Small Business

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Small Business

The Kent/Portage Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Offers a variety of small business services. Whether you are just beginning with a new idea or product, in the start up stage of your business, or dealing with the issues of growth, an SBDC counselor will be able to assist you. Assistance available includes business plans, market development, financial analysis, management, training, government regulations and day-to-day business operations. For more information contact:

Kent/Portage Small Business Development Center
Kent Regional Business Alliance
College of Business Administration, Room 300
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242
(330) 672-1275

SCORE Offers Free Business Counseling
The Akron Chapter of the SCORE Association is a non-profit organization of retired and active executives and business owners that provides free counseling, mentoring and workshops to entrepreneurs and existing businesses in the four-county area of Portage, Summit, Medina and Wayne.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2005, the chapter has counseled over 16,000 clients since its
inception. The relationship can last for a few sessions or a number of years. Counselors honor a strict code of ethics that ensures client confidentiality and professional conduct.

The collective expertise of SCORE’s men and women counselors covers a multitude of subjects from cash management, advertising, sales and marketing, to engineering, human resources, export/import, production and telecommunications, advises Chapter Chairman Ron Stallings.

Akron SCORE can be contacted by calling 330-379-3163, by email at www.akronscore.org, or by fax at 330-379-3164.

Ohio Department of Development's 1st. Stop Business Connection
The 1st Stop Business Connection, formerly the One-Stop Business Permit Center, provides FREE state-level information needed to get started or continue on your entrepreneurial journey. You will be guided through six simple steps to create a business information kit. Then, you can immediately download your kit or have it e-mailed to you.

Your FREE business information kit will contain the basics all business must know and the state-level regulations and forms specifically for your business. You will still need to check federal and local regulations before starting your business. If you would like to have a business information kit sent to you through U.S. mail, please call us toll free at 1-800-248-4040 or 614-466-4232. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and open your kit.

Additional Small Business Resources

Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration's "Starting Your Business" Page provide extensive information on starting and operating a small business. The startup kit, or individual topics may be downloaded or viewed on line.

www.jumpstartinc.org
JumpStart is a business development organization that identifies and invests in early-stage companies that have strong potential in the marketplace, solid prospects for high growth, and are likely to qualify for later-stage funding. Beyond investing, the JumpStart team provides a continuum of business development services to its client companies to help ensure their success.

Maplewood Career Center
Maplewood Career Center's business programs includes management and supervisor training, classes on starting and operating a small business, entrepreneurship and more. While most classes are conducted at Maplewood, programs such as supervisory training can be customized and delivered at your place of business. Call 330-296-2892 for more details. Follow the link above to visit their web site.