Business Coaching

Business coaching is a professional service that helps businesses improve their performance and achieve their goals. This often involves providing expert guidance on various aspects such as strategy, operations, finance, marketing, and management. Business advisors analyze the current state of the business, identify challenges and opportunities, offer actionable recommendations, and sometimes assist with implementation. Their goal is to help business owners make informed decisions, optimize resources, and drive sustainable growth.

Here at CEDC we work to provide guidance and support to business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Coös County. We help identify your business goals, develop strategies to achieve them, and hold you accountable for your progress. Business coaching can also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and we will work with you to improve your performance.

What We Do

  • Perform cash flow review when looking to purchase a business and/or buildings

  • Assist with a business plan and budget preparation

  • Develop marketing and/or E-commerce plans

  • Provide ongoing counseling or connect with one of our partners

  • Help make loans possible for businesses that otherwise might not be able to secure financing

After we have identified your needs, we will design a plan and set up a schedule of meetings to help achieve your goals. Working with your goals in mind, we can help identify resources and funding opportunities as well.

How Do You Benefit?

  • Expert Guidance: A business coach brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, providing insights that can help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

  • Strategic Planning: Business coaches can assist you in developing and refining your business strategy, ensuring that you have a clear roadmap for growth and success.

  • Objective Perspective: A business coach offers an outside perspective, which can help you see your business more clearly and identify areas for improvement that you might overlook.

  • Networking Opportunities: Business coaches usually have extensive networks and can introduce you to potential partners, clients, and other valuable contacts.

  • Skill Development: Business coaching can provide mentorship to enhance your skills or those of your team, boosting overall productivity and effectiveness.

  • Problem Solving: Whether you’re facing financial difficulties, operational challenges, or market competition, a business coach can help you navigate these issues and find solutions.

  • Risk Management: Business coaches can help you identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring your business is more resilient.

  • Financial Insights: A business coach can assist in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, providing you with a clearer picture of your business’s financial health.

  • Growth Strategies: If you’re looking to expand or pivot your business, a business coach can help identify opportunities and develop a strategy to capitalize on them.

Below are the two programs we utilize to support business entities with one-on-one business coaching:

Microenterprise

Since 2012, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Microenterprise Program helps foster economic development by supporting organizations that provide a full range of entrepreneurial training and business coaching services to low- and moderate-income micro-business owners and start-ups (those with fewer than five employees). 

There are additional Grant Opportunities when receiving Business Coaching under this Microenterprise program.

Capacity

The Capacity Business Technical Assistance Program supports our "boots on the ground" small-business coaching and support efforts, providing access to free business planning and consulting, training, loans and other financing and is not size or income-sensitive.

CEDC provides essential services to the business community of Coös County and 4 communities in Vermont: Bloomfield, Brunswick, Caanan, and Lemington. We are a one-stop resource for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to start, grow, and improve their businesses.  CEDC offers free one-on-one business assistance, workshops, networking opportunities, access to field experts, and more.