Finding funding, seeking a location, learning about taxes — there’s a host of information a prospective entrepreneur needs to know before rushing into any decisions.
Luckily, there’s help available.
And the Upstate Workforce Investment Board is bringing all that help to one location as part of its first-ever Upstate Small Business Expo.
The event is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 17, and will be held at the USC-Union Truluck Gym in downtown Union. Featured guest speaker for the expo will be South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond and it promises to not only provide future business owners with information but a wealth of networking options and contacts.
“The Upstate Small Business Expo will be an all-encompassing event to provide information to individuals looking to start a new business,” said Upstate Workforce Investment Board business services team member Beth Fowler. “Hopefully, they will be able to gain the knowledge they need to do it right.”
Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a gathering period for those who attend from 8-8:30 a.m. and workshops starting after. Throughout the day, representatives from several agencies and organizations that offer various assistance to prospective small business owners will be on hand answering questions and doling out information.
Participating organizations range from the secretary of state office that will discuss the different types of business structures such as LLC and what information entrepreneurs can find on its Web site to the Michelin Development Program that offers a program that assists small businesses in several counties — including Union — funding opportunities for start up businesses to participate in.
Other participants include USDA Rural Development, Small Business Administration, IRS, Winthrop University Small Business Development Center, Catawba Regional Council on Governments and Provident Community Bank.
“Even existing businesses will find value in these workshops,” Fowler said.
The Upstate WIB typically has monthly or bimonthly workshops on a regular basis for business owners and entrepreneurs to gain information.
“That’s just hit or miss every couple months,” Fowler said.
The expo brings all of that information into one place at one time to allow anyone with questions about how to start a small business or needs more information about business practice to come together, get what they need and make connections with others with the same goals.
The expo is open to business owners from the Upstate WIB region — which includes Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties — and anyone from the surrounding counties. Fowler said she already has one gentleman from Charlotte who plans to attend.
“They are invited to come and take advantage of the workshops and information and network with others,” she said.
One piece she said the expo does not include is credit counseling.
“Right now, obviously, that’s a huge issue for people who need to spend time repairing their credit,” Fowler said.
But while it won’t be represented at the expo, she hopes it will be a part of an ongoing series of workshops and events that will be spinoffs from the Feb. 17 event that should be offered, again, on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
Anyone interested in attending the small business expo is asked to preregister to attend by calling Fowler. Although, she said if anyone does not get a chance to preregister they still are welcome to attend and do so the day of the event.
“Anyone that is interested in starting a small business is encouraged to attend this event to gather very useful information that can be used to support their efforts in getting a business up and running,” Fowler said in a recent press release about the event.
She added the expo will be the opportunity for small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs to get much of the information they need.
“There are lots of resources available to people interested in starting a small business,” Fowler said, adding the expo is an avenue to get to those resources they can take advantage of to be successful.
TO ATTEND:
• To preregister for the Upstate Small Business Expo set for Feb. 17 in Union, contact Beth Fowler at (864) 427-4119 or by email at bfowler@upstatewib.org. You also can register the day of the event. The doors open at 8 a.m.
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