Need help? Contact your SBDC advisor. Request Advising Here. Revised 2/22/2021 The U.S. SBA has several programs to help your small business through the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also local Maine loans and grants that can help.
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.
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 »
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.
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 »
Hiring and Managing Your First Employees By: Diana Grandoni, Maine SBDC Graduate Assistant Making the first new additions to your team is an exciting milestone and a sign that your hard work is paying off! For many small business owners, hiring can also be overwhelming and stressful. These four tips will help you make the… Read more »
Writing a business plan is an important step in starting or expanding any business. A business plan provides an essential roadmap for your business that outlines goals and provides details on how you plan to achieve these goals. It is also a great tool in communicating your business’ potential to investors and financial institutions. We’ve developed… Read more »
Small Business Saturday helps promote Maine communities and the businesses that make them special. It’s a great day to highlight your business and show how much you appreciate your customers. It provides a unique opportunity for small businesses throughout Maine to increase holiday sales. Use Small Business Saturday to generate sales, foot traffic and visibility… Read more »
There are many low or no-budget actions that can be taken to generate awareness, optimize service, and keep customers coming back.
Starting a business from scratch is one of the most rewarding – and difficult – challenges to undertake. Filing for an LLC is easy, but helping the business to grow and develop requires time, effort, and unconditional (and sometimes unrequited) love.
The hurdles are significant: 20% of startups fail in the first year – a rate that jumps to well over 40% by year 4. [1] Top reasons for failure include: No Market Need (42%), Not Enough Cash (29%), Not the Right Team (23%), Product without a Business Model (17%), and Poor Marketing (14%).[2]
But, if you want the coveted title of Entrepreneur, what’s the alternative? How can you reduce these risks and still achieve your goals?
Buy a Business that already exists.
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