START HERE., NOW., SMART.
You’re a dream builder, risk taker, and creator extraordinaire.
Probably not a business major. And even if you are, owning a business isn’t always what you're taught in higher education. That’s where the SBDC comes in. We’ve started, owned, sold, and passed along businesses and stay up to date on the latest business news so you don’t have to. We’re nerds like that.
To meet the growing demand of our region’s start-ups, we’ve created a course to walk you through what it takes to start your dream so that you start smart. Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on.
Join us in an upcoming course to start putting pen to paper and get those big audacious ideas in motion.
New To Smart Start
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New To Smart Start *
Register and get access to:
Entrepreneur Certificate Course
$395 FREE
We’re pleased to be able to partner with Startup Virginia to offer all Smart Start graduates the Entrepreneur Certificate Course that takes a deep dive into entrepreneurship.
Digital Entrepreneur Guidebook
$45 FREE
Our Guidebook is full of details, resources, and checklists that you’ll need throughout business ownership. We’ll mail you a copy to have on hand!
The E-Myth Revisited
$15 FREE
The phenomenal bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business. Small business consultant and author Michael E. Gerbe points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get in the way of running a successful business. We’ll mail you a copy after your completion of Smart Start!
Tax Calendar
$15 FREE
One of the most important things as a new business owner is to stay on top of taxes. We’ve compiled a calendar of all the dates you need to keep in front of you to run your business like a pro. We’ll get a magnetic copy to you in the mail (but we want selfies with your magnet!).
Guide to Lending
FREE
At some point you want to consider lending and preserving your cash flow. We’ll send you tips to building your business credit and our take on the region’s lenders so that you can get connected when the time is right.
VIP Scheduling Access
FREE
Once you complete Smart Start and you are ready to take the leap, we’ll start working with you 1:1 to assist you with the details of your specific business. Smart Start graduates get VIP access to schedule with their advisor for the life of the business.
Click a date below that works best for you, and follow the links to register.
The Smart Start class is $35
We meet virtually via Zoom
Smart Start is made possible by our local government administrations and is specific to the Roanoke Valley, Franklin County, New River Valley, and Alleghany Highlands.