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12/18/2024 4:44 pm

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Support Organizations

Updated: Dec 18, 2024

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Consult Your Community EDPNC Small Business Advisors El Centro NC Veterans Business Association Prospera NC SCORE Small Business & Technology Development Center Triangle ArtWorks U.S. Small Business Administration Wake Tech Small Business Center Women's Business Center/The Institute More Resources

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Support Organizations provide training and development resources, often free of charge. These resources can help small business owners find ways to improve their bottom line.  Topics may include business model, customer acquisition, marketing, profitability, accounting, and other technical operating best practices.  Many common questions are addressed by subject matter experts in these organizations.

  FREE SUPPORT SERVICES IN SPANISH NEW BUSINESS SUPPORT TRAINING RESOURCES NETWORKING EVENTS VENDOR EVENTS

Consult Your Community

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EDPNC Small Business Advisors

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El Centro

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NC Veterans Business Association

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Prospera NC

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SCORE Raleigh

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Small Business & Technology Development Center

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Triangle ArtWorks

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U.S. Small Business Administration

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Veterans Business Outreach Center

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Wake Tech Small Business Center

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Consult Your Community

Consult Your Community is a national non-profit organization that provides pro-bono consulting to low-income small business owners in college communities across America. Originally founded by undergraduate students at UC Berkeley in 2013, the organization and its powerful mission have now spread to over 30 of the top universities across the nation, inspiring communities into action.

Consult Your Community at NC State is a student-run nonprofit that organizes diverse student teams to solve problems for local business owners in the Raleigh area. Our pro-bono consulting practice is primarily focused on serving under-resourced women- and minority-owned small businesses and nonprofits through access to resources and services.

EDPNC Small Business Advisors

Economic Development Partners of NC (EDPNC) Small Business Advisors is a free service for anyone seeking to start a small business in North Carolina. Working in partnership with the NC Department of Commerce, they offer one-on-one phone consultations to people interested in starting a business, small business owners in need of general support, and entrepreneurs interested in moving to North Carolina. They can answer questions and help you navigate topics like regulatory requirements, licensing stipulations, small-business training and more

El Centro

El Centro aims to grow wealth, economic stability, and entrepreneurship among the Hispanic/Latino/Latine community members and other underserved populations.

NC Veterans Business Association

NC VetBiz is a North Carolina-based organization that supports veteran-owned businesses by providing access to educational opportunities. They conduct educational events across the state, covering topics from business plan writing to acquiring small business loans. Their understanding of the unique challenges faced by veteran-owned businesses makes them a valuable resource.

Prospera NC

Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization specializing in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business. Prospera offers a variety of services especially designed for Hispanic small business owners, to empower them through training, consulting, grants, and access to capital.

SCORE

SCORE Raleigh is a group of experienced business professionals who guide those desiring to start up a new small business or assist existing small businesses in improving their profitability.  SCORE volunteers are experts with experience in areas such as; accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

Small Business & Technology Development Center

The SBTDC is North Carolina’s leading resource for growing and developing businesses. They are a program of The University of North Carolina System, and partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. They also offer guides on how to start and fund your business. 

Business Start-Up & Resource Guide
This free downloadable publication has it all. Assess yourself to see if you have what it takes to be a business owner. Learn how to write a business plan people will read cover to cover. Find the legal structure best suited for you. Check out our list of state and federal resources, including local and state licenses/permits.

How to Fund Your Business Information
The Capital Opportunities for Small Business guide is a comprehensive financing resource describing all the funding options available to North Carolina companies and startups. This continuously updated 135-page guide also has contact information to learn more about each funding opportunity.
 

Triangle ArtWorks

Triangle ArtWorks offers professional training, resources, connectivity and advocacy to build a stronger foundation for those working in the arts - securing their pivotal role in what makes the growing region a great place to live, work and innovate.

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers loans, counseling sessions and other programs to support entrepreneurs. The SBA’s Business Plan Tool provides you with a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

SBA helps small businesses through four programmatic functions:

  • Access to Capital (Business Financing)
    SBA provides small businesses with an array of financing from the smallest needs in microlending - to substantial debt and equity investment capital (venture capital).
  • Entrepreneurial Development (Education, Information, Technical Assistance & Training)
    SBA provides free individual face-to-face and internet counseling for small businesses, and low-cost training to nascent entrepreneurs and established small businesses in over 1,800 locations throughout the United States and U.S. territories.
  • Government Contracting (Federal Procurement)
    In keeping with the mandate of Section 15(g) of the Small Business Act, SBA’s Office of Government Contracting sets goals with other federal departments and agencies to reach the statutory goal of 23 percent in prime contract dollars to small businesses. This office also provides small businesses with subcontracting procurement opportunities, outreach programs and training.
  • Advocacy (Voice for Small Business)
    Created in 1978, the Advocacy Office reviews Congressional legislation and testifies on behalf of small businesses. It also assesses the impact of the regulatory burden on behalf of small businesses. Additionally, it conducts a vast array of research on American small businesses and the small business environment. The Chief Counsel of this office is appointed by the President of the United States.

Wake Tech Small Business Center

The Wake Tech Small Business Center (SBC) is a state- funded organization which is part of the Small Business Center Network of North Carolina (SBCN). The SBC provides small business owners with information they need for starting or expanding a small business through confidential, one-on-one counseling along with various seminars, workshops, classes, and access to a resource library at zero cost to the participant.

Women's Business Center/The Institute

The mission of the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina is to promote economic self-sufficiency for all women in North Carolina through entrepreneurship. We empower women by offering tools and support to establish businesses, stabilize their companies, generate sustainable profits, strategize for future growth and contribute to the growth and economic development of the community

More Resources

Carolina Small Business Development Fund - 919-803-1437

NC Rural Center - 919-250-4314 

North Carolina Department of Commerce – EDPNC Small Business Advisors - 800-228-8443

North Carolina Department of Transportation - Business Opportunity & Workforce Development - 919-508-1808

North Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 919-234-5678

North Carolina Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses - 984-236-0130

United Minority Contractors of North Carolina - 919-817-8626

Veterans Business Outreach Center

Contact

 

Carl Brooks II
Small Business Support Analyst
Carl.BrooksII@raleighnc.gov
919-996-6959

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