Uncategorised
Business Counseling New
Business Counseling
Want to open a small business but you don’t know where to begin? Are you already in business and want to take your business to the next level? Let the Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance help you to make your dreams a reality!
No matter what stage of business you are in, our free, personal and confidential, one-on-one business counseling can help you focus and plan for your future. Our goal is give you the tools and resources you need to be and stay Open for Business!
We can assist you with all aspects of owning and operating a business, from how to write a business plan to marketing your business on social media!
The first step is the process is to attend Learn, Know, Grow: Intro Small Business Orientation. This free class provides you with an introduction to The WBC and our services. The Small Business Orientation is held twice a month.
Our counselors are GrowthWheel certified business advisors.
GrowthWheel is an online platform that allows for easy collaboration with our clients and offers a ready-to-use business tool library to help small businesses build and maintain their business plans.
Grow Your Business
If you have already successfully started a business and are ready to take the next step, you may be wondering what you can do to help your business grow? There are many possibilities, but you should focus on what's right for your company. Successful growth of your business means thinking about the present and the future. Forecasting and planning are critical components in looking forward.
WBS Staff is available to work one-on-one with you to identify your specific business challenges and offer Business Wellness Assessments to help you strategize on improvement and expansion opportunities. Contact us today to see how we can help your business grow and thrive!
Access to Capital
One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face when starting or growing their business is finding the money to do it! Business owners may rely on a number of sources for capital, such as personal savings, friends and family, financing through banks or credit unions, online campaigns, or Angel investors or Venture Capital Investors. In some situations, there is another option….a microloan through Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services.
SBA Microloan
As a Microloan Intermediary, Cornerstone Small Business Services can provide small business loans to both women and men whose business is located in Berrien, Cass of Van Buren Counties.
SBA Microloans between $500 and $50,000 are available to for-profit businesses in need of small-scale financing for items such as working capital, inventory, machinery or equipment.
Eligibility:
- Business location must be in either Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County
- A Minimum credit score of 525
- Income that exceeds your personal expenses
- No outstanding tax liens or delinquencies on child support or federal debt
- Collateral that will cover the debt
- Business Plan with projections or two years of business financials.
If you feel that you need support in any of these areas before you apply, we invite you to consider our Business Counseling service and Business Education programming.
The Microloan Program is program of the Renaissance Development Fund at Cornerstone Alliance and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). All SBA programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Cornerstone Alliance, 80 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.
Cornerstone Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
DreamBuilder
DreamBuilder is an online learning program developed for women entrepreneurs who are starting or growing small businesses. Comprised of courses that focus on the basic building blocks of business, DreamBuilder is flexible and offers lessons in bite-sized pieces. Participants must answer questions that require them to apply the course concepts to their own businesses and the answers are stored in a business plan template, which runs hidden in the background. After completing all courses, participants have the first draft of a business plan, which they can edit, save, and print.
The knowledge and tools you need to start or grow your own business are just a few clicks away. Visit www.dreambuilder.org/wbccornerstone to start your business plan today!
Business Resource Center
The Business Resource Center (BRC) provides clients with counselors, computers, and software to help with starting or expanding a business. Computer workstations with Internet connections are available for client use. The Center also offers a printer, copier, workstations and other resources.
The Business Resource Center is located on the 1st floor of Cornerstone Alliance offices at 80 West Main in downtown Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Center is open Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm and Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Credit Reports
HOW TO GET YOUR CREDIT REPORT:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union - must provide you with a free copy of your credit report at least once every 12 months, at your request. This includes the information in your file and a list of everyone who has recently requested it.
Each of the three major reporting agencies keeps its own records that could differ slightly, so you will want to request a copy from each of them. The three agencies have set up one central website, toll-free phone number, and mailing address through which you can order your free annual credit report.
You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report if someone has taken adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit or denying you employment. In this instance, you must make a request for your report within 60 days of receiving the notice of the action. You are also entitled to one free report every 12 months if you are unemployed looking for work, are on welfare, or if your report is inaccurate due to fraud. To find out how to get your credit report from each agency, call or visit the following web address: