Small Business Center
We offer free counseling to anyone interested in opening their own small business or want to improve on their existing business. These sessions include information on; Business feasibility, financing, bookkeeping, legal structure, developing a business plan, selecting proper location, liability issues, help in securing patents, cash flow, overhead, labor issues, license/regulation issues and any other assistance they may need.
Seminars in Entrepreneurship, sponsored by the Small Business Center
- Marketing Your Business – March 8, 2012
- eBay Basics – March 13, 2012
- eBay Beyond The Basics – March 20, 2012
- Doing Business with the Government – March 26, 2012
- eBay Store – March 27, 2012
- Business Plan Development – March 29, 2012
- Small Business Turnaround – April 10, 2012
- Financial Cash Flow – April 17, 2012
- Quickbooks – April 19 and 26, 2012
- Time Management Secrets – April 24, 2012
- Social Media Networking – May 29, 2012
These are just a few of the seminars we offer to the public and all of them are FREE.
Did you know? In the past 12 months the college's Small Business Center helped nearly 45 new, local businesses get started and 96 new people are now working because of these new businesses. We offer free counseling on business feasibility, business plans, financing, taxes, accounting and all of our seminars are also free.
Turner HD Media
"From the first day he walked into our office, Ted Hamrick, Director of the Small Business Center at Isothermal has been an inspiration and an enthusiastic champion for our business! Ted takes the time to understand what we do and the many challenges we face as small business owners. . ." read more
When Alan Hooper and Vick Ellenburg were ready to start their own business, they turned to the Small Business Center at Isothermal Community College for help and advice on planning and finance options. Less than a year later, their great idea has turned into a successful business. Outpost Sports and Pawn specializes in new and used guns, sporting goods, gold, jewelry and many other items. The store is on Charlotte Road in Rutherfordton.
N.C. REAL
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Learn what it takes in the NC REAL program. REAL stands for "Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning." What it means for you is a six-week, 36-hour, interactive class designed to give you all the tools you need to start your own business and create your own job security. Isothermal offers standard NC REAL classes regularly and also has a specialized program aimed at agriculture-related business. The only cost to you is $18, which covers the cost of the textbook. Find out more today by contacting the Small Business Center.
Read more about the N.C. REAL Program
GATE Program
Growing America Through Entrepreneurship (GATE) is a program designed to help displaced workers travel the path to self-employment. Think of it as a job creation program ... your job creation program. GATE is a scholarship program for custom training and coaching to help you plan and start your business. Do you qualify for GATE? If you've been laid off from work and live in rural North Carolina, you probably do. If you weren't laid off, you may qualify if you've been out of work for 13 weeks or longer. Contact Faye Bishop, Isothermal's GATE counselor, at 828-286-3636, ext. 390.
Read more about the GATE Program
Contact Info
Ted Hamrick
Director, Small Business Center
(828) 286-3636 ext. 203
thamrick@isothermal.edu