Question: My husband and I want to start a small business out of our home in Washington State. We are both Native Americans from Montana. Where can we get help and advice?

Answer: There is general help for entrepreneurs provided through the U.S. Small Business Administration. For American Indians, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians, the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs offers specialized help, entrepreneurial development training, and lending and procurement programs.

A free, self-paced business training course, developed specifically for American Indian business owners, might be a good place for you to start. It’s called Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success, says Chris James, assistant administrator of the Office of Native American Affairs.