Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
Office of Small Business Advocate


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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. The Small Business Advocate is part of the Comptroller of the Treasury and was established to make state government more responsive to Tennessee’s small businesses. It is the office Tennessee’s small business owners can contact when they have questions about what department they need to speak with in state government or if they are experiencing difficulties working with a state department or agency.


  2. The Office of Small Business Advocate was established to serve those business owners with fifty (50) or fewer employees.


  3. The Small Business Advocate can answer questions or provide information about owning and operating a small business in Tennessee. Additionally, the Advocate’s job is to act as an informal mediator to resolve issues between small business owners and state government.


  4. If you do not know who to see, or what procedure to use, contact the office. The Small Business Advocate can point you to the right person and explain the best way to go about solving your problem.
    If you have attempted to resolve an issue with the department or agency and are unable to reach a solution or you are having difficulties navigating state government generally, contact the Small Business Advocate.


  5. When the office is contacted, the Small Business Advocate will speak with the small business owner to discuss the issue in more detail. After all of the facts have been gathered, the Small Business Advocate will contact an individual in the appropriate department or agency to begin the process of resolving the small business owner’s issue. Usually, that individual will then work within their department to get the issue resolved in as timely manner as possible. During this period, the Small Business Advocate will keep the small business owner informed and continue to follow-up with the department until a solution is reached.


  6. The Small Business Advocate has the authority to maintain the confidentiality of the small business owner. Depending upon your particular issue, sharing your identification may be part of finding the best solution. The Small Business Advocate will ask if you are comfortable sharing your identity before contacting a department or agency.


  7. The law requires Commissioners and agency heads of departments or agencies with regulatory authority over small business to appoint an employee to serve as the Office of Small Business Advocate’s point of contact. A complete list of these individuals can be found by clicking HERE.


  8. Small business owners can submit comments about regulatory issues or actions taken by a department or agency employee conducting compliance or enforcement activities by filling out the electronic comment form. The form is available by clicking HERE .