Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S S TA R T- U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S Delisle said many would-be busi- ness owners are referred to the SBDC by banks that they've visited looking for financing. e owners are often far away from that stage of business development. When they get to the SBDC, "most people don't know how to put a busi- ness plan together," Delisle says. He also says potential business owners have to know how to use a business plan, know what skills and knowledge they bring to the project, and also know what they don't. Capital is available, but securing it comes in a later step, he says. Business owners have to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and how to fill the gap. "A lot of entrepreneurs don't recog- nize that," he says. "One of the first things a person should do is a self-assessment: 'Why do I want to start a business?' ey should know what their strengths are, but that they're not going to be able to do everything." Community: What will you say yes to? "We tell communities all the time, we counsel them, 'What are you willing to say yes to?'" DelGreco, of Maine & Co., says. "What kind of investment are you willing to make to strengthen the fabric of your community?" He says a community that asks those questions, and makes sure all its leaders are on the same page, are the ones that attract business. "Some are terrible at it," he says. "Every time a new project comes up, there's always a fight." He, like Delisle, says there is capital available, but investors want to make sure they're putting their money behind something that will succeed. "ey're naturally gravitating toward those communities that have a plan," he says. DelGreco says there are many com- munities in the state that embrace new businesses and are doing a good job recognizing what assets are attractive to businesses. One of the biggest mistakes commu- nities make is a lack of professionalism — not being prepared to make a pitch or discuss the community's attributes with knowledge. Another mistake ties into that — the community hasn't done the neces- sary self-assessment. "It doesn't have a good definition of what's important," he says. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Where the Legal World Meets the Real World C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W ( 2 07 ) 94 7 - 4 5 01 w w w. r u d m a nw i n c h e l l . c o m Intellectual Property Employment Entity formation Contracts Financing Incorporation Patents Real Estate Business Disputes Venture Capital Bridging the gap between your business needs and legal needs. REPUTATION | TRUST | EXPERIENCE | RESULTS C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W Portland, ME dunhamgroup.com 207.773.7100 Local Knowledge. Regional Focus. Global Reach. When we say we know the industrial market... ...we're not kidding. The Dunham Group industrial team has more than 85 years of combined experience focused exclusively in industrial real estate. Leading Greater Portland's market, we've sold or leased the majority of the area's industrial properties. Call us today to find the right space for your business. Maine's Industrial Experts for Over 40 Years

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