Business Resource Guide | Introduction |
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BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE | INTRODUCTION | We are delighted that you have chosen to start, operate, or grow a business here in Iredell County. his guide contains resources to help you Contents Tstart a new business, grow an existing business, or improve your overall operations. Getting Started 2 The guide is broken up into sections based upon where your Time to Grow 5 business is in its lifecycle (new Workforce business, growing business) and 13 specific needs of businesses 17 Finding Funding (help finding talent, assistance navigating regulations). 20 A Penny Saved 22 Rules & Regs Department of Commerce, EDPNC Small North Carolina Institute of Business Advisors provides a range of Minority Economic Development services, including addressing state theinstitutenc.org level regulatory questions and license [email protected] / 919-956-8889 requirements. For more than thirty years, “The Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Institute” has helped clients harness the power of diversity to achieve business Entrepreneurship at Davidson College and economic objectives. They bring hurthub.davidson.edu deep industry knowledge of how to help 704-894-4482 a) business owners turn barriers of race, “The Hub” exists to develop students, gender, and disability into opportunity; b) faculty, coworkers, and technology companies diversify their supply chains; entrepreneurs into stronger and more and c) communities broaden their Getting Started confident entrepreneurs by providing business base. NCIMED helps clients resources, a mentoring program, gig hub There are several resources to help you move from a great idea to a full- focus on three core elements—money, opportunities, and rentable event and markets, and management—to create blown business, from business incubation to free business counseling coworking spaces. They offer private diverse, globally competitive companies. and assistance finding financing. Many of these resources have special office suites, open desks, and private programs for minority-owned and woman-owned businesses. phone rooms for local entrepreneurs and Small Business Administration working professionals. sba.gov / 800-827-5722 The Small Business Administration LaunchLKN (“SBA”) serves as a one-stop resource Brian Hamilton Foundation Carolina Small Business launchLKN.org shop for businesses. The SBA provides brianhamilton.org Development Fund Rhana Kurdi, [email protected] guides for planning, launching, and [email protected] carolinasmallbusiness.org 502-654-5538 managing a small business; identifies The Foundation builds on decades of 919-803-1437 LaunchLKN is a collaborative community funding opportunities; guides businesses entrepreneurial experience to provide Financing: Mark Royster of entrepreneurs, mentors, educators, owners through federal contracting; and aspiring entrepreneurs and growing [email protected] and community leaders dedicated to advocates on behalf of small business. business owners with the information Business Counseling: Lori Diaz [email protected] sharing knowledge and motivating growth and inspiration they need to successfully of the technology-based startup scene Small Business Center at start, run, and grow their businesses. Carolina Small Business Development in Lake Norman. LaunchLKN makes Mitchell Community College Through their programs, the Foundation Fund (CSBDF) is a nonprofit lender that connections in the Lake Norman region mitchellcc.edu/small-business-center provides education by speaking to provides affordable financing, business to advance entrepreneurial success Gregory Cain, [email protected] business and entrepreneurship groups, counseling, and policy research to North and impact our changing economic 704-878-3227 connecting those looking for information Carolina’s entrepreneur community. landscape. with experienced entrepreneurs, and CSBDF has special programs for The Small Business Center focuses on providing free, online courses. minority-owned businesses, veteran- NC IDEA assisting start-up businesses. Small owned businesses, and woman-owned ncidea.com / 919-941-5600 Business Center counselors provide Bunker Labs businesses. guidance customized to solving problems bunkerlabs.org/charlotte NC IDEA is a private foundation with related to starting and operating a new a mission to maximize the economic Bunker Labs – a 501(c)(3) non-profit – EDPNC Small Business Advisors business. Prospective or existing small edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start- potential of the people of North Carolina business owners can take advantage is a national network of veteran and by supporting the formation and fruition military spouse entrepreneurs dedicated a-business / 800-228-8443 free, confidential, one-on-one business of high-growth entrepreneurial endeavors. counseling services; resource and referral to helping the military-connected EDPNC Small Business Advisors is a The organization helps with product information for a variety of business community start their own business by free service for anyone interested in development, finding funding, and needs; and free (or low-cost) business providing needed tools and resources. starting a small business, small business providing special assistance to female development seminars and classes. The local chapter, Bunker Brews, owners in need of general support, and minority entrepreneurs. gathers in Charlotte at WeWork. and entrepreneurs interested in North Carolina. In partnership with the NC 2 GETTING STARTED / BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE IREDELL COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 3 Supportedly Veterans Business Outreach Centers supportedly.com fsuvboc.com / 910-672-2683 Supportedly exists to help entrepreneurs The Veterans Business Outreach Center and ecosystems start and grow with (VBOC) Program is designed to provide confidence through a combination of entrepreneurial development services connectivity tools, actionable training such as business training, counseling, and content, and community and resource partner referrals to engagement programs. transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and Time to Grow military spouses interested in starting or Growing a business as an experienced entrepreneur often requires growing a small business. different resources than those needed to start a new business. Resources in this section focus on the existing business and resources for improving processes, discovering new markets, Did you know? and connecting to other companies. There are a number of free business resources available online. AccessNC including a resume building tool accessnc.nccommerce.com (Cypress Resume), career guidance (Ferguson’s Career Guidance), AccessNC, a resource provided by information on individual businesses the NC Department of Commerce, (ReferenceUSA), and more. provides information about the state and local economy, including data NCWorks on local employment, wages, and demographics. The Business Maps ncworks.org & Reports tab provides free market NCWorks provides a platform for those reports for any jurisdiction in seeking employment and for those North Carolina. seeking employees. Job seekers can find a job, create a resume, and get Mooresville Public Library information on careers, education, mooresvillenc.gov/225/Library and training. Employers can find Mooresville Public Library provides candidates, post a job opening, get access to professional, language, assistance with recruiting, and explore and other skills trainings via labor market information. LearningExpress Library, Gale Courses, Transparent Language, and more. NC Community College System NC Small Business Center NC Live ncsbc.net nclive.org The SBCN offers a range of in-person NCLive is a collection of reference and online courses for small business databases available to library card owners, most of them free. Topics holders throughout North Carolina. include how to use QuickBooks, NC Live provides access to a range of identifying customers, selling business and professional databases, online, and many more. 4 GETTING STARTED / BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE IREDELL COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 5 Business Networking International Economic Development Partnership LaunchLKN Mooresville Downtown bni.com / 800-825-8286 of North Carolina (continued) launchLKN.org Commission (MDC) Business Networking International edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/ Rhana Kurdi, [email protected] downtownmooresville.com (BNI) is a business referral network with export-assistance/services/ 502-654-5538 Kim Atkins over 9,500 local chapters worldwide, EDPNC’s International Trade Division LaunchLKN is a collaborative community [email protected] including one in Mooresville. BNI aims provides financial and technical of entrepreneurs, mentors, educators, 704-662-3336 to help businesses generate “more assistance for attending foreign and community leaders dedicated to The MDC is a partnership of merchants, sales with consistent growth, less effort, trade shows, developing market entry sharing knowledge and motivating growth property and business owners, volunteers, and lower cost than other marketing strategies, helping determine appropriate of the technology-based startup scene neighbors, and local leaders who work methods.” pricing, and addressing other needs of in Lake Norman. LaunchLKN makes together to promote, cultivate, advocate, doing business in foreign markets. connections in the Lake Norman region and care for Downtown Mooresville. The Downtown Statesville to advance entrepreneurial