Small Business Resources

We’re here to connect you to information and resources to make your entrepreneurial enterprise a success.

• Starting a business in DeKalb County allows you access to resources and services offered by the DeKalb County entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Business planning, counseling and mentoring is offered by Fox Valley SCORE, EIGERlabs, and Waubonsee Community College’s-Small Business Development Center.
• The DeKalb County Business Incubator is available to assist home-based and startup businesses in that transitional phase by providing office space to nurture growing ideas.
• The Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations around the county are eager to welcome and network businesses for long-term success.
  • DeKalb
  • Sycamore
  • Genoa
  • Kirkland
  • Hinckley
  • Sandwich

• Kishwaukee College offers business education and training events for DeKalb County businesses.
• NIU’s Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development is the gateway to outreach and engagement with NIU’s talented faculty and staff for small business and nonprofit support, on-campus co-working space, and student-consulting projects.  Examples of programs include:
  • 40Tude Business https://www.niu.edu/outreach/40tude/business.shtml
  • 40Tude Nonprofit https://www.niu.edu/clas/nonprofit/40tude/index.shtml
  • 71 North Partnership Studio https://www.niu.edu/divresearch/innovation/71-north/index.shtml
  • NIU College of Business “Business in Action” Consulting Project https://www.cob.niu.edu/experiences/business-in-action/index.shtml
  • NIU College of Business Experiential Learning Center https://www.cob.niu.edu/experiences/experiential-learning-center/index.shtml
  • NIU College of Law Business Law Innovation Clinic (Starting Fall 2022) The BLIC will offer high-quality, transactional legal assistance to primarily underrepresented entrepreneurs, small business owners and not-for-profit business organizations.  The BLIC will focus on providing legal representation and assistance in the areas of business formation, Business Enterprise Program certification, obtaining 501(c)(3) status, drafting bylaws, reviewing contracts to sell and purchase, advising on corporate recordkeeping, and general intellectual property issues such as trademark registration. The BLIC is looking to serve clients from the DeKalb and collar communities as well as underrepresented communities in the greater Chicagoland area who might not be able to access these types of legal services on their own. https://www.niu.edu/law/index.shtml
• Our economic development partners (Sandwich EDC and DCEDC) facilitate the overall business retention and attraction efforts to leverage our county’s assets for business growth across all sectors.

Online Resources

• AARP Foundation – Work for Yourself@50+
  • More than 20 million people over the age of 50 are at risk of not having enough income to meet their basic needs. AARP Foundation’s Work for Yourself@50+ makes it easy for older adults to explore self-employment options to increase their financial stability.
    AARP Foundation Work for yourself@50+ Toolkit
    Learn more at: https://workforyourself.aarpfoundation.org/
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Small Business Assistance
  • Starting a new business is an exciting time, but is can also be challenging. Questions can seem endless: Where will my business be located? What licenses or permits are required? How do I get financing?The State of Illinois is here to help. We’ve created a clearinghouse of information for entrepreneurs on starting a new business, a one-stop shop for all things startup.  Learn more here.

Administration Building
110 E. Sycamore St, Sycamore, IL 60178
Hours: 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 815-895-7188
Email:  communitydevelopment@dekalbcounty.org