Business Planning and Financial Analysis:
The Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is a great resource offering advising and training for all types of businesses in Vermont. Through one-to-one advising and coaching services, business owners discover, explore, and choose the options that are right for their business and in line with their goals.
We seek long-term, in-depth relationships with business owners and provide no-cost, confidential advising throughout the state. We recommend starting with the Area Advisor who can be found by visiting http://www.vtsbdc.org/location.
For pre-venture entrepreneurs, our “Starting Your Own Business” workshop gives people an understanding of what it takes to build a successful, sustainable business. Additionally, we help connect early-stage business owners with a broad variety of state and local resources to help get them started right.
Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program
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The Ultimate Guide to Business Plans (free guide from Ecommerce University)
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U.S. Small Business Administration
Step by Step Guide by the Small Business Administration
Small Business Resource by the Small Business Administration
Business Plan Template by the Small Business Administration
Tools to conduct an initial Dairy Viability Analysis
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Capital Continuum located in the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, illustrates the entire realm of financing available. Below is a brief overview
General Resources
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Vermont Land Link - Buy, Lease, or Sell Agriculutural Land (underwritten by the Lamoille Economic Development Corporation)
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Vermont Planning Information Center
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Northern Community Investment Corporation
Northern Community Investment Corporation Small Business Technical Assistance Grants
How to Become a Nonprofit in Vermont: A Short Guide to Vermont’s Nonprofit Corporations Law
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vermont
Agriculture Resources
National Good Food Network
Opportunity Knocks: Two Underutilized USDA Programs For Supporting Local and Regional
Food Systems – by the National Good Food Network (webinar)
USDA's Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources webpage
Vermont New Farmer Project – Farm Business Development
Center for Sustainable Agriculture
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Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Peer to Peer Collaborative
Vermont Agricultural Development Program
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Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
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Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities