One-on-one counseling services from 1st step, Inc. are provided without charge.

Business infromation, discussion, and any related interactions are kept strictly confidential.

Find out when a business counselor will be in your area by calling the Chamber of Commerce in Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee or Houghton Counties or the EDC Office in Schoolcraft, Gogebic, or Ontonagon Counties, or the 1st Step, Inc. Office in Escanaba.

The mission of 1st Step is to provide quality counseling, training, research, and advocacy for Upper Peninsula small business. 1st Step will strive to contribute to Michigan's economy by stimulating job creation and retention at the local level through assisting entrepreneurs and assisting businesses grow and prosper.

From the moment you conceive your business idea to your first day in business can be a frightful experience or an exciting and positive adventure. Business success usually means hard work and commitment but getting a business started can be easier than you think if you utilize the experience and assistance available at 1st Step, Inc.

1st Step, Inc. can:

• Provide a sounding board for fresh business ideas.
• Assist you in the preparation of a business plan.
• Refer you to qualified professionals when necessary.
• Identify regulation that affect the business that interests you.
• Help you develop loan packaging.
  

A business opportunity that's right for you may be the purchase of an existing business. A business with an existing track record may be easier to evaluate and finance. While 1st Step, Inc. can assist you in formulating plans for your purchase offer, you should know what you are buying in detail. Such things as the land, building(s), equipment, inventory and good will. Also, what responsibilities or obligations are you accepting as to unemployment tax payments, worker's compensation payments, etc.

Typically, a recent real estate appraisal and the most recent three (3) years of financial statements will be required by the lender.

1st Step, Inc. can then help you prepare a business purchase plan incorporating this data and any operational changes you inend to incorporate.

1st Step, Inc. makes a concerted effort to create referral networks between business owners and other entrepreneurs and also between business owners and qualified experts. These exchanges of information and experiences often take place in the form of training seminars or workshohps sponsored by 1st Step, Inc. These sessions focus on specific topics and typically include general as well as detialed question and answer sessions that heighten attendees' awareness.

If you already have your business "off and running", 1st Step, Inc. can offer you assistance by:

• Identifying and managing resources.
• Helping you explore new markets.
• Designing systems forsmoother business operations.
• Providing you an "idea" sounding board.
• Referring you to the appropriate professionals.
• Offering alternatives in existing modes of business operations.
• Identifying the source of problems.
• Assisting you to develop refinancing plans.

As a member of the State network, 1st Step, Inc. has access to the vast research resources of the MI-SBDC main office. Demographics, marketing information, statistical data, etc., can be provided on request for clients use.

The Michigan-small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) AT 1st Step, Inc. is a member of the MI-SBDC Network and is partially funded by the U.S Small Buiness Administration (SBA) under Cooperative Agreement No. 9-7620-0023-16. Support given by the SBA through such funding does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the cosponsors' or participants' opinions, products,or services. The MI-SBDC is an outreach program of Wayne State University in partnership with the SBA and local center sponsors. The MI-SBDC program is non-discriminatory and available to individuals with disabilities.