Business Services
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center's Berkshire Region works with new and existing small businesses in Berkshire County through a combination of free and confidential one-on-one business advising, information and referral, and free and low-cost educational seminars.
Business Assistance
A full-time staff of business advisors provide no-cost, confidential, individualized business advising to Massachusetts small businesses. We provide assistance to individuals contemplating a business venture, along with new, existing, expanding and troubled businesses. When you meet with an advisor, please bring all relevant information that you may have on your business or new venture. Preparation for your appointment will help you to maximize the use of the session.
Please complete our online Request for Advising. You are required to complete this form prior to your first session. Please note that our business advisors will not give legal advice, write business plans, negotiate contracts or make decisions for clients. Areas of assistance include, but are not limited to:
- Start-up Business Assistance
- Business Plan Development
- Financial Plan Development
- Marketing and Sales Strategies
- Cash Flow Analysis
- Organizational and Personnel Issues
Preventure Businesses: If you are in the early stages of exploring and developing a business idea and have not yet officially launched or generated revenue, you will be required to take our online "How to Start a Business" training series prior to booking an appointment with an advisor. If this applies to you, once your Request for Advising is processed, you will receive an email from our office with a link to the training series.
>> Watch our short business videos on topics including, how to get a business loan, how much money needed to start a business, and choosing the right legal structure for your business to name a few.
Our
services are further augmented by the
Massachusetts Export Center which helps companies throughout the Commonwealth to achieve
success in global markets through a statewide network of
international trade professionals by providing targeted, high-impact
services for exporters, including counseling, training, research and
technical assistance. The Massachusetts Export Center is an advisory
center of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center.
The Government Sales Advisory Program provides a wide range of targeted government marketing assistance, such as: guidance on initial required registrations and small business certifications, researching procurement histories, invites to small business matchmaking conferences, proposal preparation guidance and review, contract performance issues and much more. The Government Sales Advisory Program is an advising center of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center.
Training
The Massachusetts SBDC conducts training addressing a wide range of concerns for both start-up and existing businesses. Many of these programs are co-sponsored with local chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, community development organizations, banks and trade associations.
- View the Berkshire Regional Office training calendar
- View the MSBDC Network's statewide training calendar
Financing
Having sufficient financial resources to support your business may make the difference between the success and failure of your business.
The Berkshire Regional Office can help you negotiate the financial challenges faced by start-up and expanding businesses. We do not provide financing. We work with banks and other lending organizations (both conventional and non-conventional sources) to assist in putting together financial projections, but the actual financing comes from outside sources.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of loan programs to eligible small businesses. Most loans are made by private lenders and then guaranteed by the SBA. We can assist with assembling financial statements, preparing loan applications and securing the best financing options for your business.