Business Development Programs

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Move your ideas into action. 

• How to Start Your Own Small Business
• Basics of Franchising

• Business Planning Foundations Course: Learn how to write a business plan that will help you organize your business, clarify your market, and access capital, whether you want to apply for a traditional small business loan or look for alternative funding options.
• Do It Yourself Market Research
• Creating a Winning Business Plan
• Financing Your Business: Loans and Beyond

• Top Five Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About Taxes
• Financing Your Business: Loans and Beyond
• Grant Writing for Small Business
• Financial Fitness Series: Understanding the importance of business numbers and the stories they tell is critical. This series features financial statements & financing, establishing and rebuilding credit, risk management and business insurance, tax planning, and buying and selling the business.
• Miscellaneous topics

• Social media: Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more
• Low-Cost, High-Impact Marketing
• Miscellaneous topics

This free online series addresses issues of interest to entrepreneurs in their professional development and growth. Topics include: professional image, ethics, organizational diversity, strategies for change, and more.

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The Power & Progress Women’s Business Symposium is a quarterly event, featuring local, motivating female keynote speakers who share their successful entrepreneurial stories and the valuable wisdom that comes with it. Join us to network, meet like-minded individuals, and gain valuable practical knowledge.

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This panel series offers a space for women entrepreneurs of color to discuss diverse perspectives about the path to business ownership. It features open and honest discussions about the struggles and biases women of color have encountered, as well as the support and motivation that has kept panelists persisting towards success. The series meets quarterly and endeavors to create community while promoting all women in business towards their dreams.

Contracting training is offered throughout the year.

We offer one-on-one small business advisor appointments to help businesses begin the bidding process, improve/expand their bidding process, and to develop organizational and business relationships that may lead to future contracts.

We partner with federal and state organizations to host the annual CT Business Matchmaker event. At the event, small businesses meet with companies and agencies that subcontract services and supplies, identifying potential partnerships quickly during a series of 10-minute one-on-one interviews.

SBA and its partners, including Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE, hold hundreds of small business training seminars and workshops across the country. With SBA’s Events Calendar, small businesses can quickly find and sign up for training. Enter a date range and/or zip code to locate events in your area.

The Build a Business Plan tool guides entrepreneurs through the process of creating a basic, downloadable business plan. The tool is secure and confidential and will keep the plan on record for up to six months for downloading or emailing at any time.