Best Small Business Resources in the Wilmington Area

Description

Delaware’s Division of Small Business, Development and Tourism serves as a friendly point of contact for entrepreneurs seeking to launch a new business. They provide a combination of consulting and mentoring to help fledgling entrepreneurs and then recommend external resources where their expertise ends. The assistance they provide is extensively tailored to each project and can range from direct mentoring and assistance to indirect referrals to organizations better suited to help.

Description

The greatest strength of the SBDC is their free, confidential, 1-on-1 business mentoring for anyone who seeks it. Sometimes in order to be considered for mentoring from one of their professional business advisors, you may have to attend a class/workshop or at least present your business plan. SBDC's are located all throughout the state and you should use the SBDC closest to your location if possible, but you can often transfer to a different location if they do not fit your needs.

Description

The Emerging Enterprise Center offers several programs that work together to promote small business and entrepreneurship in the Wilmington area. Their incubator program offers tiers of support from virtual memberships for those at the idea stage to residency for launching companies. The center hosts frequent workshops and lectures on entrepreneurial topics, available to the general community for a fee or to incubator members for free. They also leverage partnerships with local businesses to provide a tight support network of companies and nonprofits that can assist small businesses.

Description

This nonprofit community development financial institution specializes in funding and financial technical assistance for small business owners. Their technical assistance services range from business plan creation to financial literacy and understanding funding options. 

Description

NextFab is a collaborative makerspace that also offers an incubator program for startups. NextFab operates several locations and stocks a variety of equipment like metal working machines, 3D printing, laser cutting, and lithography. They are set up to work with wood, textiles, metal, jewelry, and electronics among other mediums. The incubator offers business coaching and mentorship to qualifying startups.

Restrictions

Applicants to accelerator and incubator program must be local hardware startups.

Description

The Mill is a coworking space for everyone from solo entrepreneurs to growing companies. They offer flexible membership plans and rentable event spaces including a 225 seat movie theater. Conference rooms are available for members to rent, as well as reception and mail service. The Mill also hosts weekly networking events where members meet to discuss current events in the business sector and network in a conversational, organic manner.

Description

Women's Business Centers are nationwide programs established by the SBA to assist women in starting small businesses. Some of these centers are combined with other local organizations and use that relationship to offer even more services. Each Women's Business Center has counselors who can provide mentorship and assistance with business planning. Women’s Business Centers also provide a network of other businesses, and some have loan programs available

Restrictions

The Women's Business Centers are, as the name implies, meant for women primarily.

Description

SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) is a leading, nation-wide organization that has assisted millions of entrepreneurs over its 50+ years of operation. SCORE is a resource partner of the SBA that offers access to a network of experienced business leaders who donate time to mentor entrepreneurs and small business owners. They also host free or inexpensive workshops online and at 300 local chapters around the United States. Mentoring can be conducted either in person or remotely and is always free and confidential, no matter how often you take advantage of this service.