New Business Resource Group for Bangor Area Entrepreneurs

New Business Resource Group for Bangor Business development agencies in Bangor have joined together to form the Business Resource Partners for Greater Bangor. The collaborative helps businesses grow through education, referrals, and personalized advising services.

Maine SBDC is joined in this partnership by Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), Four Directions Development Corp., MaineStream Finance, New Ventures Maine, SCORE, and Scratchpad Accelerator. While the partners have always worked together organically, this new initiative makes it easier for area entrepreneurs to access the services they need to start and grow their businesses with the help of these nonprofit organizations.Read More

Seiders Hill-Top Lanes – Hodgton, Maine

Laura Seider and her husband Geno have wanted to own their business for years. The couple has turned to Center Director and Business Advisors Josh Nadeau for assistance over the last several years assessing different business opportunities, but have not quite found one worth purchasing or pursuing.Read More

Herbal Revolution – Union, Maine

Kathi Langelier is the founder and formulator of Herbal Revolution. Herbal Revolution is a wellness products business that provides handcrafted, high quality herbal teas, tonics and elixirs. For over 20 years, Kathi has been farming and formulating botanical medicine and has a deep love for the natural world. Based in mid-coast Maine, she grows non GMO, pesticide and chemical free herbs that are used in products on her certified organic farm.Read More

Time & Tide Coffee – Biddeford, Maine

Time & Tide Coffee logo Jon Phillips and Briana Campbell had long dreamed of starting their own coffee company. The New York-based couple had the perfect combination of skills. Jon had experience in all aspects of the coffee business while Briana brought the branding and marketing expertise. They dreamed of a place where they could offer the best beans, sourced by people Jon had met in his coffee travels, in a beautiful, modern environment. Read More

The Village Woodworker – Oxford, Maine

As Brian Warren approached his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, his father-in-law Robert Roakes, the owner of The Village Woodworker, was ready to retire too. Warren had been working alongside Roakes for ten years and talked with him about carrying on his woodworking legacy, which led to the opportunity to purchase the woodworking business from his father-in-law. The business, The Village Woodworker, has been in the family for nearly 65 years and is known for their unique designs and quality artisanship. The Village Woodworker makes custom designed furniture and specialize in state of the art, handcrafted hardwood stools.

Brian reached out to Maine SBDC Business Advisor Ashleigh Briggs for assistance in understanding the process of buying a business. Together Ashleigh and Brian reviewed the business’s financial statements and various methodologies for valuing a business, so the seller and buyer could settle on a fair price. After settling on a purchase price with his father-in-law, Brian worked with Ashleigh to develop a business plan and supporting financial projections to be able to apply for a loan to complete the sale.Read More

Farmington D – Farmington, Maine

Rachel Jackson is no stranger in the restaurant scene in Western Maine. She has operated two other restaurants in the area, and for years has dreamed of opening another in the Farmington area. Rachel began working with Business Advisor Larry Giroux as she explored her options and next steps in making this dream a reality.Read More

Surf & Summit Motorcycle – Scarborough, Maine

Steven Salois came to see Maine SBDC Business Advisor Peter Harriman with a novel business idea. He wanted to start a motorcycle rental business in Southern Maine. This business would be much like car rentals for travelers, but for motorcycles. This type of business is uncommon, and Steven saw a need for Maine tourists who could not bring their own motorcycle but wanted to rent one.Read More

Engine 5 Bakehouse – Waterville, Maine

Stephanie LaCroix had big plans when she and her husband Roland purchased a retired fire department substation on Western Ave in Waterville. She wanted to completely renovate the building and start her own bakery. She and her husband worked for nearly 5 years to revamp the old space, but when it came time to start her business, she turned to Maine SBDC Business Advisor Rose Creps for guidance.Read More

News Release: Maine SBDC Receives National Accreditation

Statewide economic development program fully accredited with several notes of commendation & best practice

The Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) is pleased to announce that it has earned full accreditation from the America’s Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for the Small Business Development Centers under contract from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Read More

Financial Management workshops to be offered in Jay & Madison

How to Manage Your Business by the Numbers

Understanding your financials is key to operating a healthy and profitable business. This understanding helps empower you to make better decisions about the future of your business.

In this 2-hour workshop, we’ll help you answer the follow questions:

What you should be tracking and why?
What’s the best way to track?
Why do financial statements matter?
Balance Sheet – What is it?
Profit & Loss Statement – What is it?
Cash Flow – What is it?
Why doesn’t profit equal cash?

This workshop will give you the necessary tools and resources to help you understand what’s going on in your new or existing business and ways to use your financials to manage and grow your business. This session is being taught by Janet Roderick, who has years of experience working with small businesses on financials as a Maine SBDC Advisor and CPA.

In Madison, Maine: November 8 from 6-8 pm – REGISTER

In Jay, Maine: November 14 from 5:30-7:30 – REGISTER

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