Business Service Providers

Are you considering a new business idea or already operating your new business in Franklin County? Either way, it helps to know where to turn when you have a question, a challenge, or an opportunity.

There are four key business service providers located in Franklin County.

All four offer a wide-range of free or low-cost resources and services to assist you with key business decisions covering topics like establishing a business, business planning, networking, marketing, budgeting, financing, hiring employees, and ensuring you have the right licenses and permits.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
(State Government)
- Provides no-cost one-on-one business advising and training.
Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI)
(Nonprofit)
- Provides technical assistance, business incubation, and small business loans.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
(Federal Government)
- Access to SBA-guaranteed business loans, mentorship, and technical assistance.
- Maintains a Business Guide and Lender Match program.
Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC)
(State Government)
- Provides no-cost one-on-one counseling and business training with a focus on small, minority-owned, and under-resourced businesses

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Additional Entrepreneurial Support Organizations

Additionally, our local, state, and federal governments as well as other community organizations offer additional resources and services to support entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Federal Government

Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Guide - Comprehensive federal guide for launching, managing, and growing a business
USA.gov - Start Your Own Business - General information on opening a business and specific programs for veterans and minority entrepreneurs
Farm Answers - Clearinghouse of USDA resources to help beginning farmers and ranchers get started

State Government

Ohio Business Gateway - Access to State of Ohio small business resources and services, including registering a business, paying taxes, and much more
Ohio Business Roadmap - Quick steps for starting a business in Ohio
Starting Your Business In Ohio - 2016 guide to starting and operating a business in Ohio

Local Government

City of Columbus - Small Business Builder - Information on starting a business and regulatory compliance in Columbus
Franklin County Economic Development & Planning (EDP) - Technical assistance for businesses within Franklin County including connections to various financing, workforce, and business development resources
For additional resources from other local governments in Franklin County please contact your township or municipality

Community Resources

Central Community House - Academy for Community Entrepreneurs (Nonprofit) - Assists entrepreneurs within the 43205 ZIP code overcome challenges to small business success, offers trainings on business planning, marketing, capital access, and more
Columbus Metropolitan Library (Public Library) - Offers no-cost business classes that focus on marketing, consumer demographic research, and entrepreneurial education
Conway Center for Family Business (Nonprofit) - Educational resources and programs for family-owned businesses in Franklin County and surrounding counties
Dreambuilder (Nonprofit) - Free online business courses for beginning entrepreneurs that are designed for women entrepreneurs but available for anyone
FindLaw - Small Business Law - Comprehensive guide to legal questions facing entrepreneurs and small business owners
K auffman Entrepreneurs (Nonprofit) - Diverse collection of educational resources for entrepreneurs developed by the Kauffman Foundation
Kauffman FastTrac (Nonprofit) - Self-paced training opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs developed by the Kauffman Foundation
OSU - Center for Cooperatives (Public University) - Supports new and emerging cooperative businesses with learning, development, and research
Rev1 Ventures (Nonprofit) - Incubation, capital access, and business support services for high-tech startups, including food and agriculture startups
SCORE (Nonprofit) - Offers no-cost mentorship, training, educational resources for entrepreneurs and business owners. Columbus SCORE offers specific resources for businesses in Central Ohio.
SEA Change (Nonprofit) - Intensive curriculum and incubation for entrepreneurs starting social enterprises
Social Ventures (Nonprofit) - Training, incubation, and capital access for social enterprises

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Business Service Providers