What gaps do you see/what additional resources do you wish were available for small business owners in Abbeville County?
“More financial and location assistance at start-up and throughout business development.”
Money is, of course, going to come up when you ask potential and new entrepreneurs, but there are plenty of other resources that have a big impact on the long-term survival of a small business.
Current/potential small business owners said:
- One-on-one support
- Hands-on mentorship
- Professional space vs. retail
- Networking opportunities
- Specific data analysis for retail categories: What types of goods are missing in Abbeville?
- Workshops/online
- Not knowing what is available—is available data reliable and current?
Small business providers said:
- Organized incubator programs
- Grants for start-ups
Other interested individuals said:
- Maker space/co-work space
- Organized mentoring like SCORE
- We need transportation for people to get to businesses
- Financial loans
- Full community awareness
- Social media
- Not knowing exactly how to begin the process