- Home
- Business
- Economic Development
- Assistance to Entrepreneurs
Assistance to Entrepreneurs
Washington State is typically among the states with the highest rates of new business starts. We are also among the states with the highest rates of business failures. While this shows that Washingtonians have confidence in their ideas and a drive to succeed on their own, it also illustrates that we might be missing some valuable skills in business management, finance, marketing or the like.
If you are considering taking the plunge and starting your own business, there are resources available in Longview that can significantly up your chances of success.
Build your knowledge and skill base
A good place to start is the Longview Public Library. The library has developed a number of resources to help you with your business. A great place to start is with some of the checklists on their business hub website, Once you get started there, the library has business reference website subscriptions, books and periodicals to help you move forward.
The library and the Kelso/Longview Chamber of Commerce each sponsor small business seminars. You can find more information at either the library or the Chamber websites.
Lower Columbia College (LCC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) jointly sponsor a Small Business Entrepreneur Certification program. The certification consists of a series of online classes combined with sessions with our local SBDC counselor. This will both help firm up critical business skills and help you focus on the business you are building. Numerous additional on-line classes are available through the college as well as certificate, associated and bachelor’s degree programs requiring on-campus study. To get started, visit LCC’s entrepreneur certificate website .
Business Advising
Advisors take the time to get to know you and your business and you as an owner/manager. This helps insure you get the assistance you need, at whatever your stage of business. Typical sessions include financial topics, access to capital, growth planning, marketing and sales, employment issues, government procurement, e-commerce and more.
One of the big benefits of business counseling to a new business owner is their guidance in crafting your business plan. A thoughtful and well-formatted business plan shows lenders that you have thought through your business and understand what it will take for you to be successful. This really increases your chances for success in getting financing you may need to grow your business.
To inquire about business advising, try:
Washington Small Business Development Center, Longview
1600 Maple St., Don Talley Bldg. Room 103A, Longview, WA 98632
360.442.2946
SCORE, Vancouver (Counselors come to Longview)
1933 Fort Vancouver Way #TBG232, Vancouver, WA 98663
360.699.1079
http://www.scorevancouver.org