Best Small Business Resources in the Indianapolis Area

Description

The Indy Chamber is an organization aiming to unite businesses and communities while building a stronger economy. The Indy Chamber provides thorough support for entrepreneurs in various stages of starting their business, including the Business Owner Initiative, which offers one-on-one coaching sessions. Indy Chamber also offers various workshops and courses. The Indy Chamber is affiliated with other organizations and resources that cater to minority groups, such as Central Indiana Women's Business Center and Hispanic Business Council.

Restrictions

Serves Hancock, Hamilton, Hendrix, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Madison, Marion counties

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

The Entrepreneurial Incubator at the Edna Martin Christian Center offers two categories of support, all designed to help working families turn passions into viable businesses. They offer a series of classes designed to teach you how to handle money like an entrepreneur, a curriculum that includes building credit, cash flows, and profit/loss statements. The funding component of the organization matches up to $1,000 in savings in the form of a grant.

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

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.

Description

The Purdue Foundry is a thorough service provided by Purdue University to support its students, alumni, and faculty in developing their innovative ideas and transforming them into products. The Foundry also helps entrepreneurs develop business plans and provides a wide range of support for various stages, from ideation to industry analysis.  

Description

SpeakEasyIndy is a 501(c)3 member-based non-profit organization that builds a community of entrepreneurs from all different stages by offering various shared spaces and meeting spaces during the work day and also hosts business and networking oriented events in the evening.

Restrictions

Cannot be a well-funded business looking for low-rent space.