SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground as well as grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
They can offer you volunteer mentors in a variety of industries, free business tools, tips and templates, free confidential business counseling and workshops that are both local and online. The local branch in the Capital District is located at 1 Computer Drive South in Albany (518) 446-1118 Ext. 233). It is very easy to set up an appointment with them and if you need advice, this is a great way to go. Their website is a great resource too. If you visit http://www.score.org/ you can see a variety of online workshops with tons of different topics like social media and networking, accounting, management, HR, customer relations and much more. They also have a “Tools and Templates” tab where you can download templates for cash flow planning, budgeting, accounting and that’s just the beginning. If you are looking for some ways to grow and expand your business, it’s definitely worth checking out SCORE.
If funding is something you are in need of, either as a start-up, or to grow your small business, The Adirondack Trust Company may be a good option for you. They were voted SBA (Small Business Association) lender of the year for the past 11 years and offer a full complement of SBA products including the Express Program, Basic 7 (a) Loan Program, and SBA 504 Loan Program, lines of credit, equipment financing and real estate loans. They have a total of 12 branches with locations in Saratoga, Queensbury and Glens Falls and offer 6 lenders on staff within the bank. On average, they do about 26 SBA loans a year so it would be worth stopping in to see if they could assist you. What I loved about Adirondack Trust is that when I called, I was immediately able to talk with someone in the lending department who took the time to answer all of my questions. I reached out to a few other local banks and credit unions in the area and I’m still waiting to hear back. The fact that I was able to get ahold of someone right away speaks well for Adirondack Trust and their SBA program could help you achieve your dreams! If you’ve been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, get out there, follow your heart, make educated decisions and live the life you love!
