Our highly trained business counselors work with businesses in every phase of the business life cycle, from launch to growth to exit planning.
Thinking about starting a business?
Want to know what it takes to become an entrepreneur before you dive into the business launch phase? We recommend reviewing our Business Start Up Guide and other resources on our website to help you determine whether business ownership is right for you.
Business Start Up Guide
SBTDC’s premier guide to starting a business. Topics Include: assess yourself as a potential business owner, determine concept feasibility, examine critical issues and make important decisions, legal considerations and requirements, develop your business plan, arrange your business financing, NC business resources and information list.
The SBTDC offers several options for entrepreneurs in the business launch phase. Consider applying for our 8-hour program, Taking the Leap, which is designed to guide you from concept to launch effectively and efficiently. This program is ideal for entrepreneurs who are at the beginning of their journey toward launching a business.
Taking the Leap will help you
Write a business plan
Improve market research and customer discovery efforts
Establish a legal framework for your business (LLC, Partnership, etc)
Construct basic profit and loss statements
Prepare your business to apply for loans
And more!
Taking the Leap is perfect for those looking to launch high-growth startups.
The SBTDC offers one-on-one business launch counseling. This option is perfect for those who have already written a business plan, made a sale, and/or have a legal framework in place for their business.
Our business launch counseling services include:
Customer Discovery
Business Plan Review
Financing Assistance
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Marketing and Branding
Sales and Customer Acquisition
Approximately 20% of businesses will fail in their first year. 50% will fail before year five. 1
By contrast, 70% of businesses with a mentor will survive for five years or more. 2
Technology and Innovation-Based Launches
The SBTDC technology commercialization team offers specialized assistance to innovation-based startups, typically involving intellectual property that contributes to a strong competitive advantage in the marketplace and serves as a foundation for the business.
Please review our Technology Commercialization offerings for more information.
The vast majority of business startups are not eligible to win government contracts. Most contracts require that a company be in business for at least two years before it can be awarded a contract.
If you are interested in preparing your business for government contracts, please review our Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) for more information.
“I don’t know if everyone wants to follow my kooky path, but I would tell people to just start doing things. Make things, experiment, play, pull at threads, start walking the path,” she says. “Don’t wait to have the perfect idea… start simply.”
Launch
