Starting Your Business

Step 1: Opportunity Assessment

Beverly Hamile
Exec. Director

Before You Get Started...

Is starting a business the right decision for you? There are various tools to help you determine the answer to this important question. Here are some questions to ask your self are these:

Are you a high achiever?

Are you reasonable risk-taker?

Do you have tolerance for ambiguity?

Do you have Type A behavior?

Are you self confident?

Are you goal-oriented?

Are you action-oriented?

Are you innovative

Are you competitive?

Of course the more answers yes to the above, the better for entrepreneurship! However, there is no real test for owning your own business, just indicators or behaviors that successful entrepreneurs exhibit. If you are interested in taking our "Entrepreneur Assessment," stop by our office to pick up one (it's free); use it evaluate your entrepreneurial capabilities and your business readiness. Spending time on evaluating if you're ready to start a business is time and money well-spent. It is a life decision!

Before you get started, we encourage you to check out the wealth of information, resources, services and expertise available to entrepreneurs and small business owners at ContraCostaMeansBusiness.com - check the Starting a Business panel for lots of useful information.

Step 2: Business Training

Proper Training is a Key to Success!

Recognizing an opportunity is a great start, but don't start your business without proper training.

Find Out About Upcoming New Venture Training Sessions: Click Here

The Contra Costa SBDC offers basic business management training through New Venture Training – a 12-week program designed to help you develop your business plan.

Jeff Hall Cindy Turner George Holmes
New Venture Training Instructors

Step 3: Professional Management Consulting

Gerald Sullivan
Contra Costa SBDC
Senior Consultant

Take Advantage of Our Professional Management Consulting

Once you have the training to run a business and you have a draft business plan, we highly recommend that you take advantage of our FREE professional management counseling services. Our team of management consultants can help you turn your plans and dreams into a successful business operation.

Click here for more about the SBDC's Free Professional Management Counseling Services

Sign Up for Services: Click Here

To Sign Up On-Line for Consulting Services:

Requesting a consulting session is very easy.

Simply click above for our on-line "Sign Up for Services" form.
Fill out the form.
Click "Sign Up" - that's it!

We will contact you to set up an appointment.

And, Make a Commitment to Lifelong Learning

Success in business includes a commitment to lifelong learning. We also highly recommend courses in Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Small Business Management and other topics offered by our excellent local community colleges: