Business Resources

The first vital step in starting a business is to carefully research and refine your business ideas; then, secondly, start writing your business plan. That includes identifying your reason for starting a business, determining your appetite for risk, and inventorying your skills and strategies. Answer the next three questions:

• Do you want to be your own boss?
• Are you willing and able to work 24-hours a day, 365 days a year?
• Are you flexible enough to face and accept your limitations?

Resources:

The following websites are excellent resources for researching and defining your strategies, skills, risk tolerance, industry, market and product.

• The Maryland Business Express serves as the primary resource for individuals seeking to establish a business within the State of Maryland.
• Harford County Department of Labor, Licensing and Permits
• Havre de Grace Planning Department (Permits)
• The Harford County Public Library Small Business Center offers resources and information to start, run and grow a small business.
• The Small Business Development Center will help you establish and expand your business by providing a variety of management and technical assistance programs and tools.
• Harford County Chamber of Commerce
• Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce
• The Governor’s Office of Business Advocacy and Small Business Assistance acts as a small and minority-owned business liaison in cooperation with the State of Maryland’s various departments.
• U.S Census: Havre de Grace

Incentives and Funding:

• Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program
• Facade & Interior Grant Program
• Harford County Small Business Loan Program