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Home Running A Business State Business Development Agencies And Startup Resources
Starting a new business but not sure what you’ll need to do to help it succeed? Your local business development agency can offer invaluable expertise on everything from registration, planning, marketing, and more.
Small business development agencies cater to both new and existing businesses alike, providing critical resources to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, or even retire their ventures.
Ready to learn how to set up a small business or expand your company? Here’s everything you need to know about small business development agencies.
A small business development agency offers a number of resources, typically in the form of free counseling and low-cost training programs, to help businesses startup or expand. [1]
Many small business development agencies collaborate with seasoned[2] business experts, providing one-on-one professional counseling, advising, and training to existing ventures and startups. Topics are wide-ranging and typically related to an entrepreneur’s specific needs, such as funding, technology development, management, strategy, financial analysis, export assistance, market research, sales, and much more.
Small business development agencies can also offer networking opportunities to collaborate with other local business and government leaders. Many of the services provided by small business development agencies are free of charge, although some training programs or workshops can feature a small fee. [3]
The goal of these agencies is to help small businesses grow, improve productivity, foster innovation, and help empower local economies and generate job creation making them a priority for state and local governments. [4]
The most renowned types of small business development agencies are Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), which[5] are typically hosted by local universities and funded by Congress through a partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Most states have several SBDCs in major economic and urban areas. Some local governments also maintain their respective small business development agencies to service regional needs. [6]
It’s important to distinguish between small business development agencies and industry support groups. While the latter focuses more on the needs of specific industries, the former is geared towards a broader range of sectors. [7]
Industry support groups are also mostly made up of existing businesses[8] , while small business development agencies cater to both existing ventures and startups alike. Both offer significant opportunities to small businesses and can be a powerful complement to one another.[9]
You can find SBA-backed SBDCs by entering your zip code through the SBA’s interactive map for local assistance. You can also find regional small business development agencies through your state’s Chamber of Commerce or local government office.
For a comprehensive look at state-by-state small business development agencies, use the following list as your guide.
Almost all states have SBDCs that maintain multiple locations throughout a state and typically partner with local universities. There may also be a number of localized small business development agencies depending on your state and city.
Alabama Small Business Development Center (ASBDC): They provide one-on-one business advising and educational training for growing small businesses and startups. And they offer opportunities to secure financing and help along the way. Also, advisors can analyze your progress and create plans to further the business.
Atlas Alabama: Access free online resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners to find available state and local resources.
Alabama Small Business Administration( SBA): SBA offers assistance in launching new businesses, and managing and growing existing ones, and they help small business owners pursue and improve their business style and skills.
National Federation of Independent Business: A member-driven organization that advocates for small businesses.
Alabama Small Business Resources: They make networking opportunities available for small businesses and help business owners get licensed in all 67 Alabama counties.
Alaska
Alaska Small Business Development Center (ASBDC): They offer no-cost, one-on-one business coaching, workshops, and tools to grow or start a business, funding assistance and pre-launch coaching.
Small Business Assistance Center: They offer free business counseling, and they provide training and resources to grow for-profit and non-profit businesses.
Arizona Small Business Development Center (AZSBDC): Get business counseling, workshops, and training to grow or start a business. As well, you can get robust business analytics and help with future-planning.
National Small Business Association: Find networking opportunities, small business services, and special services for entrepreneurial retirees.
Arizona Small Business Administration: They provide funding, counseling, certifications, and networking opportunities to small businesses.
NFIB: Advocates for small business owners and providers of resources for budding entrepreneurs who want to learn more about sustaining a small business.
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC): They offer advisory services, training, events, market research, and data for business owners. And they offer one-on-one consulting.
Arkansas Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small business owners.
Arkansas Division of Emergency Management: Apply for small business disaster relief grants and loans.
Small Business Resources: A wealth of internal and external resources for small business owners.
Arkansas Business Navigator: Owners of start-ups can register for free business consultations.
California Small Business Development Center (CSBDC): The CSBDC offers businesses access to funding, human resources, marketing tools, e-commerce opportunities, accounting services, and many other business needs. They operate an extensive network of 45 small business service centers throughout the state.
Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County (SBDC-OC): They help small businesses access capital to grow and they bring economic development for underserved communities in California.
The South Bay Entrepreneurial Center (SBEC): They provide business mentorship, educational resources, and commercialization consultations for university-developed technologies. They also offer jobs, funding, workshops, and the option to become a mentor or mentee.
California Manufacturing Technology Consultants (CMTC): A non-profit that offers consulting services to small and mid-size manufacturers in Southern California. Services include advice on how to increase sales, reduce costs, improve quality, workforce training, and more.
South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB): They offer specialized services to assist local companies to meet hiring goals, lower training costs, improve employee skill levels, strengthen retention rates, turnover rates, and more. They also help business owners succeed at job fairs.
Los Angeles Score: Score offers business advice, small business workshops, and numerous resources to help entrepreneurs start or grow a business.
Colorado Small Business Development Center Network: They offer resources for small businesses, non-profits, freelancers, and independent contractors.
El Paso County Located in Colorado Springs, this organization offers business training to help new and existing businesses grow, including free one-on-one consulting and networking events.
Association of Women’s Business Centers: They provide women with entrepreneurial opportunities, training, and mentoring.
Operation Hope: Free coaching for Black business owners.
Connecticut Small Business Development Center: No-cost advisory and analytics services to help businesses access capital.
Connecticut Small Business Administration (SBA): Counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Chamber of Commerce: Free advice to business owners and networking events to grow Connecticut’s small business community and celebrate diversity.
Connecticut Women’s Small Business Administration (WSBA): Opportunities for female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Delaware Small Business Development Center: No-cost advice and analytics for small businesses.
Delaware Division of Small Business: Over 300 programs for small business owners.
Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce: Support for small business owners in areas of market research, strategy, development, and future planning.
Delaware SBA: Counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery for small businesses.
Florida Small Business Development Center: They offer resources and tools across all stages of business development to help entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.
Florida Business Development Corporation (FBDC): FBCD helps businesses secure SBA 504 loans for purchasing significant fixed assets, debt refinancing, and more.
Florida Small Business Administration (SBA): Find counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery assistance to small businesses.
Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI): This program educates and trains small business owners, academic, corporate, government, and nonprofit clients all over the world.
National Entrepreneur Center: NEC has offered one-on-one counseling and seminars to over 220,000 small business owners.
University of Georgia Small Business Development Center: They support entrepreneurs by offering educational services and resources across 18 locations statewide.
National Association of Small Business Services: They focus on helping business owners open, grow, and manage their businesses with a unique hands-on approach.
Georgia State University – Atlanta Office: They offer free training programs as well as one-on-one coaching, workbooks, and other resources for startups and other small businesses.
GA State African American Chamber of Commerce: The main focus is on helping Black business owners to succeed in their small businesses.
City of Atlanta Local Business Support: They provide resources to train entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses.
Georgia Minority Business Development Agency: The center for minority business owners.
Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center: They offer business advisory, workshops, events, and market research to both budding and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.
Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP): They help small businesses in Hawaii create an exporting strategy or expand their export development.
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): MDBA offers access to market analysis tools, funding opportunities, business certifications, procurement guidance, and more for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Hawaii Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Women’s Business Center: They aid women to help start and expand their businesses.
Idaho Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost professional business counseling, and business resources, as well as specialized services on cybersecurity, environmental solutions, exporting, and government contracting.
Research and Business Development Center: A place for entrepreneurial undergraduate students to get experience and build useful skills in the future.
Illinois Small Business Development Center: They offer no cost, one-on-one business advising services as well as events, workshops, and other resources to help small businesses network and grow.
Score Chicago: Score connects small business owners throughout Cook County with experienced entrepreneurs, corporate managers, and executives for no-cost business advising and mentorship.
McHenry College: A grant-funded program that helps growing small businesses and offers free one-on-one counseling, monthly workshop courses, and resources for funding.
Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC): They offer no-cost business advising, training, referrals, and resources to businesses within every stage of their journey from startup to retirement.
One Southern Indiana: They provide resources to connect with other businesses and build community. OSI offers job opportunities, advertising, sponsorship, and other resources.
Madison Chamber of Commerce: They offer support and resources to grow small businesses, non-profit organizations, individuals, and civic groups.
Iowa Small Business Development Center: They provide no-cost business advice and resources for growing and budding businesses.
Iowa Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Iowa Non-profit Resource Center: They offer free resources to help small business owners expand their business through training and connecting with other entrepreneurs.
DSM USA: They provide free resources to start-ups and small businesses through research, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities.
Kansas Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost business training and a host of services for businesses at every stage of development to retirement.
Cue Impacto HEDC: They offer funds to immigrant and/or Latino-owned businesses to help them overcome challenges they may face.
PBA Builds: By implementing strategic initiatives to help small businesses at no cost, PBA Builds provides technical assistance to businesses through a consortium of partners, business development professionals, and experts.
Kansas Small Business Administration: They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses. SBA provides assistance in launching new businesses, and managing and growing existing ones.
Kentucky Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost business coaching, planning tools, resources, and training to entrepreneurs.
Kentucky Small Business Development Center: They offer free one-on-one consulting, and business management training, reference information, and research.
Kentucky Small Business Administration They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Greater Louisville Inc.: GLI helps to grow your business by providing connections, networking opportunities, and business knowledge to get ahead of competitors.
Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC): By providing low to no-cost consultations, resources, and networking opportunities to new and growing businesses.
Southeastern Louisiana University: By offering consultations, SLU assists in securing loans and funding, creates jobs and provides training to businesses.
Louisiana Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Maine Business Development Center: They offer free small business advising for entrepreneurs on a wide range of topics including business planning, credit and financing, marketing, management, financial analysis, and more.
Maine Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.: CEI provides financing for a variety of purposes, including working capital, equipment purchases, facilities expansion, and construction. They also specialize in financing mixed-use and affordable housing real estate development.
Mainstream Finance: They help with business plans and offer technical assistance for starting a business, business strategy, new product launches,marketing, finances, and other business issues.
Maryland Small Business Development Center: They provide low to no-cost professional training services, free one-on-one business counseling, and assistance for accessing business funding.
Maryland Business Express: They provide a host of resources and a directory for information on how to start, plan, manage, and grow your business.
Calvert County Maryland: They provide a number of resources to support the growth and development of county businesses, including online listings and reports, confidential counseling, marketing assistance, and educational seminars. Look for their yearly state of the economy report.
Women’s Net: They help women start and expand their businesses.
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center: Find free business advice, low-cost educational programs, and other resources to entrepreneurs.
Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD): They assist businesses relocating to Massachusetts and help growing businesses apply for funding and foster community development.
MassDevelopment: They offer financing and real estate solutions for nonprofits and businesses across the state.
Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MassEcon): They offer business development assistance through site finding, research, programming, and education.
Score Boston: They provide free counseling and mentoring to entrepreneurs starting or building a business in the greater Boston area through mentorship and workshops.
The New England Business Association: They provide businesses with access to exclusive-rate capital via a preferred vendor program, as well as networking opportunities.
Center for Women & Enterprise: A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people start and grow their businesses.
Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC): They provide training, technical assistance resources, and access to capital for small businesses located in inner-city and rural areas, as well as traditionally disadvantaged communities.
Entrepreneurship For All (EforAll): They foster entrepreneurial growth in mid-sized cities through pitch competitions, mentorship programs, business advice, and networking opportunities.
Michigan Small Business Development Center: They offer free counseling services for small businesses throughout the state.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC): They provide small business assistance and resources.
Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab: A free three-month entrepreneurship for veterans or military spouses through funding, learning, and support.
PTAC: They offer training programs to small businesses including counseling, assistance with government registration, bid matching, and more.
Minnesota Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost, customized consulting to businesses at all stages of the life cycle.
Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office: They present individualized consultation services along with business guidebooks to ensure entrepreneurs have the information they need to succeed.
Grant Watch: A resource to find grants offered to businesses in Minnesota from government agencies, foundations, and other organizations.
Mississippi Small Business Development Center: They offer one-on-one business counseling, training events, funding assistance, and more.
Mississippi Grant Watch: A resource to find grants offered to businesses in Minnesota from government agencies, foundations, and other organizations.
Higher Purpose: Higher purpose offers to help Black business owners grow their new or existing businesses.
Alcorn: Women entrepreneurs and small business owners can find training, counseling, and access to capital.
Missouri
Missouri Small Business Development Center: They offer personalized services, knowledge, and resources to help businesses grow.
Missouri Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Community Foundation of Central Missouri: Providing funds to women and business owners of color.
Kansas City G.I.F.T: Funds and training for Black business owners to help them expand their businesses and face unique challenges.
Montana Small Business Development Center: They offer business development tools, guidance, and resources.
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce: Local, state, and national resources for businesses of all sizes.
Women’s Net: Aid for women to help start and expand their businesses at no cost.
Nebraska Small Business Development Center: They offer a number of programs to help small businesses grow and access much-needed resources on a local, national, and regional level.
Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC): They offer management and technical assistance to businesses in Nebraska — and especially to women-owned businesses.
Nebraska Small Business Administration: They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Nevada Small Business Development Center: They provide advisory services, educational resources, training programs, and assistance for businesses and start-ups.
Northern Nevada Score: They provide free and confidential mentoring to entrepreneurs starting or growing an existing business.
Nevada SBA: They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
New Hampshire Small Business Development Center: They offer business advisory services at no charge and a number of programs to help businesses prosper.
New Hampshire SBA: They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Community Navigator: Critical resources for small businesses in their early stages that are run by women and other disadvantaged people.
New Jersey Small Business Development Center: They offer one-on-one counseling, training programs, networking events, and more to propel new and established businesses. Advisors also use analytics of your progress and create plans to further the business.
New Jersey Business Action Center: They offer free small business consulting as well as networking opportunities to connect with government leaders and fellow entrepreneurs. This includes mentoring, financial assistance, licensing, certification, and more.
New Jersey Community Capital: A resource for minority entrepreneurs and business owners.
New Mexico Small Business Development Center (NMSBDC): They offer no-cost counseling as well as assistance with small business matters.
New Mexico SBA: They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Accion Opportunity Fund: They financially support and advance small businesses run by minority groups.
WESST: They provide entrepreneurs with resources, skills, and technical assistance to elevate their business through podcasts, workshops, and training programs.
New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC): They offer free business advisory services in a number of different languages along with free and low-cost training programs, as well as other resources.
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS): SBS connects entrepreneurs to free resources throughout NYC. They also offer advisory services on government regulations.
SCORE: They provide mentoring to entrepreneurs starting or growing their existing businesses at no cost by offering connections to other entrepreneurs.
NY Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC): They help small businesses start and grow by offering advisory services and counseling, educational services and tools needed to build and grow.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund: A non-profit providing small business loans, training, and research to support entrepreneurs through research programs, emergency funds, and other resources.
Small Business Center Network: They provide business counseling, training resources, and more to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies.
North Dakota Small Business Development Center: They serve both startups and existing businesses with advising services, training programs, resources for succession planning, and more.
North Dakota Small Business Development Center: They offer consulting to small businesses with no cost with lists of events, news, and updates.
Ohio Small Business Development Center: They provide a number of counseling services in areas of financial analysis, strategy development, market feasibility, and more to help businesses start and grow.
Miami Valley Small Business Development Service: A confidential and free counseling service for small and medium-sized businesses. By coaching through goal setting, employee management, business planning, and more, they help small businesses.
Ohio Small Business Development Center at Kent Start Stark (OSBDC): This is a low-cost program for new and established small businesses. Services include orientations, one-on-one counseling, workshops, and more.
Oklahoma Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost, confidential business advisory services, as well as workshops and technical assistance.
Oklahoma Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Oregon Small Business Development Center: They deliver business advising, classes, and access to resources small businesses need to start and grow.
Small Business Development Center: They provide expert advice with no cost to small businesses. Services include bookkeeping, business plans, finances, sales, marketing, social media and more.
Lane Small Business Development Center (LSBDC): They offer free professional business advice for Lane County residents with small businesses. Some services include courses, confidential one-on-one counseling and submitting questions to a team.
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center: They provide no-cost consulting services and educational programs for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Business One-Stop Shop: They offer a host of resources to startups, growing businesses, and companies looking to move to Pennsylvania. Resources include information on writing business plans, naming a business, registration, basic overviews, and more.
Entrepreneur Works: They provide low-cost loans to businesses as well as training, workshops, coaching, and more throughout Philadelphia and Chester.
Women’s Business Enterprise Center: They offer resources to help female entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.
Score Philadelphia: Score grants free business advising services as well as mentoring and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs through workshops and provided specifically for black-owned businesses.
Rhode Island Small Business Development Center: They offer free to low-cost seminars and training workshops to help businesses start and grow. They also provide information on starting a business, training webinars, and more.
Rhode Island Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Rhode Island Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost professional business counseling, and business resources, as well as specialized services on cybersecurity, environmental solutions, exporting, and government contracting.
South Carolina Small Business Development Center: They present individualized, confidential, and free business consulting for entrepreneurs alongside other critical resources.
South Carolina Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Shop HERE: They offer free training to start and develop a small business with services including online support, free domain registration, one-on-one coaching, and more.
South Dakota Small Business Development Center: SDSBDC hosts a number of programs and resources to help with starting and growing a business.
South Dakota Small Business Development Center: They offer free consulting to new and existing businesses by providing research, case studies, resources, programs, and more.
South Dakota Small Business Development Center: They assist existing businesses to stay up to date with competitors. Services include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
Tennessee Small Business Development Center: They provide free and confidential one-on-one counseling for startups and existing businesses. Services include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC): They offer free and lost cost options to grow small businesses and help them network, with 400 clients served, and 300 trained.
Tennessee Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Texas Small Business Development Center: They operate 60 centers throughout the state offering free and low-cost resources helping businesses start and grow. Services include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC): They help entrepreneurs and freelancers in North Texas start, build, and grow their businesses. The free membership program offers mentoring and networking opportunities.
Score Dallas: They offer one-on-one mentorship with leading business experts, networking opportunities, workshops, and more throughout Dallas.
Utah Small Business Development Center: They offer free one-on-one counseling and management resources to start, grow, and improve local businesses. Services include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
The Utah Innovation Center: The catalyst for technology innovation in the State of Utah.
Center for Rural Development: Works with Utah’s rural counties, communities, and businesses, providing economic development resources. The Center is the home of the Rural Opportunity Program and assists with other programs to help local governments and businesses grow and prosper.
Vermont Small Business Development Center: They offer business advising and critical resources for new and growing businesses.
Vermont Small Business Development Center: They offer free business counseling to new and existing small businesses. Services include advice on export, digital strategy, funding, hiring, training, and more.
Vermont Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Virginia Small Business Development Center: They provide no-cost individualized advising to both startups and established businesses.
Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity: They provide educational resources and to help businesses grow and access capital.
Virginia Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Washington State Small Business Development Center: They offer advising services, training, applied research, and more to local businesses. Services also include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
Washington Minority Business Development Center: They provide technical assistance and business consulting to established minority-owned businesses throughout Washington state.
American Small Business Chamber of Commerce: They provide contractors, news, resources and opportunities for small business owners to grow and sustain their business.
U.S Chamber of Commerce: They are working towards policies and regulations that benefit small businesses in America to strengthen the economy.
West Virginia Small Business Development Center: They offer one-on-one business coaching as well as no-cost technical assistance to new and growing businesses. Services also include free consultations, training, business planning, marketing, technology development, regulatory compliance, and more.
Small Business Development Center: They offer no-cost business coaching, workshops, and resources including developing a business plan, marketing, hiring, training, bookkeeping, and more.
West Virginia Small Business Administration (SBA): They offer counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Wisconsin Small Business Development Center: They provide consulting and business education services to help entrepreneurs start, manage, and grow their businesses.
Women’s Net: They offer grants for women who own small businesses.
Grant Finder: They provide a list of various kinds of grants that are offered to business owners, old and new.
Wisconsin Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Wyoming Small Business Development Center: They connect expert small business advisors with entrepreneurs for no-cost, confidential assistance. They also provide classes, training programs, the ability to view pre-recorded webinars, and more.
Wyoming Business Council: They offer resources to help businesses start, grow, and obtain financing. They also provide leadership, policy, and investment information.
Wyoming Small Business Administration (SBA): They provide counseling, certifications, connections, and disaster recovery to small businesses.
Jacinta Sherris is a freelance writer with a BA in economics from New York University. Since 2017, she has contributed numerous lifestyle and finance articles to a wide range of clients, including Jurdu.com and MoneyLion. When Jacinta’s not writing, she spends her free time exploring artistic passions like acting, painting, and photography.
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