Ten Resources for Starting a New Business in Central Massachusetts

Are you considering starting a new business in Central Massachusetts? Have you already decided to go into business for yourself but are now just realizing that you haven't done the proper research and planning? Below are ten resources for anybody that has either started or is considering starting a new business in Central Massachusetts.

1)     Forming a Business, Step-by-step - Mass.Gov http://ow.ly/1ab4U

This is a link to the Mass.gov website with the basic nuts and bolts of starting a business. This site gives you info on forming the business entity, tax info, licensing and permits, dee bee aaayyyssss, and the rest of the boring stuff that nobody wants to know about but unfortunately it covers the basics of what you MUST know if you want your business to actually legally exist. This information is not specific to Central Massachusetts business owners but nevertheless is one of the first places to go if you want to start a business.

2)     Small Business Administration - Small Business Planner http://ow.ly/1abhg

This is another link to a nuts and bolts website for small business owners but again, a very important resource. The SBA provides funding options to small businesses that typical banks don't or won't offer. The SBA has a lot of money to give out and is waiting for people like you to call them and let them know that you want to start a business and need money! Don't pass up the opportunity to start your business with somebody else's money...

3)     Local Chambers of Commerce

Depending on the geographic location of your business or more importantly the geographic location of your target customer base, you are going to want to get on board with the local Chamber of Commerce. Two of the best options in Central Massachusetts are the North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce and the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce . The local Chamber of Commerce offers networking opportunities, affordable options for health insurance for small businesses, educational seminars, and numerous other resources for new and existing small busniesses.

4)     ShopLocalLeominster.com http://ow.ly/1absp

ShopLocalLeominster (The Leominster Small Business Association) is a great resource for new business owners that are looking to open up shop in Leominster. This is a group of over 100 businesses that gets together regularly to network, share ideas about being in business, and is a free resource for promoting your Leominster business. The Leominster Small Business Association has a great website which lists all members and their websites, offers advertising opportunites, and has a list of resources for your small business.

5)     Facebook http://ow.ly/1abzt

Though Facebook comes in at number 5 on this list of resources for small business owners in Central Massachusetts, it's value and importance are certainly worthy of the number one spot. Whether or not you're an internet guru, a "newbie" to the "googles", or you have no idea what the world-wide-interweb is all about, you need to have a facebook fan page for your small business. Though a relatively new stream for advertising your small business, Facebook is clearly the future of connecting with your customers. This is free advertising...and free advertising costs less than paid advertising...(right?) Just go online (or have one of your kids go online for you) and do a quick search for some of your target keywords (again, ask your kids what this means)...you'll be amazed to find out how many of your competitors are already on Facebook and taking away your potential business...(see also Twitter)

6)     SCORE Small business mentoring and training http://ow.ly/1abJY

I won't get into too much about SCORE but I will say that one of the most important things you probably haven't done yet is writing a business plan. If you've written a business plan for your new business, or if you need help writing your business plan, you need to contact SCORE. The easiest way to get in touch with a SCORE representative is through the North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce and probably through any Chamber of Commerce I'd be willing to bet.

7)     The Central Mass Real Estate TrendMill http://ow.ly/1abNI

This is probably my favorite online resource for any new or existing business in Central Massachusetts. If you want to be in business in Central Massachusetts you need to find space for your business. Certainly you can run your business out of your home but at some point you're going to require a more professional space for your business than your dining room table. The Central Mass Real Estate Trendmill is my blog which you are reading right at this moment. You can find out about office space in Leominster, industrial space, renovated mill buildings, and a whole bunch of other real estate related information for your business.

8)     Apex Properties Website http://ow.ly/1abSk

OK, this is another shameless plug at one of my websites but it's still a valuable resource for any business owner, whether your a startup or you've been in business for 30 years. Apex Properties helps investors and business owners build wealth and expand their business through commercial real estate investment. If you're going into business, you should know about all availabe options for commercial real estate in Central Massachusetts. What if your new business involves investing in real estate? Apex Properties knows all about that...and wants to help...

9)     Domain Names & Web Hosting - Go Daddy http://ow.ly/1abWq

As was the case with number 5, Facebook, don't think that because I listed GoDaddy as number 9 it's less important than numbers 1-8. If you're going into business you have to have a website and one of the easiest and most affordable options for your new website is GoDaddy.Com. Here you can register your domain name, ie. www dot yourbusinessname dot com, and also set up your email account ie. your name at yourbusinessname dot com. These days having a website ranks up there above advertising in the yellow pages in my book (I don't actually have a book but if I did it would be in there).

10)     Let me know what you think should be Number 10 on my list

Have you been online and already started researching resources for starting your new business. Please comment below and let me know what you think is an important resource for starting a new business in Central Massachusetts or anywhere for that matter. Have you already started your business and now have some real-world experience to share with those out there that are following in your tracks? Let us know about your experience and let us know if you've used any of the resources listed above.

If you're looking for help with navigating your way through any of the above options, please don't hesitate to contact me and I will see to it that you get the help you need. If I can't help, I will be sure to find you somebody that can...

Can't Find Modern Industrial Space in Leominster? Try Southgate Business Park

The Sentinel recently ran an article about developer Jim Whitney's latest and greatest project, Southgate Business Park , a fully permitted business park located in South Leominster that will cater to high tech companies looking for modern manufacturing facilities.. As the headline points out, Jim is a step closer to construction.

Jim Whitney, a local developer who spent years building houses in the area, is hoping to attract some high tech companies to Leominster by offering pad ready sites ready for the construction of modern manufacturing facilities just a short distance from Route 2 and I-190. Industrial space in Leominster is certainly plentiful but it's also virtually obsolete. Guess what Mr. Landlord with 100,000 SF of 16' clear industrial space...be glad you get phone calls at all...if you get a bite, take it! Southgate Business Park is going to offer the flexibility and modern amenities that existing buildings in the area can't.

Southgate Business Park has received two sizable grants which will help Whitney to bring utilities to the park and also pay for the construction of the road. The first grant he received was a $1M MORE grant which will help pay to bring water and sewer to the site and the second was a $1.1M PWED grant which will also help fund infrastructure improvements. The grants are all about bringing jobs to Central Massachusetts and Jim is in a position to really impact the local economy in a huge way...

I've spoken with Jim about the project and it sounds like something the area hasn't seen and isn't going to be another Jytek Park by any means. This park is going to feature wider roadways, landscaped islands, green space, and of course the ability to accommodate medical device companies, life science companies, bio-manufacturing and bio-medical companies, and the like...

Leominster is also in a position to be at the forefront of the state's 43d permitting program which essentially expedites the permitting process for companies looking to move into a designated area. This is a big change from the usual time-consuming and extremely burdensome permitting process that cities and towns have been working with.

So come spring Jim Whitney should be building a road, grading sites, creating some serious curb appeal, and welcoming his first tenants...Who is going to be the first company to set up shop at Southgate Business Park in Leominster? We'll see...

If you'd like more information on Southgate Business Park and the opportunities it presents for your business let me know...

Do you have a buyer's agent? Ask me how I can help you find the space you need to accommodate your growing company.