Eliza was experienced in her practice, but had never started her own business. For assistance in these uncharted waters, she worked with Raynor Large, business advisor at the Maine SBDC at Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments. Raynor helped Eliza as she pitched her idea as part of the Maine Center for Entrepreneur’s Top Gun program. He helped her with her business plan and financial projections.
Posts By: Jennifer Boutin
The Cutting Edge Hair & Tanning Salon – Presque Isle, ME
When Karen Cox stopped her car at a stoplight on Main Street in Presque Isle, she knew that the former GiftSmart location would be the ideal place to begin her own hair and tanning salon.
The Mustard Seed Bookstore – Bath, Maine
Six years ago, Julie and Mike Shea approached Maine SBDC with a dream. They wanted to purchase a small bookstore in downtown Bath. They reached out to Brad Swanson, a business advisor at the Maine SBDC at CEI, for assistance in developing a business plan and financing proposal. Julie and Mike worked diligently with… Read more »
C.W. Hunt Photography – Ellsworth, Maine
Charles Hunt has always had a passion and natural talent for photography. When he decided he wanted to make it his career, Charles worked through the Vocational Rehabilitation program to get connected with Shannon Byers, a business advisor with the Maine SBDC hosted at CEI. Charles, who has autism, was determined to start his own… Read more »
Illuminated Me – South Portland, Maine
Sharon has accessed assistance from several business development resources in Maine along her entrepreneurial journey. She turned to SBA partners CEI’s Women’s Business Center and the Maine SBDC at the University of Southern Maine for guidance on her business plan and marketing strategy.
5 Practical Tips to Prep Your Business for Sale
Are you are considering selling your business? Perhaps you are ready for retirement? How can you prepare your business to get the most value out of the sale? It takes a lot longer to sell a business than it does to buy a business. Here are some practical tips that you can do now that will prove valuable later.
Maine SBDC Releases 2019 Small Business Client Results, Helps Start a New Business Every Three Days
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a statewide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, is pleased to announce its annual results. 2019 ANNUAL REPORT View / Download In 2019, certified business advisors across Maine provided no cost business advising to over 1,500 entrepreneurs which helped them to: Start 133 new businesses Save… Read more »
Dandelion Catering – Yarmouth, Maine
For ten years, Dandelion Catering has been providing fresh, quality prepared food that celebrates the local resources that Maine and New England have to offer. The business had experienced a surge in growth due to their focus on top-shelf service and creative, attractive food offerings. Business owners Christian and Christine Hayes had big plans to… Read more »
New Research: Maine SBDC Clients Are More Likely to Succeed
With the guidance and expertise of SBDC business advisors located across the state, our clients develop the skills necessary to meet their goals, create successful businesses, and improve the local economies in which they reside.
Contractor or Employee?
Is your worker a contractor or employee? By: Diana Grandoni, Maine SBDC Graduate Assistant The important differences between these two roles might surprise you. Specific standards determine if your worker is legally an independent contractor or an employee of your business, and it’s up to the business owner to make sure these relationships are… Read more »