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home > business resources
Business
Resources for Tourism
Roger Merchant, Extension Educator
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Starting a business without a plan is like sailing a ship without
map and compass. You wind up adrift with no direction to or from the
marketplace. Worse yet, without any direction your investment of time
and money is at risk. Can you think of a better scenario for running
a business ship aground?
So, what can you do to get your bearings? Information, conversation,
networking, research, good business planning and decision-making are
the tools needed for sailing your business in a direction that has
decent a chance of meeting the market. For starters, try these….
University of Maine Cooperative Extension,
Small and Home Based Business Virtual Resource Library
http://www.umext.maine.edu/hbbsite/html/home.htm
This site is full of information and connections for getting business
direction: a business topics library, workshops, online Extension
home Business fact sheets, business assistance and lending organizations,
trade associations, and more
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
http://www.mainesbdc.org/
Maine SBDC's provide comprehensive business management assistance,
training, and information services to Maine's micro, small and technology-based
business. This link connects to their directory of SBDC offices in
Maine. Look through their Web pages.
Penquis CAP Incubator Without Walls
http://www.whcacap.org/small-biz.html
Incubator Without Walls provides individuals interested in starting
or expanding a micro-business with training, marketing assistance,
individual counseling and coaching, networking opportunities and access
to scholarships and loans. Members must make a six-month commitment
to attend bimonthly meetings at Penquis CAP.
Business Answers Online
http://www.maine.gov/businessanswers/
A program of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
This site will help answer your questions about running a business
in Maine.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
http://www.score.org/
is a nonprofit association dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with
free, confidential face-to-face and email business counseling. Business
counseling and workshops are offered at chapter offices across Maine.
U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers financing, training
and advocacy for small firms across Maine.
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