A business plan serves as a road map for decision-making and helps you remain focused on the core mission of the company. It’s a living, breathing document - something that should be reviewed often and modified as a business grows. Banks and landlords frequently request this document as a means of accessing the viability of a venture. Even if it is not required by an outside entity, every business needs a plan!
Residents and business-owners of The City of Frederick have a number of free resources available to them to assist them in this planning process. Below we highlight three organizations which offer no-cost assistance to entrepreneurs drafting or editing their business plan.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC)
Local Consultant: Bryan Laing
Small Business Development Centers provide counseling and training to small businesses across the country.
As an SBDC Consultant, Bryan helps entrepreneurs start and grow their small businesses through professional, confidential consultations, classes, and webinars. Bryan can help you with your business plan and access to funding. Bryan also offers market research and consulting resources on how to scale operations as your business grows efficiently.
Website: https://www.marylandsbdc.org/locations/northern-region
Connect with Bryan:
Phone Number: 410-386-8390
Email: blaing@carrollcc.edu.
How to prepare for your first meeting: A draft business plan for the initial meeting with Bryan would be nice but not required.
PRO BUSINESS TIP FROM SBDC: Don’t be afraid to go in! Sometimes entrepreneurs feel intimidated to see an SBDC consultant. Many consultants, like Bryan, have started and run small businesses. So he has been in your shoes.
MARYLAND Womens Business Center
Local Consultant: Karen Kalantiz
The MWBC helps men and women who want to start or grow a business in Frederick County. The organization offers free one-on-one counseling, technical assistance, and training classes. The MWBC counselors mostly work with women but men are welcome as well. The organization supports all for profit businesses across all industries.
The MWBC has templates and worksheets to help entrepreneurs think through all the steps of starting and running a business. Karen helps people understand the business planning process and give feedback and suggestions on their business plan and financials. She helps entrepreneurs identify their ideal clients and brainstorm ways to reach them. Other topics of discussion might be hiring employees and managing difficult customer situations.
Website: www.marylandwbc.org
Connect with Karen:
Email: karen@marylandwbc.org
Upon receiving an email, Karen will send a link to register in the organization’s eCenter, and upon completion, send a link to her calendar for a meeting. Most meetings are over zoom.
How to prepare for your first meeting: Just think about what you hope to accomplish, or what pain you are experiencing that you want help with. Clear the time on the calendar, and be present.
PRO BUSINESS TIP FROM WMBC: All small businesses should have a BAIL team of advisors - a banker, an accountant, an insurance agent and a lawyer. Get to know them on a personal level so they can support you when you need them.
SCORE Mentors
Volunteer Mentors
SCORE mentoring is a free service offered to any aspiring or established owners of a U.S.-based business. SCORE’s volunteer business experts offer free, confidential mentoring for as long as you need it. And the mentors aren’t just anyone. They’re successful business owners and executives with real-world experience in every sector. Some have worked at Fortune 500 companies. Others have built their own small businesses from the ground up. The organization has a network of experts across the country who can be consulted on specific industry or business needs. SCORE’s mentoring is supplemented by a wealth of resources, including live and recorded webinars, podcasts, templates and articles, which can be found at score.org.
Partnering with you one-on-one, SCORE mentors support your success by providing experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and educating you on small business topics.
Connect with a mentor:
Register online: www.score.org/find-mentor
Questions can be emailed to: info.gcp@scorevolunteer.org
Once paired with your mentor, you can meet with them as often as you need. Your mentor can help you with things like starting your business or other strategies to help your existing business grow. As the organization’s motto (“For the life of your business”) indicates, SCORE is with your business for the life of your business.
How to prepare for your first meeting: If already in business, bring your history, recent financials, cash flow, business plan and the challenges your business is facing. If you are considering starting a business or are in early stages, bring a description of your business, its status, and specific questions to ask your mentor, and prepare to challenge your mentor's ideas & suggestions if you don't fully understand them.
PRO BUSINESS TIP FROM SCORE: Be very clear on what your value proposition is. Your value proposition essentially describes the difference between your business and your competition and provides clarity on your primary audience – why they should do business with you and what need or problem you are solving for them. This is foundational to your business planning and success.
Writing or editing your business plan and curious what other resources might be available to you? Contact The City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development for additional information and assistance.