Start Your Business

Getting Started

If you are a first time entrepreneur or doing it again…
planning is paramount

Our state-wide network offers several levels of “how to start” classes, from basic to very detailed. Links to municipal resources to get ready are below. We would be honored take you through the business planning process to help eliminate surprises. We also work closely with regional business start-up mentors, incubators and accelerators to help your business compete.

Topics covered include:

is entrepreneurship for you
deciding on a legal entity structure
basic accounting and tax issues
steps you need to take for permits and licensing
steps to develop a business plan and
basics of product, process and people to make your business work.

Putting it all Together

The four primary categories to consider for business success are:

1) the product or business concept

2) engaging your customers to transact and everything that goes into sales

3) the operations that support the transactions, and

4) the people and legal structures that support all of the above.

We have a fun and enlightening process to uncover potential issues and discover opportunities.

Business License Links by Locality:

Explore Start-Up Resources

We are happy to work with you through your start-up planning. We’ve also provided a host of resources to get you started.

Take 'How to Start a Business' Class (monthly on our Events page)

Join Community Investment Collaborative's Entrepreneurship Cohort

Attend ICAP to Build Your Customer-centric Business Plan

Meet with a SCORE mentor and check out their resources

Learn about writing a Business Plan (30 minute course through SBA)

Explore Legal Requirements for Small Business (30 min. SBA course)

How to Start for Young Entrepreneurs (30 minute SBA course)

An Introduction to Financing Options (30 min. SBA course)

Explore Sales and Customer Engagement (30 min. SBA course)

Watch our Online Marketing for Retailers program

Watch our Online Marketing for Service Businesses

Videos

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Access to Capital

Management

Startups

Sales & Marketing

Finances

COVID

Preparing Your Space Daily

This Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce video showcases strong procedures of Pearl Island, a favorite local restaurant and caterer

e-Commerce and Website Development: Boost My Biz Online

Cameron Nelson, Business Communications and Technology Adviso r for the CVSBDC discusses the variety of websites available to small businesses, the possibilities for upgrading and the estimated costs to accomplish this! He also covers the various e-commerce platforms available, how to select the best based on your specific business needs and how to setup and manage your online storefront or service portal.

How I Started My Social Media Marketing Business Destinee Marketing, LLC

Charlottesville entrepreneur Destinee Wright discusses her path to launching her social media marketing business.

CBIC For the Founders | Bonus Content: Early Stage Financing (26:40)

Watch this video from the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council, as the CVSBDC Director Rebecca Haydock gives this 101 primer on the definitions, distinctions, and expectations of early stage financing options. We will cover friends and family, angel investment, family office, grants, and other non-dilutive financing.

ProTip Tuesday: Bringing Employees Back to Work

Adam Calli, Arc Human Capital founder and Principal Consultant, discusses the ways the workplace needs to adapt to the changing post-coronavirus world, and what policies and implementations employers need to undertake for a safe, healthy, and happy reopening.

Intro to Financing You Business with CIC, SBDC, and First Citizens Bank (1:11:31)

CBIC For the Founders | Session 4: Surviving and Thriving in the Mid-Game (1:06:10)

Learn about opportunities and resources available to the maturing startup. Discover new financing options, best practice financial management fundamentals, technology tools to scale your operations, as well as common pit-falls to avoid as you work to thrive in the mid-game.

Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Explained (1:29:42)

A webinar presented by the Virginia SBDC, Virginia Community Capital and the U.S. Small Business Administration on the Payroll Protection Program loan forgiveness process and criteria. The session covers: Application Overview Schedule Completion Application Completion Safe Harbor Tests Other Tips and Considerations

Business NOW: Cash Flow Management (15:29)

Learn about optimizing the lifeblood of your business: Cash flow

Boost My Biz Online: Service Businesses (52:16)

In partnership with Central Virginia SBDC, The Fellows Group offers tools and tips based on over forty years of experience for doing business online. This one hour video is rich with great suggestions and considerations for your business. We highly recommend plugging in your headphones and taking notes. CVSBDC's counselors are available to put these thoughts into action, and The Fellows Group can take it a step further, executing your marketing and advertising plans.

Marketing Post COVID: Use social Media to tell your story (1:05:08)

Managing a Remote Workforce

With employees suddenly working from home a lot more, managers need different skills and tools to effectively get the job done. Learn best practices for managing virtual teams, creating accountability without micromanaging, and keeping your organizational culture intact.

Marketing Post COVID: Advertising in the New Normal (1:02:08)

In this video Christina Garnett covers: • How to take steps to make sure your ads don’t get flagged for trying to make money off COVID (yes it’s a thing) • How to craft your copy and CTA to make customers want to see you again • What kind of imagery should you stay away from when crafting ads?

Basic cash flow projection (12:14)

Creating a cash flow forecast

Networking in a COVID World

From the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, featuring Don Giannangeli, Charlottesville Business Exchange

Gaining Clarity for Financial Planning: How to Chart Your Course

From the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, with Kimberlee Barrett-Johnson, CFP®, CDFA®, CKA®, President of ArkWise Wealth. Busy, successful people face unprecedented complexity in their financial affairs. How to pursue your life goals? How to ensure your legacy continues? ArkWise Wealth has developed a boutique approach charting your course with clarity, confidence, and contentment. We call it the C3 Navigator. In this session, Kimberlee shares action steps you can take now to get clarity and take control of your personal economy amid the uncertainty we're all experiencing. Kimberlee Barrett-Johnson, CFP®, CDFA®, CKA®, President of ArkWise Wealth, is a deeply engaged community and industry leader who for 28 years has helped people navigate the complexities of increasing wealth and achieve work-optional lifestyles. Focused on helping others gain increasing clarity, confidence, and contentment around finances, she is recognized nationally as a Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor for 2020, Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor for 2018 and 2019 and Working Mother Top Wealth Advisor Mom for 2018 and 2019.

Website Content and Landing Pages: Improving Quality for SEO and SEM

From the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, with James Burton, President of Gig Strategic. Learn how to improve your website for better visibility and results online.

Fanatical Prospecting - One More Call

Jeb Blount, of Sales Gravy, from the stage at OutBound 2018. It doesn't matter what you've sold, only what you sell today.

Getting Started

Putting it all Together

Business License Links by Locality:

City of Charlottesville

Albemarle County

Culpeper County

Fluvanna County

Greene County

Louisa County

Nelson County

Madison County

Orange County

Rappahannock County