This document serves as a guide for microbusiness owners signing up for the AEO500. The AEO500 is a platform for business owners to promote their products and services, develop relationships that help their businesses thrive, and share information on the resources that have been instrumental to the startup and growth of their company. More info: http://bit.ly/nr5ECP.

1. Sign-Up Manual for Small Businesses
1111 16th Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202.650.5580
www.aeoworks.org

2. Table of Contents
Introduction: About the AEO500 1
Section One: Getting Started 1
Section Two: Creating Your Profile
A) To Get Your Business Profile on the Map 1
B) To Be Matched With Resources to Support Your Business 2
Section Three: Understanding and Navigating System Features 3
Section Four: Inviting Employees and Business Partners to the System 4
Section Five: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 4

3. Introduction: About the AEO500
If one in three microbusinesses in the US hired a single employee, the country would be at full
employment. In order to tell the powerful story of One in Three, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity
(AEO) has launched a technology platform called the AEO500 for business owners like you to promote
your products and services, develop relationships that help your businesses thrive, and share information
on the resources that have been instrumental to the startup and growth of your company.
Section One: Getting Started
1. Go to the AEO website (www.aeoworks.org) to access the AEO500.
2. Click on the AEO500 link.
3. Click “Join Today!” on the top, right corner of the page.
4. Fill in the required fields.
5. Click “Sign Up” and wait for the confirmation email to be sent to the email address you provided.
This email will list your username – your email address – and provide you with a temporary
password, which you will be prompted to change upon logging in.
Section Two: Creating Your Profile
1. Return to the AEO500 page, and click “Log In” in the top right corner of the page.
2. Once logged in, you will be viewing your “Company Profile,” which catalogs information on your
business. Note: You can choose later what information you would like to be published
publicly.
A) To Get Your Business Profile on the Map
In order to add your business to the AEO500 map, we need your basic information. To start, please fill out
the required information in the “Company Info” section.
3. On your Company Profile page, click “Company Info.”
4. Complete all information required on this page, as indicated by the asterisks (*).
5. At the bottom of the “Company Info” page, you will find the Privacy Options, along with a link to
preview how your public profile will look to others.
6. Click “Submit.”
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4. B) To Be Matched With Resources to Support Your Business
In order to provide your business with resources and future partnership opportunities, we need further
information regarding you and your business.
7. Via the “Company Profile” page, click on “Company Info” and fill out any incomplete fields. Please
be accurate and concise in your answers; the goal is to give viewers an idea of what products or
services you offer, without overwhelming them with too much information. Click “Submit” when you
are finished to return to the main “Company Profile” page.
8. Go to “Contacts” to view the primary contact information for the business and ensure that it’s
accurate.
9. Go to “Organizations We Work With” list the organizations that have provided you with capital or
services to help your business grow. To add organizations, click “Add” under the “Action” column.
Type in the name and website address for the organization, and then click “Insert.” You can add
additional organizations, or click “Submit” to save your changes and return to your “Company
Profile.”
10. Go to “First Year Business Performance” to fill out baseline revenue and performance data. This
is used by AEO to determine your eligibility for inclusion in future AEO500 reports on small
businesses like yours. Once you have clicked “Submit,” you will be returned to your “Company
Profile.”
11. Go to “Growth Aspirations” to provide more information on your past performance and growth
aspirations. This page allows you to compare your actual baseline data with goals for the future.
Once you have submitted this information, it will be visible from your “Company Profile” page, as
well.
Note: Your individual business performance data will not be published
without your explicit permission and cannot be viewed publicly.
12. On the left hand side of the homepage, click on the link for your “User Profile.” Here, you can enter
and edit information about yourself (the business owner).
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5. 13. Go to “Update Profile” to change/update your name, email address, and your time zone.
14. Go to “Demographic Data” to provide important information that will ultimately allow us to better
serve the needs of the individuals participating in AEO500.
Section Three: Understanding and Navigating System Features
Profile Reminders
Below the form links are the “Profile Reminders,” which show the various items pending completion.
Please complete these items so that the profile for your business is comprehensive, and you can take full
advantage of all of the opportunities associated with AEO500.
Public Profile Preview
Below the “Message Center” is “Public Profile Preview.” This is a preview of
how your information will appear to the public on the AEO500 website. For
your profile to be public you must set your Privacy Options to make it public
and your profile must be complete.
Note: You cannot preview your profile if you select “No” to “Publish
information in the searchable online directory?” in your privacy options on the
“Company Info” form.
Message Center
The “Message Center” allows you to send and receive messages about your
profile. “Message Preferences,” can be used to make changes in the way
you receive messages, via personal email or via your AEO500 profile. To find
“Message Preferences” click on the link for “User Profile” on the left hand side
of the homepage. Click on the fourth tab.
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6. Password Changes
On the left hand side of the homepage, click on the link for your “User Profile.” On the third tab, “Change
Password,” you can manage your account security.
Section Four: Inviting Employees and Business Partners to the System
1. Return to the “Contacts” page under “Company Profile.”
2. Click the “Add a Contact” link. Once you have added a contact, you have the option of inviting them
to the AEO system using the envelope icon under the “Action” column. This will generate an email
and send it directly to the email address you provided for them. In this email there will be a link to
the AEO500 website.
Section Five: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why should I create a profile?
The AEO500 allows you to connect with fellow small business owners, share information and
resources that have been instrumental in the startup and growth of your company, as well as
promote your business. It is a community of people interested in and dedicated to the growth of
small businesses; the AEO500 is an excellent resource to help your business thrive.
Joining the AEO500 provides you with the following opportunities:
Promote your business to the hundreds of daily visitors to AEO's website
Deepen your network by developing relationships with other featured business owners
Discover and access resources through organizations trusted by your peers
Take advantage of matching services for future promotions and partnerships only
available to business owners with comprehensive profiles
Is my business eligible?
In order to be eligible for the AEO500, your business must be a microenterprise. A microenterprise
is defined as a business with five or less employees. Within this category, however, there is much
diversity. The AEO500 represents a wide range of industries, including both product and service
companies.
How do I get started?
Getting started is easy! Once you are on the AEO500 page, click “Join Today!” in the top right
corner. From there, follow our detailed instruction manual to complete your profile and start using
the system.
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7. My business profile is not appearing on the AEO500 map. How do I fix this?
Visit your privacy settings at the bottom of the “Company Info” form which accessible through your
“Company Profile.” There you should select “Yes” for “Publish information in the searchable online
directory?” to ensure that your profile appears on the map.
You can also further adjust your privacy options to control the amount of information visible to the
public. You can include, or not include, your contact information, services information, background
information, reasons for starting your business, and organizations with which you work, on your
public profile. Once you have chosen your preferences you can preview your public profile by
clicking the icon at the bottom of the page.
Why should I include my private business information, such as my revenues?
This data is important for your business’ eligibility for future partnerships and promotion through the
annual AEO500 report. Also, through the system you can track your financial and personnel growth,
as well as set goals. We understand that this information is sensitive; therefore we will not share
financial or personnel data on your individual business without your explicit permission.
Why should I include the organizations with which I have worked?
Providing this information allows current and aspiring entrepreneurs to use the AEO500 to connect
with organizations that can help their businesses thrive. It provides them with the information to
access capital and services through organizations trusted by their peers. Additionally, it allows
organizations to demonstrate the success of entrepreneurs - like you - with whom they have
worked.
How do I connect with other small business owners?
Through the map on the main AEO500 page, you can see summaries of other small businesses.
These summaries include the location and some contact information for the business, in addition to
an outline of the products or services they offer.
If you are looking for more detailed information on one of the AEO500 businesses, try the “Find a
Business” link on the panel on the left side of the page. From here you can search by business
name, industry, or location. From the search feature, you can click on each business and see their
public profile, which provides more thorough contact information, as well as information on the
business and its history.
How do I connect with resources in my community to help my business grow?
Through the AEO500 map and list of businesses, you will find links to the organizations with which
other business owners have worked. There is a wide range of organizations providing both capital
and other services in communities around the United States. You can contact these organizations
directly to discuss support for your small business.
If I have a question, whom should I contact?
You can contact Nikita T. Mitchell at nmitchell@aeoworks.org if you have questions regarding the
AEO500.
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