Best Small Business Resources in the Asheville Area

Description

This funding organization heavily emphasizes financial literacy and planning, offering many educational resources to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to better understand the financial decisions they'll need to make when starting a venture. Tailored business coaching is provided through a peer-to-peer network while three flagship courses teach vital skills for people at the planning, launch, and growth phases. Additional classes teach financial literacy and Quickbooks.

Description

The Business Incubation Program at AB Tech is an incubator that offers office, lab, or light industrial space to tenants, along with consulting, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Members pay below-market rent and receive access to all incubation services. Applicants should demonstrate market viability and the potential for job creation to qualify. 

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

Hatchworks is a coworking space that offers a charming and modern office environment in which to work. They offer a variety of membership plans to accommodate any work needs. 

Description

This library offers members access to print resources that can help you research an industry and start a business. Their research databases have legal forms and documents that can serve as a good starting point.

Restrictions

A library card may be required to access certain services.

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

Venture Asheville is an economic development organization dedicated to spurring business development in the Asheville area. Their flagship program, Elevate, is an accelerator-type program that mentors startups and provides hands-on support to help new companies navigate the details of launching a business, from the high-level planning down to the low-level logistics. Elevate is free for the first year of support and open to local companies that have a product or service already developed. Venture Asheville also provides funding through a separate program.

Restrictions

Most programs target scaleable, high-growth companies.

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.