Chicago’s Small Business Center goes paperless

November 6, 2013

Small businesses play a large role in the American economy, but it can be difficult to complete daily tasks. Many business owners have to wear many hats, like serving as their own accountant, marketing director and customer service representative, Forbes reported. In fact, these hardships make it difficult for companies to stay in business for more than five years.

In Chicago, business owners can breathe a little easier because they will be able to have the option to find the forms within their office because the Small Business Center is changing its data processes to promote a paper-free office approach in 2014, according to a local NBC affiliate. This resource will simplify some issues for entrepreneurs in the area.

“As a small business owner myself, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to spend valuable time working on paperwork and other matters that are not related to growing a business,” Chicago Alderman Mary O’Connor said in the press release.”I am so pleased to work with Mayor Emanuel to bring forward these reforms, so Chicago stays the most friendly city in the world for small business, and continues to grow jobs in our neighborhoods.”

Entrepreneurs who need to find additional information on Chicago’s tax credits, applications and policies will no longer have to take a trip to the Small Business Center because all of these resources will be available on the online portal. Completing paperwork electronically will cost small companies less per document in comparison to those who stop by the office.

On average, this measure will save the city about 120,000 sheets of paper per year, impacting more than 6,000 small businesses in the Chicago metro area, making the move to a paper-free office system far less expensive in the long run.

“As more and more residents pay bills, apply for services, and file their taxes online, City government needs to keep up,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel added in the press release. “With this investment we will bring small business services into the 21st Century by moving licenses and permits to the web, helping businesses and residents save time and money.”

Tab Service Company is a Chicago based company with over 53 years of experience as a data processing service provider.  We provide business with outsourcing solutions for document scanning services, data entry services and mailing/lettershop services.  As a SOC2-approved organization, we apply industry-best practices to our approach with clients.