SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
The Economic Development staff of Marlborough offers business development services to Marlborough small businesses, free of charge. Staff assists businesses from many business sectors, including high and low technology businesses, women-owned and minority-owned businesses and small businesses in all stages of development. Aspiring, emerging or accomplished businesses receive help with start-up and growth business planning. The following is a list of services, programs and literature available to Marlborough residents, start-up and existing Marlborough businesses and businesses relocating to Marlborough. Counseling and referral services are offered free of charge. Training services may include a nominal fee.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Staff offers one-to-one counseling, providing assistance with feasibility studies, analyzing markets, marketing plans, assessing capital needs, formulating capitalization strategies, preparing loan applications, developing a business plans and finding suitable space.
MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS SUPPORT
Business ownership offers high levels of self-determination and often higher earnings than working for someone else. Historically, few minorities and women have accessed this form of participation in the economy.
But trends are changing. Forecasts indicate that by the year 2000, women will own 50 percent of all small businesses nationwide. Minority business ownership in Massachusetts increased by 61.1% between 1987 and 1992. In 1992 there were nearly 2 million minority owned firms, and this number is expected to continue to rise.
BUSINESS INFORMATION MATERIALS
The Economic Development Division maintains a small library of print resources for Marlborough small businesses including information on starting a business, business legal entities, business plan outlines, sample business plans, flyers and application forms for local area business assistance training programs, and seminars and information on obtaining a business loan.
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