Start & Grow a Business

Our region is a great place to start and grow your business. Below are the five most requested resources, and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you, hear your vision, and make key introductions so your dream can quickly become a reality.

1) Improve your Business Plan: Take advantage of free, face-to-face business mentoring available through SCORE - a national volunteer program with a regional chapter conveniently located in Chapel Hill at the Chamber office, and/or make your business better with expert advice from the Small Business and Technology Development Center - a statewide program with an office in Chapel Hill. 
 

2) Make the Right Contacts: Get a jump on the process ahead. Share your concept with town and county economic development officials. They can give you the latest market figures, demystify the permitting process and regulatory requirements, and clarify the path ahead. Town of Chapel Hill | Town of Carrboro | Orange County | Chatham County | Durham County

3) Access Capital: One of the biggest barriers to starting or growing a business is funding. Rest assured, our region has resources, including small business grants and low-interest loans: Downtown Chapel Hill | Downtown Carrboro | Orange County | Chatham County | Durham County | North Carolina | Financial services and commercial lenders
 

4) Find Space: Finding the right site or space to launch, relocate, or expand your business is no easy feat, but getting started has never been easier. Search commercial property in Chapel Hill, Orange County, and throughout the region and state, and/or work with a commercial REALTOR. 

5) Consider Collaboration: Coworking is a shared workspace, typically for independent workers (freelancers and work-at-home professionals) who value a sense of community and a flexible, collaborative work style. Our region offers several coworking options as well as incubator/accelerator entrepreneurial communities. Learn more: Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP), Perch, Launch, and 1789 Venture Lab. 
 

Additional Resources: Work in the Triangle: Smarter from Any Angle, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina

Questions: Let us help you access important information and navigate the decision-making process ahead. Contact Chamber Chief of Staff,  Justin Simmons, at (919) 357-9982.