Best Small Business Resources in the Providence Area

Description

Hope & Main offers use of a commercial kitchen space and food storage facilities. Their incubation program offers courses on everything from branding to food safety. Hope & Main aims to be a comprehensive resource for food-based entrepreneurs through its courses, incubation space, and all its other services.

Restrictions

This incubator is for food-based businesses.

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 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

Though the SEG Incubator is mainly an online resource, it will connect you with a mentor who will dedicate a certain amount of hours per week to be available to you. You can also take online courses and get access to information on a wide variety of business topics including marketing, accounting, legal issues, presentation skills, and more. This organization puts special emphasis on helping organizations that will have some form of social change. 

Restrictions

This incubator and all of its resources operate online. 

Description

Sprout offers basic office amenities including conference rooms and technology for giving presentations. It also hosts both professional and social events for members.