Have you recently traded in your big corporate suits for a chance to start your own business here in Charlotte? Charlotte is full of people with the entrepreneurial spirit, just like you, starting or growing their small business. Though you have plenty of confidence in your abilities, there is always a learning curve when it comes to starting something new, and it is useful to learn from others as well as your own experiences. There are plenty of local events and services available here in Charlotte to help your business grow. Here are several that may be helpful to you and your business:
SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit organization with the goal of helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. SCORE has over 60 local volunteers available to mentor you as you make your first decisions as a business owner. They also offer themed seminars on a regular basis. Currently their schedule includes a free seminar called Simple Steps for Starting Your Business. For more information about how SCORE can help you start or grow your business, or to register for their seminar, check out their website at www.charlottescore.org.
CPCC Small Business Center
We are lucky to have a great community college system here in Charlotte, and CPCC’s Small Business Center is a fabulous resource for local business owners. With a goal of helping individuals launch or expand their businesses, the Small Business Center offers courses, networking events, free seminars, free business counseling, and a business resource library. Some of the events on the center’s calendar are seminars include Navigating Difficult Conversations for Business Owners, Setting Up Your Books, and The Path to Success: An Entrepreneurial Success Story. The CPCC Small Business Center continually updates their calendar, so check out their website at www.cpcc.edu/sbc for a complete list of scheduled events.
North Carolina’s Small Business and Technology Development Center
The SBTDC is a business and technology extension service of the University of North Carolina, and a partner of the US Small Business Administration. Their mission is to provide knowledge and resources that help small and mid-sized businesses grow and succeed. The SBTDC offers many free educational publications, online training videos and podcasts, as well as business counseling. They also lead a workshop series called NxLeveL Business Workshops for Entrepreneurs. For more information about their workshop schedule, see their site at www.sbtdc.org.
Charlotte Business Resources
Charlotte Business Resources is a website that brings together many resources for business owners. Their goal is to provide information to help you start and run a successful business. You can subscribe to their site to receive updates on the most current news, events and resources as they become available. Their calendar brings together events sponsored by multiple organizations, and offers something for every small business owner. Upcoming events listed on the Charlotte Business Resources calendar include a workshop called Keys to Success: Small Business Workshop @ NC Department of Revenue, as well as online seminars such as Setting Up Your Books: Taxes and Record Keeping. For the complete calendar, www.charlottebusinessresources.com is the place to look.
Frankly, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the events and resources available to business owners in Charlotte. With so many support services in place, you will never have an unanswerable question about business startup or growth. Our Queen City is the place to be for starting your business, and for growing your business successfully.
