“Go Local” – it’s a mantra Asheville truly takes to heart. The passionate support and strong nurturing of small businesses and the self-employed make the area fertile ground for those looking to bring an entrepreneurial idea to fruition. Asheville offers those who want to start a business or grow their at-home operation the tools necessary to do so successfully. Whether its loans, classes or coaching, if you’re seeking small-business support, Asheville is the ideal place to be.
Mountain BizWorks
Mountain BizWorks envisions a thriving Western North Carolina in which small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have access to the resources needed to make their dreams a reality.
A U.S. Treasury-certified non-profit community development financial institution, Mountain BizWorks makes business loans ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 to small businesses in Western North Carolina who may find it difficult to secure funding from banks and other traditional sources. All loan decisions and relationships are managed locally, with customized, peer-to-peer business coaching by an extensive network of local, successful business owners. This innovative blend of lending and learning helps entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, grow strategically, and create jobs.
Mountain BizWorks also offers a platform of three flagship courses to support aspiring and existing small-business owners on their journey from startup to sustainable growth. The courses are led by experienced small-business owners and use a participatory, supportive learning environment to deliver relevant, actionable skills and tools to further business goals. Each program is also designed to create a network of peers from which to gain ideas, support and feedback along the way. https://www.mountainbizworks.org
A-B Tech Small Business Center
The Small Business Center at A-B Tech Enka is part of the statewide Small Business Center Network, a community college-funded initiative with a vision to foster and support entrepreneurship and small-business and economic development in local communities with an emphasis on assisting start-ups, early stage, and at-risk enterprises.
The Small Business Center provides a variety of training, including free business seminars, interactive workshops, and classes. Training is available on many business topics including basic bookkeeping, software training, Web design, marketing analysis, utilizing Google pay-per-click tools, WordPress, business-management training, international product export services, craft business development, and more. Most of the business workshops and seminars are free, with some advanced topics available for a nominal fee.
The center also provides free, one-on-one confidential counseling for small-business and startup ventures, in the areas of business law, planning, business coaching, business development and growth, problem-solving, and cash flow management. The center also offers access to free professional services involving individualized counseling and advice with area professionals. https://www.abtech.edu/small-business-center/services-and-resources
Asheville Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce pools many tools together to assist small-business owners, creating a curated set of resources specifically geared toward helping businesses in all stages of growth succeed. Included is a directory of Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses such as banks, legal firms, real-estate agents, and business counselors and consultants that can assist with the needs of small businesses.
The chamber’s research department can provide data necessary to make impactful business decisions, as well as information helpful to location selection, industry competitors and much more. The chamber’s business startup and counseling service helps hundreds of companies every year make key connections and plan next steps on the path to entrepreneurship.
For information about living in Asheville and Real Estate in Asheville, contact Mosaic Realty owner Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call him anytime at 828-337-8190. We can also help find you some commercial real estate to locate your small business.
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