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    Confidential Business Counseling

    The SBCN offers free, confidential business counseling services from credentialed business advisors across the State.

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    Start Your Business

    For over 30 years we have been helping NC’s entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.

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    Business Training

    Starting and Growing a business is a tremendous undertaking. Let us help you develop a plan for success!

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    Locations

    Our convenient, local Centers are staffed with local experts to help answer your questions and provide valuable advice and resources.

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What is the North Carolina Small Business Center Network?

Anne Shaw, State Director, Small Business Center Network
Anne Shaw
State Director

Want to start and operate a successful small business? Start with the SBCN.

Welcome to the North Carolina Small Business Center Network. Here you will find a variety of programs, services and resources to help you start and grow your business.

In North Carolina, small businesses account for the majority of newly created jobs every year. Yet, beginning a small business can be a challenging process. Fortunately, for North Carolinians, there is a Small Business Center located at each of our state’s 58 community colleges to help guide budding entrepreneurs through the steps of considering, planning, developing, opening, and operating a small business.

The NC Community Colleges Small Business Center Network (SBCN) is our state’s largest state-supported small business assistance initiative. Started in 1984 with the funding of eight small business centers by the North Carolina General Assembly, by 1995 at least one Small Business Center was established at each of the 58 community colleges. Currently, the Network has 60 sites throughout the state with Centers conveniently located within a 30-minute drive of every North Carolinian. At the core of its vision, the Small Business Center Network is positioned to focus on entrepreneurship, small business and economic development with an emphasis on assisting start-ups, early stage, and businesses seeking disaster assistance or seeking to stabilize. Our unique structure allows ease of access and unparalleled knowledge of and linkages within local communities. We collaborate with Federal, State and local entities to help business owners get the most current information needed to start and successfully operate their enterprises. Potential or existing small business owners can take advantage of high quality, readily accessible assistance that includes:

  • Free, confidential one-on-one business counseling services
  • Resource and referral information for a variety of business needs
  • High-impact seminars and classes available free of charge or for a minimal registration fee

Our Center staff understands the unique economic situations of North Carolina’s diverse communities and regions, and they provide services customized to meet those as well as specific business needs. Experienced business counselors are available to help with:

  • Entrepreneurial Assessment
  • Entrepreneurship Training
  • Business Plan Development
  • Sources of Capital and Loan Preparation
  • Marketing Assistance
  • Biotechnology-related Business Questions
  • International Trade
  • Government Procurement

The objective of the Small Business Center Network (SBCN) is to increase the success rate and the number of viable small businesses in North Carolina by providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business owners which will lead to job creation and retention. Each Small Business Center (SBC) will be a community-based provider of education and training, counseling, referral and information.

Impact

669

Businesses Started

6,827

Jobs Created and Retained

Annual impact data from the previous fiscal year end

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Updated 2/14/2023 12:55:32 PM