General Business Advice & Technical Assistance

General Assistance

• Contracting with the State of CT: A checklist to prepare for and submit your application for contracting with the State of CT. For more information on what it means to have the state as a client and how to qualify, watch this brief video explaining the benefits and overall process.
• Small Business Glossary of Terms: This glossary breaks down the essential terms you need to know for starting and managing a business.
• Setting Up Shop, A Commercial Space Readiness Guidebook (PDF): Helps small business owners understand and apply real estate concepts to advance their goals by providing an overview of the steps to launching a new brick-and-mortar space.
•  CT Economic Development Catalogue (PDF) : An overview of all the organizations that support Economic Development in our state.
• Cottage Industry Guide (PDF) : A guide for cottage food operators from the CT Department of Consumer Protection.
• DEEP Client Concierge Service: A central point of contact that guides applicants through the environmental permitting and review process. 
• Connecticut Economic Resource Center: Database of Connecticut business programs and services. Site finder services available.
• Hoovers: Find company and industry information.
• Insperity: Human Resources assistance.
• International Trade Administration: U.S. government resource for competing in the global marketplace.
• SCORE: SCORE provides free counseling services, training, guides, and other tools to help you start and grow your business.
• Small Business Administration (SBA): CT District of the U.S. SBA provides help with SBA services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certification, and disaster recovery as well as connection to organization helping small businesses succeed. 
• CT Small Business Development Center: Trained and experienced full-time advisors work with a variety of small businesses in all industries and stages of development by providing no-cost advisory services. 
• Small Business Development Council (SBDCNET): SBDCNET provides timely, relevant research, web-based information, and training to SBDC counselors and their clients.
• Trade Port: Access detailed information about waterborne shipping.
• Trumbull Library: Check out the library’s business database, or ask a librarian for help. 

 Technology Resources

• Cyber Security Readiness (PDF): A cyber security overview. The dangers of cyber security attacks and best practice for preventing them. 
• Cyber Security Tips and Tricks from CT SBDC (PDF): CT Cyber tips, do’s and don’ts, and solutions for protecting your business against cyber threats.