When you’re just starting as a business, you need all the resources to help you stand up on your feet. This is even more apparent during one of the most challenging times in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this article, we aim to help small businesses located in Wisconsin, USA. So if you’re a business owner located in the state, or know a friend who is, here are some of the resources that will help ease the burdens of the business.   

SCORE

SE Wisconsin SCORE was established in 1965 to help small businesses start on the right foot and grow healthily. They help businesses achieve their goals through high-quality mentorship and education. SCORE has been serving small businesses for over 50 years, with around 70 volunteer members.

All of their volunteers are very adept in business expertise and have been in the industry for years. Below are some of the services they provide for small businesses.

•         Free Business Mentoring

They offer free and confidential business mentoring. It doesn’t matter whether you’re just a start-up, already have a running business, or ready to retire and sell your business, SCORE can provide free, confidential business advice.  

You can choose to use this service either through phone, email, or in-person mentoring in their various mentoring locations around the country. You can also connect with one of their online mentors for convenience.

•         Local Business Workshops and Webinars

They also provide free or fairly inexpensive in-person, local business workshops, and also online webinars. You can easily register in one of their low-cost business workshops to start learning the fundamentals. They teach a wide variety of business topics that any business owner should know. These include finance, accounting, marketing, management, etc.

You get to receive a high-quality education from local experts while also connecting with like-minded business owners in your community. It is a win-win situation.  

•         Free Online Business Resources

SCORE has plenty of free business templates, tools, and tips on its website. All you need to do is register an account to access them. You can browse their extensive resource library to find the latest trends in small business strategies.

Utilize the information you find in SCORE’s library to expand your knowledge in all things business-related.

 

•         Tune in to their Podcast

SCORE hosts regular podcasts that discuss various important business tips and resources for startups. You can check out their website, linked here, to find out the schedules of these podcasts.

Now you know some basics about SCORE. We highly recommend checking them out, especially if you are just starting your business venture. However, if you already have a running business, we still recommend checking them out as they can provide plenty of new business information.

SBDC

SBDC, also known as Wisconsin Small Business Development Center, is a service offered to small businesses in Wisconsin. The SBDC offers various tools and resources to help small businesses strive, especially in tough times like today.

The resources they provide include education, consultation, referrals, and various sophisticated tools to get you started or even improve your existing business. Here are some ways SBDC can help your small business grow.

•         Receive Financing for Your Business

Whether you just started a new business or currently running one, you can head to the SBDC to help you finance your business. Finding the right people that belief in your business ideas can be challenging, this is where SBDC can help. They will assist in securing initial funding and expansion.

•         Receive Support When Launching Your New Business

When you’re ready to launch a new business venture but don’t have any idea where to start, the SBDC can help you. They have various resources to guide you in this endeavor, one of them being their Entrepreneurial Training Program.

•         Receive Consultation if Your Business Idea is Worth Investing

Most of our business ideas may sound good on paper but it might not be as practical as we think it is. To help you avoid wasted money and time, SBDC offers consultation to help you determine whether your idea can become a viable business and how you can get started.

Women’s Resources

There are plenty of resources for businesswomen in Wisconsin. One of the most popular ones is the WWBIC or Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. The WWBIC offers various classes statewide for any new aspiring entrepreneurs, veteran business owners, or anyone that wants to improve their financial situation.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine guidelines, all WWBIC classes will be conducted online. This makes it very convenient for those who have internet access at home. You can visit their website to find out the schedules for these classes. You can visit your local WWBIC office to inquire about additional resources that can assist you.   

Meetup Groups

Meetup groups can be a great way to learn about your local community’s market. You get to meet up with other local businessmen and women who are eager to share and learn important information about your community. With the power of the Internet, it is very easy to meet like-minded businessmen and women.

One of the most popular sites to meet up with your fellow local businessmen in Wisconsin is Meetup. The site features plenty of groups that aim to improve each other’s businesses.  

Blogs and Publications

Business blogs and publications are a great way to be updated by the latest trends in your local business community and the overall industry. Some great business blogs in Wisconsin are;

•         Isthmus
•         WisPolitics
•         The Bobber
•         Think-Make-Happen in Wisconsin

 

 

Conclusion

We know that starting a new business or even running one, is a huge undertaking. This is why, as a fellow Wisconsinite, I’ve made this blog to help our businessmen and women thrive.