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Social Security Column
Social Security Helps Small Businesses
By Phil Walton, Social
Security Manager in Toledo, OH
Guest Column
Social Security is one of the cornerstones of financial
security for the nation. So are small businesses. Millions
of Americans own and operate small businesses, making the
“mom and pop” shop — from retailers to restaurants — one of
the nation’s most valuable resources. National Small
Business Week started on April 30, making this a perfect
time to tell you more about how Social Security helps this
not-so-small industry.
Small businesses can take advantage of our Business Services
Online suite of services. These services allow
organizations, businesses, individuals, employers,
attorneys, non-attorneys representing Social Security
claimants, and third-parties to exchange information with
Social Security securely over the internet. For small
business owners, we’ve made it especially easy to file W-2s
online to help ensure the privacy of their employees’
personal information. You can register and create your own
password to access Business Services Online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/bso
Social Security’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization (OSDBU) was established in October 1979 pursuant
to Public Law 95-507. The law assigned the office the task
of fostering the use of small and disadvantaged businesses
as federal contractors. To accomplish this, the OSDBU
develops and implements appropriate outreach programs aimed
at heightening the awareness of the small business community
to the contracting opportunities available within Social
Security.
Outreach efforts include activities such as sponsoring small
business fairs and procurement conferences, as well as
participating in trade group seminars, conventions, and
other forums that promote the utilization of small and
disadvantaged businesses as contractors. The OSDBU
encourages buyers and program officials to consider small
businesses, and to support all the socio-economic
contracting programs in place under the Federal Acquisition
Regulations.
You can learn more about the OSDBU at
www.socialsecurity.gov/agency/osdbu Business is booming
in America, and you might be a part of the job-creating
machine that we call small businesses. You’re strengthening
everybody’s future, for today and tomorrow. |
