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The Maine SBDC, at no cost to potential and existing business owners and managers, provides one-on-one counseling - business management assistance to Maine's small business community. Maine SBDC Business Counselors are qualified small business professionals, who have diverse educational and business experience. Many hold MBA's and/or have owned and operated their own businesses. Often they bring diverse corporate experience to bear on seeking solutions for small business, especially in the areas of marketing, management and operations. Useful assistance is provided in such areas as:
COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS
Counseling appointments can easily be arranged by contacting the Maine SBDC Service Center nearest you, or registering online. Often before meeting, Maine SBDC staff may ask some preliminary questions to ascertain your business stage, suggest preliminary training and/or reading, and/or send you various materials generic to your situation. Your first appointment, usually scheduled at a Maine SBDC Service Center or Outreach Office, will last an hour to an hour and a half. After that initial session you and your Maine SBDC Business Counselor will determine the appropriate course of action for future assistance. Your progress however will ultimately be up to you.
Locations | Counselors | Staff
Baxter Brewing Co., Lewiston
Forbes' 30 under 30 - Food & Wine Special Report , featured Baxter Brewing's Luke Livingston. December 2011.
The journey began in August 2009, when Luke Livingston walked into Maine SBDC's Auburn office with the dream of making a craft beer in the Lewiston/Auburn area. He had a good business plan, but no money and needed $450,000. In June 2010, less than a year later, Baxter Brewing Company held a groundbreaking at Lewiston's Bates Mill Complex, complete with local television coverage.
What had transpired in the intervening months was a classic study in the evolution of starting a business - partnerships, financing, investors, lenders - and all the planning and sweat equity it generates. The assistance provided by Livingston's Maine SBDC counselor Greg Gould, also covered the spectrum, from the creation of the company business plan and financial forecasts, to branding concepts and strategic planning. Livingston was able to secure a $300,000 in investor cash funding, a $100,000 loan and a $200,000 line of credit.
Baxter Brewing will be Maine's first micro craft brewery to can all its product, initially offering two unique premiere beers – Pamola Extra Pale Ale and Stowaway I.P.A. Anticipated completion is winter of 2010/2011.
