Most of these agencies also provide technical assistance and financial counselling services.
Maine Community College System
Southern Maine Community College
Maine Business Mentor Resources
SCORE Mentors, sponsored by SBA, provides free and confidential counseling, mentoring and advice to small business owners nationwide via a network of business executives, leaders and volunteers. You can also find mentors by zip code or through local chapters in Bangor, Augusta, Auburn,
Ellsworth, Portland, and Oxford Hills.
Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) provide free business advising to Maine’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. Certified business advisors help businesses at all stages to provide individualized business development assistance to both new and existing businesses. Find an advisor near you.
Business Consultants from MaineStream Finance offer free one-on-one consultation to help create a business plan for a new business. They provide technical assistance for better marketing, financial questions, loan preparation, and many other business issues.
Small Business Development Center at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) offers free one-on-one assistance in business start-up/acquisition, sources of credit and financing, marketing and sales, government procurement, accounting, record keeping and cash flow analysis, operation, international trade and various other business issues.
The Maine Mentor Network from Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development is a group of vetted industry experts who volunteer their time and talent to accelerate the success rate of Maine companies. The network provides expert assistance and mentorship statewide for scalable entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds and programs, including Top Gun, MoneyTrack, and other partner programs.
Innovation Engineering Coaching Program of the University of Maine, in partnership with Doug Hall’s Eureka! Ranch, has developed an intensive Innovation Engineering coaching program to help an individual company (or a small group of related industry partners) generate and commercialize innovative ideas.
For Government Contractors
The GSA’s Mentor Protégé Program mentors companies voluntarily and assists protégé firms in growing their business and competing for federal government contracts and subcontracts.
For Women
Women’s Business Center at CEI offers experienced business specialists who can help at any stage of the business, from start-up to expansion. It offers these services through two separately grant funded programs: the Women’s Business Center at CEI Southern Maine and Rural Maine.
Women’s Business Development Center, affiliated with the MicroMentor online mentor matching program connects small business owners with business mentors throughout the U.S. and locally.
Women Standing Together (WST)
Women entrepreneurs can connect with a community who will support them in the growth of their business. Quarterly round table sessions provide feedback & referrals on the entrepreneur's challenge.
For Entrepreneurs 50+
SBA ECORE Mentoring hosts various events (workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.) to help entrepreneurs 50+ start or grow a business.
For Refugees and Immigrants
StartSmart program with CEI is a free business development program that helps immigrants starting or growing a business.
For Minorities
Minority Business Development Agency consults with minority business owners and help them gain access to capital, write contracts, and conduct market research.
For Veterans
Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers provide veterans with entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring through 15 SBA participating organizations.
Maine International Trade Center
Provides customized counseling and information for manufacturers and service providers.
Maine Export Assistance Center
A federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium-sized companies with their exporting strategies.
Foreign Export Trade Assistance (the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry)
Food Export Helps grow exports of value-added food and agricultural products.
Assistance on Information on Specific Countries
International U.S. Commercial Service Offices
Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN)
Get broad support from writing business plans, marketing, financial planning to international trade etc.
Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
fogler.mbstl@maine.edu
Reference Desk: 207-581-1673