Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is SBIR? (short and simplified version of the About us)

SBIR is the Small Business Information & Resource portal for micro, small and medium enterprises. It is the home for the city’s mentoring program, welcoming entrepreneurs to free localized and contextualized courses with options for one-to-one help from Cagay-anon mentors. Publicly accessible information for would-be investors and existing businesses are also available with a direct line to the city’s Oro Trade & Investment Promotions Center.

2. Is SBIR free?

Yes it is.  There are no registration, enrollment or any other kind of fees.

3. Who can use SBIR?

Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs or would-be entrepreneurs

4. Registration

  • How do I register? Just register with your name and email address.
  • Why should I register? Only registered users get to explore the courses and other SBIR offerings. A simple registration allows you to get the most of the information and resources in the portal and even consult with mentors.

5. Courses

    • How do I take a course? Just choose from the range of course offerings and just click on that course. 
    • Can I retake a course? Yes. Courses can be taken at any time and you can always return to the parts of the course you want to review. 
    • Are there live interactions with mentors?Consultation schedules with mentors when available are posted (just like the ones scheduled May-June). The courses you need to take to avail of these live one-to-one or small group mentoring shall also be posted.  
    • How long are the courses available? We try to come up with courses that are relevant with the times so you might notice new offerings or changes in old ones. However, as long as there are new registered users for specific courses, we will keep them for as long as possible. 

    6. How do I start my business?

    First you must have planned the details of your business. Business plan examples are available here. The registration requirements for your business depend on what type of ownership and to some extent the kind of business you want to put up. You will find more information in the business start-up package courses

    7. What Mentoring Courses do you offer and how much do they cost?

    New courses are added and featured all the time so you will just have to check out what you need. Examples are courses to take your marketing online, prepare recovery plans from the impact of the pandemic, start a new business, apply for financing, participate in virtual trade fairs & exhibits, become an exporter, etc.  All are for free.

    8. Is BCP and Business Recovery Plan the same?

    No. BCP or Business Continuity Plan is what you prepare to be ready for the type of major business disruption that you pre-identify.  Business Recovery Plan on the other hand is what you do after a disaster has struck like what happened in the pandemic. Both are offered as courses here.

    9. What type of information can I find here?

    Those that micro, small and medium-sized businesses need. Aside from what you get from courses, there are tutorial type blog posts, videos and webinars, links to government & NGO programs for MSMEs, localized and contextualized posts from the LGU, and many more. Investors interested to put up businesses in Cagayan de Oro City can find or ask for what they need here.

    10. Are there COVID-19 responsive offerings?

    The pandemic had a negative impact on many industries. While this site outlives the pandemic, many of the offerings focus on helping businesses recover and become more resilient.