I believe small businesses are the backbone of Oakland County’s economy and will be the foundation of our future growth. The economic conditions of this past decade have made it a greater challenge for entrepreneurs to succeed. That is why my staff at the Oakland County Business Center offer three core services to ensure Oakland County businesses have every advantage to compete.
First, they coach and counsel local businesspeople – from developing marketing strategies to refining business plans – at no charge. A typical year for my staff is to participate in more than 1,400 counseling sessions totaling more than 2,400 hours.
My staff also educates new and seasoned business owners. They hold business workshops that cover a range of topics from pre-business research, how to start your business, how to write your business plan, the fundamentals of marketing to how to prepare for a lender, just to name a few. In 2010, my staff held 75 business workshops attracting nearly 1,200 attendees. Attendance at our business workshops has increased 151% since 2007.
Finally, my staff refers businesspeople to our One Stop Shop, Business Finance Corporation, Oakland County Microloan program, Market Research, and Workforce Development Division, among others. In addition, my staff connects local entrepreneurs with external service providers such as lenders, business attorneys and other related advisory services.
In addition to these core services, my staff at the Oakland County Business Center offers a variety of business planning tools on its website, such as SBA format monthly cash flow projection templates, marketing and business plan formats. I am confident in the future we are fostering for Oakland County’s small businesses.
Join my #Elite40, Charles DeVries, at @AutomationAlley's Annual Golf Outing 6/25 at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth. 
