Small Business Center
Small Business Center at Catawba Valley Community College
When you start up–and grow–a profitable business, you make a positive impact on the economic health of our region. Our job is to provide you with the resources and assistance you need. Your job is to take a chance, and to become an entrepreneur. Our mission is to help new businesses get started and to help existing small businesses expand, increasing the number of businesses and jobs in our community.
Programs and Services
- One-on-One confidential business counseling to assist you with business planning, licenses and permits, and more. To schedule a confidential counseling session, click here on our Request for Counseling form link.
- Guest counselors and advisors who can assist you with social media, marketing, and accounting.
- Workshops/webinars on starting and growing a small business, and programs to assist in with marketing, taxes, funding, bookkeeping and more. Click here to see our program schedule.
- Targeted referral to local and regional partners
- Networking events
- Ready access to the Small Business Center, the college and community resources
No Fees
The Small Business Center Network is funded through a grant from the state of North Carolina, so counseling services and training seminars are available at no cost.
Location
The Small Business Center is in the CVCC Executive Office (formally Corporate Development Center) which is located at 2664 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory NC 28602.
Statewide Network of Services
The Small Business Center at CVCC is one of 58 centers that comprise the Small Business Center Network of the North Carolina Community College System. Each is charged with providing high-quality, readily-accessible information, education, counseling and referrals.
Small Business Centers are funded in part by the local college, in part by local governments, and in part by state tax dollars. The North Carolina Community College System is the parent organization for Small Business Centers. They exist to help you gain access to the knowledge and skills you need to become and remain a successful business owner.
The CVCC Small Business Center offers FREE seminars and workshops to the public. Most are online for your convenience. After you register, you will be contacted by email with information and the seminar or workshop online link.
» CVCC Small Business Center – Training Events and Webinars
» NC Small Business Center Network – Training Events and Workshops sponsored by the State
If you have a disability that requires special accommodation, please contact the Small Business Center 72 hours prior to the event or contact the Counselor for Students with Disabilities, at [email protected].
The CVCC Small Business Center and the NC Small Business Center Network classify nonprofit organizations as nonprofit businesses which contribute to the NC economy and to our quality of life. The Small Business Center hosts seminars geared to the leadership of nonprofit organizations throughout the year, and our counseling services are also available to nonprofits.
Classes and Webinars
Please view the Seminars and Workshop webpage to view available classes. They will be noted as non-profit.
Previous Small Business Center seminars for Nonprofits have included:
- Grant Writing 101: What the Pros Know
- Fundraising Fundamentals
- Engage Your Nonprofit Board of Directors
- Effective Fundraising with Your Board
- Storytelling for Your Nonprofit
- Marketing Strategies for Your Nonprofit
- Grant Writing 101: What the Pros Know
- Show Me the Money: Effective Grant Research
- Identifying Needs and Building Budgets
- How to Craft a Written Fundraising Plan
Resources for Your Nonprofit Organization:
» NC Secretary of State, Forms to Create a Nonprofit Organization in NC
Information on how to start a 501(c)(3) organization from the » NC Center for Nonprofits (PDF).
Request for Counseling
We provide one-on-one, confidential counseling to start-ups, business owners and managers. We do more than serve as sounding boards—we help you find real-world solutions to your most challenging business problems.
Within our center and our statewide Small Business Center Network, help is readily available on topics as diverse as creating your business plan, taxes, marketing research, market analysis, business finances, start-up capital, expansion planning and more.
In order to meet your needs, we have forged alliances with area banks, legal firms, accountants, chambers of commerce, economic development commissions, employment security commissions, as well as the career and degree education teams at Catawba Valley Community College. We also work closely with our local economic development partners at the SBTDC (Small Business and Technology Development Center).
When appropriate, we will refer you to one or more of these other fine partners, all of whom share our interest in your success as a small business owner.
To schedule a confidential counseling session for help planning your business start-up or expansion, click on the Request for Counseling form below.
Resource Library
In addition to our seminars and courses, we provide a library with a rich array of materials for independent study: business periodicals and best selling books on business principles and practices; guides for conducting online and print research; license information; sample financial statements, business plans and tax returns.
Our resource center also includes computers with internet access so you can go online to conduct research. Call or visit and check out our resources.
Business Registrations, Licenses, Permits, Tax ID Numbers, Articles of Incorporation, Patents and Trademarks
| Level | Governing Agency | Purpose | Document Name, ID Number, or Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (City and/or County) | Register of Deeds, Tax Office, Zoning Office, City Hall, and County Seat | Registration of your business name (sole proprietor), assessment of your business property for tax purposes, authorization, new construction/compliance for business in home, and tracking and regulation of select business types | Certificate of Assumed Name, Business Property Tax Listing/Acct number, Zoning Permit, Privilege License |
| State | NC Secretary of State, NC Dept. Revenue, NC Dept. Revenue, NC Secretary of State | Formation of a corporation (C or S Corp, LLC, LLP), ID number for your state income tax and employee payroll withholdings and ID number for your sales and usage tax remittances, tracking and regulation of select business types, protection for a unique company or product name and/or logo | ID number for your federal income tax and employee payroll withholdings, protection for a unique company or product name and/or logo |
| Federal | IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and US Patent and Trademark Office | ID number for you federal income tax and employee payroll withholdings, protection for a unique company or product name and/or logo | EIN (Employer Identification Number) and Trademark Application |
Forms Online
- Certificate of Assumed Name Application (choose appropriate entity, complete/submit to local Register of Deeds)
Assumed Name Registration Forms - Catawba County Business Property Tax Listing Form (complete and submit to local Tax Office)
- Alexander County Business Property Listing Form (complete and submit to local Tax Office)
- NC Articles of Incorporation: C Corp, S Corp, LLC, LLP (complete and submit online)
NC Secretary of State – Corporation Division - NC Business Registration Application: ID numbers Income Tax Withholdings, Sales/Use & Fuel Taxes (complete and submit online)
NC Dept. of Revenue – Online Business Registration - NC Privilege License App, Professionals, Loan Agencies, Check Cashers, Pawnbrokers (complete and submit online)
NC Dept. of Revenue – Application for State Privilege License (PDF) - NC Trademark Application (complete and submit online)
NC Dept. of Secretary – Trade Mark and Service Mark Forms (PDF) - Federal EIN Application (complete and submit online)
IRS – Employer ID Numbers - US Trademark Application (complete and submit online)
US Patent and Trademark Office – Initial Application Forms
City, County, State, and Federal Resources Contact List
- City Planning
- Hickory – (828)261-2230
- Taylorsville – (828) 632-2218
- Newton – (828) 695-4305
- Register of Deeds
- Catawba County – (828) 465-1573
- Alexander County – (828) 632-3152
- Tax Office
- Catawba County – (828) 465-8414
- Alexander County – (828) 632-4346
- Zoning Dept.
- Catawba County – (828) 465-8380
- Alexander County – (828) 632-1000
- NC Commerce – (800) 228-8443
- NC Secretary State – (919) 807-2225
- NC Dept. of Revenue
- Hickory – (828) 327-7474
- Raleigh – (919) 733-3991
- NC Dept. of Labor – (919) 856-4770
- NC Division of Employment Security – (828) 466-5535
- Patent & Trademark Office
- State – (919) 807-2162
- Federal – (800) 786-9199
- Economic Development
- Catawba County – (828) 267-1564
- Alexander County – (828) 632-1161
- Chambers of Commerce
- Catawba County – (828) 328-6000
- Alexander County – (828) 632-8141
The CVCC Small Business Center provides many free resources to assist start-ups and small businesses, including on-demand and online option, including:
HP LIFE Online Entrepreneurship Training
The NC Small Business Center Network offers free self-paced online business learning through HP LIFE Online Entrepreneurship Training. The training is available on demand, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week! Featuring modules on key business growth topics such as Cash Flow, Effective Business Websites, Basics of Finance, Hiring Staff, Inventory Management, Marketing, Sales Forecasting, Selling Online, Social Media Marketing, and more, HP LIFE supplements SBC seminars and counseling services—at your convenience!
This service is available through a partnership between the NC Small Business Center Network and the Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
To access this free program, visit HP LIFE Online Entrepreneurship Training to get started.
Entrepreneur Exchange Podcast
Jeff Neuville, Director of the Manufacturing Solutions Center and Gary Muller, Executive Dean of Business partner with The MESH Podcast Network to host the Entrepreneur Exchange podcast, a monthly podcast which provides advice and insight on issues important to start-ups and small businesses. Visit the Entrepreneur Exchange home page to listen online or download the Entrepreneur Exchange to your mobile device from iTunes or other popular podcast outlets.
Keep in Touch
Visit the SBC’s Facebook page to see what is happening at the Small Business Center and join our email list to get regular updates about seminars, workshops, and community activities for start-ups and small businesses.
Links for More Help
» US Small Business Administration
» Business Links for North Carolina
» NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
» The Chamber of Catawba County
» Catawba County Economic Development Corporation
» Alexander County Economic Development Corporation
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Contacts
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