If you become a CEDF borrower, you’ll benefit from being assigned an experienced Business Advisor for the term of your loan. For other business owners, the state has several outstanding resources for business advice.
For startups, your primary concern may be perfecting your business plan and these organizations can help with expert eyes to offer reviews and guidance as you create your plan. These organizations provide free consulting to small business owners, but the advisors and mentors will not write your plan for you. Use these services to be sure what you have created makes sense to someone with significant business experience. You can learn more about business plans in the lending section of CEDF.com.
These organizations also provide business counseling and advice on topics beyond business plans whether you are just beginning or have an established operation.
The CT Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has full-time paid advisors dedicated to helping small business owners start and grow successfully.
SCORE chapters across Connecticut are staffed by volunteers, typically with years of corporate experience in particular industries. There are six chapters across Connecticut.
The Entrepreneurship Foundation offers an inexpensive e-book on starting a business in Connecticut as well as free mentorship from highly-qualified volunteers.
Connecticut has two Women’s Business Centers, which like the SBDC and SCORE are supported, in part, by the US. Small Business Administration. Both the Women’s Business Development Council, with offices in Stamford, Derby and New London, and the Women’s Business Center based at the University of Hartford provide a range of business advisory and educational services.
