Business Counseling
Do you want to start a business? Do you want to grow an established business? The Region 2000 Small Business Development Center (Region 2000 SBDC) can help you. As a local non-profit, economic development organization, our consultations are provided free-of-charge to you. Our consultations are also confidential and objective. Give us a call at (434) 582-6170 or email us at to discuss your business issue or idea.
We help aspiring entrepreneurs understand:
- Requirements for going into business
- Requirements for getting a business loan
- Marketing issues and techniques
- Business plan development and implementation
We help experienced small business owners who want to:
- Expand the business
- Solve business problems
- Develop new ideas and enter new markets
- Access expansion capital
We serve individuals and business owners in the Region 2000 area of Central Virginia, consisting of the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, and the cities of Bedford and Lynchburg. Our definition of a "small" business is any business with 100 or fewer employees, and we serve all sectors, including retail, service, and manufacturing, as well as online businesses and home-based businesses.
The Region 2000 SBDC provides a wide range of services:
Consultations
We offer confidential and objective consultations on starting a business, financing a business, financial analysis, recordkeeping, legal forms of business, regulations, government procurement, marketing, business development, and many more business topics. Regardless of the business discipline, we're prepared to assist you.
Business & Strategic Planning
Our business consultants can help you develop a new business plan or to refine an existing business plan. We will assist in identifying your market niche, customers, and competition; and guide you in properly examining your industry's market.
Workshops & Seminars
We offer business seminars and training workshops customized to meet the needs of current and prospective small business owners in Central Virginia.
Referrals
If your business requires more specialized consultation, the SBDC can provide referrals to private sector consultants and additional local service providers.
Resource Information
We maintain a Small Business Resource Library with a variety of support material. The information is readily available for public use.
The Region 2000 SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Region 2000 SBDC sponsors also include the Virginia SBDC Network, George Mason University School of Public Policy, Region 2000 Economic Development Council, Lynchburg Retail Merchants Foundation Inc., and local banks.
