Additional Resources
Here, you will find a network of services and programs that exist to provide the most current and applicable information for getting your business started and running smoothly.
Business Link North Carolina
Business Link North Carolina is an excellent resource for businesses in North Carolina. Whether you need information about what steps to take in order to properly start a small business, or you need to know what programs exist to support a business expansion, BLNC can help.
Please call BLNC to speak with a consultant about your needs and to find the appropriate resources to accomplish your goals. This personalized service can assist you no matter where you are in the process of creating and growing your business.
Services provided include:
• One-on-one business consultations
• Customized licensing information
• Employer and business structure forms
• Referrals to state agencies and state occupational licensing boards, local governments, and federal agencies
• Referrals to local, state, and federal business services, programs, and resources
• A small business ombudsman to work on your behalf to resolve issues with state government agencies
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Business Link North Carolina
301 N. Wilmington St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
800.228.8443
www.blnc.gov
Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils
The Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils is a nonprofit membership organization of major corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and universities that operate within North or South Carolina. The council works to expand business opportunities for minority-owned companies in an effort to build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. The council organizes networking events, educational sessions, and unique opportunities that serve as venues for minority business enterprises and corporate members to come together and identify mutually beneficial opportunities to work with one another.
Carolinas Minority Supplier
Development Councils
200 S. Tryon St.
10th Floor, Suite 1000
Charlotte, NC 28202
704.549.1000
www.carolinasmsdc.org
City of Raleigh Finance Department
For more information about how to become a vendor or supplier to the city of Raleigh, visit the city's website or contact the Finance Department.
City of Raleigh Finance Department
222 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.996.4938
www.raleighnc.gov
Duke University Law School Community Enterprise Clinic
The Duke University Law School Community Enterprise Clinic works with nonprofits and low-wealth entrepreneurs to provide legal services needed to plan, develop, and implement strategies that will build and protect wealth and assets, create jobs, and promote sustainable development in low-wealth communities. The services are provided by third-year law students and are offered year-round. In order to qualify for these services, a business must have a formal business plan and must be able to certify that it is unable to afford legal services.
Duke University Law School
Community Enterprise Clinic
PO Box 90360
Durham, NC 27708-0360
919.613.7169
888.600.7274
www.law.duke.edu/ced
e-NC Authority
The e-NC Authority is the state initiative to link all North Carolinians—especially those in rural areas—to the Internet. The purpose of this organization is to use the Internet as a tool for helping people improve their quality of life. Affordable Internet service will provide North Carolinians with increased access to commerce, health care, education, and government services. Through the Internet, rural North Carolinians can utilize resources not located in their areas, contact friends and experts, grow their businesses, and increase their personal knowledge—all while preserving the lifestyle that is an integral part of who they are.
e-NC Authority
NC Rural Economic Development Center, Inc.
4021 Carya Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
919.250.4314
www.e-nc.org
IDA and Asset-Building Collaborative of North Carolina
The IDA and Asset Building Collaborative of North Carolina is a statewide organization serving as the central coordinating agency for asset-based development in North Carolina. The mission of NC IDA Collaborative is to promote wealth creation among North Carolina’s low-wealth residents through supporting and building community programs, changing public policies, fostering coalitions, and advocating for other asset-building strategies that promote economic self-sufficiency.
IDA and Asset-Building Collaborative of North Carolina
3620 Six Forks Road, Suite 202
Raleigh, NC 27609
919.341.6418
www.ncidacollaborative.org
Industrial Extension Service
NC State University’s Industrial Extension Service can help companies stay abreast of the latest technologies and best practices in both engineering and business management. Ultimately, IES helps companies increase productivity, efficiency, quality, and as a result, profits. IES products and services can be combined in a unique package to help companies get the desired results as quickly as possible. IES provides ISO 9001 (quality), ISO/TS 16949 (automotive), or ISO 13485 (medical devices) training, technical assistance, and auditing to help businesses in North Carolina develop and maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction and improvement across a variety of industries.
Industrial Extension Service
909 Capability Drive, Research IV Building Suite 1600
Raleigh, NC 27606
919.515.2358
www.ies.ncsu.edu
Small Disadvantaged Minority and Women-owned Business Program
The city of Raleigh has adopted a goal of 15 percent participation by minority and women-owned businesses in construction contracts over $100,000 and in general purchases of goods and services. For more information about this initiative, including the business certification application and available workshops, visit the city's website or contact the Administrative Services Department.
City of Raleigh
Office of the Ciry Manager
222 W. Hargett St., Room 302
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.996.4278
www.raleighnc.gov
North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
There will inevitably be times in business that you will need the services of a lawyer. If you don’t have an existing relationship, the North Carolina Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. Although the referral service does not charge a fee, the lawyer you speak with may charge a fee of up to $50 for an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes. During that conversation, the lawyer will discuss fees for future services.
North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513
919.677.0561
www.ncbar.org
North Carolina Chamber
The North Carolina Chamber is a progressive, nonpartisan business advocacy organization. It works in the legislative, regulatory. and political arenas to proactively drive positive change to ensure that North Carolina is a leading place in the world to do business. Its vision is to be the unifying voice of North Carolina’s diverse business community. The Chamber wants to take a forward-looking, proactive role on issues that will positively impact the state’s business climate and quality of life.
North Carolina Chamber
Raleigh Corporate Center
701 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27607
919.836.1400
www.ncchamber.net
North Carolina Community College System’s Small Business Center Network
The Small Business Center Network, comprised of 58 Small Business Centers throughout North Carolina, supports the development of new businesses and growth of existing businesses by being a provider of training, counseling and resource information. Areas of expertise include biotechnology, international business, and government procurement. The SBCN also provides counseling services free of charge, entrepreneurship training, and resources to aid in starting or expanding a business.
North Carolina Community College System
Small Business Center Network
200 W. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.807.7100
www.sbcn.nc.gov
North Carolina Community Development Initiative
The North Carolina Community Development Initiative is a statewide public-private partnership that provides leadership and capital investment to high-performance community development corporations, as well as other community-based economic development endeavors (i.e., social enterprises), to improve the well-being and quality of life for people in low-resource communities.
North Carolina Community Development Initiative
5800 Faringdon Place
Raleigh, NC 27609
919.828.5655
www.ncinitiative.org
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
North Carolina encourages businesses to reduce their solid waste and participate in energy conservation programs. In addition, they help businesses find markets for their solid waste byproducts. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources is a clearinghouse of information about preventing pollution, conserving resources, and reducing waste. Receive confidential, no-cost technical assistance, including online information referrals, libraries of technical documents, core references for many industrial sectors, training courses and toll-free information hotlines. In addition, learn how to incorporate an environmental management system that focuses on continual improvement of environmental performance.
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1639 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
919.733.1398
877.623.6748
www.p2pays.org
North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project
The North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project exists to assist low-wealth entrepreneurs with their legal needs in starting or expanding their businesses through pro bono service by North Carolina business and transactional lawyers. Services range from basic transactional legal needs to long-term client-counselor relations. For additional information, including an income eligibility chart, call NC LEAP or visit the NC LEAP website.
North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513
919.677.0561
www.ncbar.org/ncleap
North Carolina Real Enterprises
North Carolina REAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping bring entrepreneurship and small business creation to North Carolina. Through its training programs and curriculum. NC REAL has helped thousands of people create new jobs throughout the state. NC REAL provides educational programs and support for adults or youth interested in entrepreneurship. Since the early 1980s, NC REAL has been working to make entrepreneurial training accessible to the communities and people who need it most. Initially designed to help rural high school students, NC REAL now serves people of all ages and communities of all sizes. NC REAL provides curricula, training, and resources to help rural America grow through hands-on entrepreneurship education that prepares productive citizens to contribute to their communities’ social and economic development.
NC REAL
3739 National Drive, Suite 110
Raleigh, NC 27612
919.781.6833
www.ncreal.org
North Carolina State Library
The North Carolina State Library is a part of the State Data Center network. Each year the network responds to as many as 50,000 requests for information. The State Library has access to federal and state data, as well as private data sources, all of which can be useful during the business planning and market research process. If you would like additional information about the resources available to you, or have a more specific question in mind, you may call or visit the State Library reference desk.
North Carolina State Library
Archives and History Building
109 E. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.807.7430
statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us
SCORE
The SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping entrepreneurs in all stages of business. The nearly 13,000 active SCORE members nationwide are trained to serve as counselors, advisors, and mentors to small business owners. SCORE’s experienced business experts provide general business advice on everything from how to write a business plan, to cash flow management, to developing a small business advisory board. Counselors can provide insight into how to start a business, operate a business, buy a business or franchise, and sell a business. Counseling is provided free of charge in addition to low-cost educational workshops.
Raleigh SCORE
300 Fayetteville St., Suite 306
Raleigh, NC 27602
919.856.4739
www.raleigh.score.org
Triangle Family Services
The importance of having good credit cannot be overstated. Banks, landlords, insurance companies, and others check credit reports to determine if they are willing to do business with you. Not only is having good credit a matter of whether you get a loan for your business or a lease on office space, credit impacts the kind of deal you receive. Someone with a good credit history and high credit score will inevitably get a better deal on a loan (i.e. lower rate) than someone with a poor credit history. The Triangle Family Services Consumer Credit Counseling Program offers free credit consulting. TFS offers debt counseling, credit clean-up, strategies for building credit, and tips for understanding how credit works.
Triangle Family Services
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
3937 Western Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27606
919.821.1770
www.tfsnc.org
Wake Tech Small Business Center
Wake Technical Community College is home to the Wake Tech Small Business Center. The center offers technical and managerial assistance to prospective and current business owners and operators through a variety of seminars, study courses, and one-on-one assistance.
Wake Tech Small Business Center
Western Wake Campus
3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 200
Cary, NC 27518
919.335.1001
http://smallbusinesscenter.waketech.edu/
