketing, education, networking, and advocacy programs to increase commercial activity and strengthen existing businesses and Chamber members in the Edgewater community.  Founded in 1984, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization serving the Edgewater business community.