The dramatic increase in minority- and female-owned companies continues to transform the business world while setting standards for those who follow. This book offers a comprehensive guide to current practical knowledge of minority business development, from grants and loans to market building. This book demonstrates how to use specific laws, institutions, and new technologies to set up and steer your business to success. Expert coverage includes both established and underused resources at the federal, state, and local levels dedicated to minority business expansion. You will learn how to tap resources made available by government agencies like the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and programs such as the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI). Non-governmental funding sources (e.g., banks, credit unions, venture capital) are also examined in depth, with sound advice on approaching each. The author explores the critical role of social media in leveling the playing field, spotlighting minority/female business-related sites and strategies for leveraging your online presence, and provides real-world guidance on business certifications, tax breaks, credit issues, and more. Whether you're in start-up or expansion mode, after reading this book, you will have the know-how needed to seize the opportunity and succeed with your enterprise. Learn how to discover unused and unrecognized resources at the federal, state, and local level set up specifically for minority business; see the difference between banks, thrifts, credit unions, angel investors, and venture capital, and how to approach each; use social media in support of minority business development goals; and examine social media sites and trends: current and relevant minority business related social media sites and trends. For anyone who is Asian, Hispanic, women, Black or White who wants authentic, impactful information on creating or supporting minority-owned businesses.