The Oakland County Business Forward Resource Hub is a regional referral network that links area entrepreneurs and business owners to local, regional and state resource partners who provide services to help businesses grow and prosper.

Any not-for-profit, government, or educational organization that serves entrepreneurs and small businesses can be included in the online platform. There is no cost to be listed. Simply complete the online form below.

We look forward to you joining our entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Overview

Some organizations support all types of entrepreneurs and business owners, others specialize in serving only specific sub-groups. In each category below, please check the types of clients which you provide direct technical services for. Please mark all that apply, see below for an example.

Example
Support Specialize Description
Your organization provides this option
Your organization specializes in providing this option
Your organization does not provide this option

Opportunity Populations

Does your organization specialize in serving one or more of the following audiences?

Support Specialize Opportunity Populations
African American
Asian
Hispanic
LGBTQIA
Middle Eastern North African
Native American
People with Disabilities
Returning Citizens
Veteran
Woman
Youth

Business Type

Select the types of business your organization serves.

Support Specialize Business Type
Innovation-led
Main Street
Microenterprise
Second Stage


Business Stage

Select the stages of business your organization serves.

Support Specialize Business Stage
Inception / Idea
Start-upStartups are companies or ventures that are focused on a single product or service that the founders want to bring to market. These companies typically don't have a fully developed business model and, more crucially, lack adequate capital to move onto the
Growth / ExpansionExpansion is the phase of the business cycle where real gross domestic product (GDP) grows for two or more consecutive quarters, moving from a trough to a peak. Expansion is typically accompanied by a rise in employment, consumer confidence, and equity.
MatureA mature firm is a company that is well-established in its industry, with a well-known product and loyal customer following. Mature firms typically face steady competition and exhibit slow and steady growth.
Exit StrategyA business exit strategy is an entrepreneur's strategic plan to sell their ownership in a company to investors or another company. An exit strategy gives a business owner a way to reduce or liquidate their stake in a business.


Cost Structure

Support Specialize Cost Structure
No cost
Low cost
Both
For Profit

Industry

Select the industries your organization serves.

Support Specialize Industry
Agriculture
Arts
Bioscience & Manufacturing
Construction
Education
Energy & Utilities
Finance & Insurance
Health & Childcare
High Tech Services and Manufacturing
Information Technology
Management
Manufacturing
Mining
Not for Profit
Online Business
Other Services
Personal Services
Professional Services
Real Estate
Restaurant
Retail
Tourism
Transportation & Warehousing
Wholesale

Services You Offer

This section will match prospective clients with the services you offer. The services indicated will determine what assistance clients are contacting your organization for assistance with. Please use the list below and indicate ONLY those services that you directly provide, as opposed to services for which you would know where to refer the client. This will save entrepreneurs time and your organizations frustration. Please indicate a specialty area if one applies.

Accelerators and Incubators

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Accelerator
Incubator

Business Planning

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Business Plan Consulting
Business Succession Planning
Demographic and Census Data
Diversification
Feasibility Studies
Forming a Business
Identification and Research of Foreign Markets
Market Plan Development
Market Research

Buying or Selling a Business

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Buying or Selling a Franchise
Purchasing or Selling an Existing Business
Tax Services
Valuation

Child Care Startup Assistance

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Child Care Consulting

Economic and Site Development

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Broadband
Economic Development
Economic Forecast
Environmental Compliance
Lease Review
Revitalization
Site Location Assistance
Tax Credits
Watershed Planning

Events and Community Building

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Hackathon / Startup Week or Weekends
Match Maker Events
Neighborhood Fairs and Festivals
Pitch Events
Startup Drinks
Supplier Diversity Events

Financial Resources and Assistance

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Accounting and Bookkeeping
Angel Investment Providers
Bonding
Crowdfunding Preparation
Debt Funding Preparation
Disaster Loans and Grants
Equity Funding Preparation
Financial Modeling
Financial Statement and Cash Flow
Government Funding
Grant Funding Providers
Insurance Requirements
Lift Loan
Loan Providers
Matching Fund Providers
Microloan Providers
Oakland County Revolving Loan Fund
Real Estate Finance
Revenue Based Financing (i.e. factoring)
SBA 504
Tax Credit Providers
Technology Grant Providers
Trade Show Financial Assistance
Venture Capital Providers

Human Resources, Workforce and Talent

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Apprenticeship
Childcare Resources
Disability Services for Employees
Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Employee Development
Heathcare
Hiring and Firing
Industry
Insurance
Leadership/Professional Development
Policies and Templates
Recruiting
Re-Entry Support
Retention
Workforce Incentives
Workforce Training

Import and Export Assistance

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Certification and Licensing
Financial Assistance for Exporting Activities
Identification/Research of Foreign Markets
Locating Foreign Distributors
Networking/Exploring Exporting
Trade Education and Training

Internship Programs and Student Services

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Business Degree Program
Internship Program
Student Marketing Projects
Student Placement
Student Research Projects
Student Training
Youth Entrepreneurship Education

Legal Services

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Contract Review
Employee Relations
Environmental Compliance
Eviction Support
Forming a Business
Labor Relations
Lease Review
Patent Seminars
Patent, Trademark & Copyright Information

Libraries and Research

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Business Research Resources
Company Data/Prospect Lists
Demographic/Census Data
Industry Data
Lifestyle and Psychographic Data

Management Issues

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Human Resources
Insurance Requirements
Leadership/Professional Development
Recruiting Assistance

Manufacturing, High Tech, Life Sciences Development

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Augmented / Virtual Reality and Holographics
Commercialization
Hazardous Waste Generation Avoidance Training
Health and Safety Training
High Tech Development
Industrial Technology Research
Life Sciences Development
Manufacturing Development
Pollution Prevention
Quality Improvement (Supply Chain, Six Sigma)
Science/Bioscience Seminars
Small Scale Manufacturing
Technology Transfer
Wet Lab Incubator

Marketing and Sales

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Advertising
Award Recognition
Call Center Services
Competitive Analysis
Demographics/Census Data
E-Commerce/Internet Marketing
Feasibility Studies
Identification/Research of Foreign Markets
Market Plan Development and Training
Market Research
Social Media Consulting
Student Marketing Projects
Website Development

Mentoring

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Formal Mentoring Programs
One-on-One Counseling
Peer Mentoring

Networking and Associations

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Demographically Based
Ethnicity Focused
Geographically Based
Home Based
Industry Specific
International Trade
Small Business/General

Healthcare Provider

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service

Nonprofit and Social Enterprise

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Accounting
Board Development
Funds Development
Grant Writing
Human Resources
Organizational Audits
Strategic Planning
Technical Services

Operations and Logistics

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Freight and Distribution
Hazardous Waste Generation Avoidance Training
Health and Safety Training
Locating Freight Forwarders/Customs Brokers
Pollution Prevention
Quality Improvement (Supply Chain, Six Sigma)

Professional Business Partners

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Legal Services
Marketing
e-commerce
Accounting & Finance

Product Development

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Patent Information
Product Assembly and Packaging
Product Design and Development
Prototype Development
R&D Support

Public Policy and Government Relations

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
African-American Business
Asian-American Business
City Business Issues
County Business Issues
Hispanic Business
LGBTQIA Business Issues
Native-American Business
Rural Business Issues
Small Business Policy
State Business Issues
Women's Business Issues

Regulatory Compliance

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Bonding
Certification
Codes
Environmental Compliance
Government Requirements
Insurance Requirements
International Regulatory Compliance
Patent Information
Registration, Licenses and Permits
Trademark and Copyright Information

Selling to the Government and Large Corporations

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Bid Matching and Preparation
Government and Military Specifications
HUBZone Certification
Obtaining Certification
Obtaining Corporate Contracts
Obtaining Government Contracts
Price History
Registration Assistance
Selling to Foreign Governments and Businesses
Subcontracting Opportunities

Space

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Commercial Kitchen Facilities
Conference/Meeting and Event Space
Coworking
Lab Space
Lease Review Assistance
Makerspace / Hackerspace
Office Space
Retail Space
Site Location Assistance
Wet Lab

Starting a Business

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Business Research Resources
Feasibility Studies
Forming a Business
Home-Based Business Training
Registration, Licenses and Permits
Site Location
Startup Business Counseling
Startup Classes

Tax Services

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
State and Federal Tax Training
State Tax Credit Information
Tax Credits
Tax Preparation Assistance
Tax Registration

Technical Assistance

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Bookkeeping/Accounting Software Training
Coding Schools, Bootcamps, Classes
Commercialization
Cyber Security
Design Services
Industrial Technology Research
Pollution Prevention
Technology Transfer
Virtual Consulting and Online Services
Website Development

Training

Provide Service Specialize in Service Service
Bookkeeping/Accounting Software Training
Budget, Cash Flow and Financial Statements Training
Business Management Training
Business Plan Training and Assistance
Diversity Equity and Inclusion
E-Commerce/Internet Marketing
Hazardous Waste Generation Avoidance Training
Health and Safety Training
Health Care Training
Home-Based Business Training
Human Resources Training
International Trade Education and Training
Marketing Plan Training
Online Courses and Videos
Startup Classes
Trade Education and Training