After one successful business venture, Lauren Allen approached Center Director & Business Advisor Josh Nadeau for a second time with a larger business idea that was close to her heart. Lauren had always dreamed of owning her own horse stable. She had found an existing stable that was not being utilized to its potential and she wanted to buy it. She turned to the Maine SBDC to walk her through the process.Read More
Blog
Transcapsule – Gorham, ME
Tobey Tozier recognized a need in the transgender community. Through personal experience, he has found that this market of 1.4 million transgender adults in the U.S. lacks easy ways to document their transitions and track the effects of Hormone Replace Therapy (HRT) over time. Changes are usually tracked through photos, video, audio clips, body measurements and journaling on various apps and devices.
As a graphic designer and social entrepreneur, he wanted to create an all-in-one app that allowed users to easily document transitions in a single place. Once the app is launched, users will be able to upload photos and videos, record audio and record body measurements, track mood changes and write journal entries. Transcapsule provides a private and secure platform to document all aspects of the transition. Tobey sees Transcapsule as a way to help people in the trans community find peace and happiness in who they are, and a way to collect anonymous data that can be shared with medical providers to further research on trans health.Read More
Four Maine SBDC Business Advisors Receive Certification
Top: Marc Anton, Susan Desgrosseilliers Bottom: Raynor Large, Allison Watson
The Maine Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, recognized Marc Anton, Susan Desgrosseilliers, Raynor Large and Allison Watson who received their Core Competencies Professional Certification from the New England Professional Development (NEPD) group on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
Maine SBDC offers FREE webinars to celebrate Small Business Week
Small Business Week is May 5-11. We are hosting *FREE* webinars on topics that are most important to you. Here’s the lineup:
Starting a Business in Maine On-Demand Workshop | REGISTER
Monday, May 6th – RELEASE DATE
New on-demand workshop will be released on May 6th, just in time for Small Business Week. Business Advisor Josh Nadeau will walk you through the to starting a business. Register to be notified when the workshop is live.
The BARE Essentials of Digital Marketing| WORKSHOP IS FULL
Tuesday, May 7th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with Flyte New Media
Guest Speaker: the one & only Rich Brooks!
Small Business Success: Tips from those who’ve been there | REGISTER
Wednesday, May 8th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration
(Who better to celebrate Small Business Week with!)
**Space in these webinars is limited. register to save your spot! **
Want to Exit Smoothly? Start Now
By: Raynor Large, Business Advisor
Too often, a Seller lets external forces push them out. Unfortunately, selling a business isn’t like selling a home; a buyer’s due diligence looks deeper than the fresh coat of paint and some curb appeal. Instead, the Seller needs to start their planning years in advance for an ideal outcome.Read More
Ammo Self Storage (E&S Properties) – Hampden, Maine
Eddie and Susan Rideout are experienced business owners. They own Hampden Redemption Center as well as a Rideout Enterprises, a commercial cleaning service in the Hampden area. They had the opportunity to purchase another business – a storage unit business in Ammo Industrial Park, a former military location in Hampden from the 1960’s. They already rented several spaces at this location for their current enterprises, and did some maintenance and snow plowing for the owners. They were present on the property and had skill-sets to make ideal owners.Read More
2019 Best Booth Awards – New England Made
Five exhibitors were recognized for their booth designs at this years New England Made show which took place from March 16-18, 2019 at the Sports Complex in Portland. Read More
News Release: Maine SBDC to Celebrate 3rd Annual SBDC Day
Small Business Development Centers Around the Country Celebrate Impact on Small Business on Wednesday, March 20th
For over 40 years the Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has helped aspiring and emerging business owners achieve the American dream of entrepreneurship. On Wednesday, March 20, the Maine SBDC will join SBDCs around the country for one special day to celebrate their work, impact and most importantly their clients – America’s small businesses.
“SBDC Day is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing work our clients and advisors do together, and to celebrate their successes in Maine and across the country,” commented State Director Mark Delisle.
With nearly 1,000 locations across the country, SBDCs provide local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. In Maine, business advisors helped over 1,500 entrepreneurs to start 136 businesses, create and save 810 jobs and access $38.7 million in capital in 2018 alone.
“[With] proven ROI and stellar client ratings it’s clear that America’s SBDCs are the nation’s most trusted small business resource,” said Charles “Tee” Rowe, President & CEO of America’s SBDC.
To celebrate the collective impact and success SBDCs have across the nation and in local communities each year, America’s SBDCs are hosting the third annual SBDC Day on March 20th. SBDC Day is a national movement to help share the small business success stories and notable impact SBDCs have fostered in communities nationwide.
To learn more about SBDC Day, and to join the movement, visit http://www.americassbdc.org/SBDCDay
Wilcox Wellness & Fitness – Bangor & Brunswick, Maine
When Paige Wilcox and her husband Mike first opened Wilcox Wellness & Fitness six years ago, they worked extensively with Maine SBDC business advisor Tom Gallant. Tom helped the Wilcox’s to create a business plan in order to obtain the necessary financing which allowed them to open the doors of their 4,000 square foot facility in Bangor. Tom challenged them to think through the value proposition and the transition process. With that, they were set up for success from the beginning. Paige remembers, “Tom was amazing for us – 1 part business advisor, 2 parts marriage counselor, and 100% amazing.”Read More
New Center Director & Business Advisor in our Portland Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Maine SBDC names Peter Harriman as Center Director
Portland, Maine – The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a program that provides business advising and training to Maine’s entrepreneurs and small businesses, recently named Business Advisor Peter Harriman to Center Director at the Portland office located at the University of Southern Maine. Within this new role, Harriman will oversee operations at both the Portland and Saco offices, including the management of three business advisors. He will also continue to advise entrepreneurs and small businesses in the greater Portland area.
Harriman has been a business advisor with the Maine SBDC for over three years. In this time, he has spent thousands of hours advising hundreds of clients toward success. He was named Maine SBDC’s 2018 State Star, an award given annually to recognize exemplary performance and commitment to small business success. Peter can be reached by calling 207-780-4949 or emailing peter.harriman@maine.edu.
Maine SBDC hires Susan Desgrosseilliers as Business Advisor
The Maine SBDC has also hired Susan Desgrosseilliers as a Business Advisor in their Portland office located at the University of Southern Maine. Desgrosseilliers will provide business advising to new and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses in Cumberland County.
Desgrosseilliers has a Bachelors degree from the University of Southern Maine. She has owned and operated several small businesses including a high-end design showroom and a property development and management company. She has also held positions with the City of Portland, the Rockland/Thomaston Chamber of Commerce and several real estate agencies. She can be reached by calling 207-780-4949 or emailing susan.desgrosseilliers@maine.edu.