Free Business Counseling

Take advantage of three ways to receive free business counseling through the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.

Individual Business Counseling

Make a one-on-one confidential appointment with Senior Small Business Specialist Bruce Hayes of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Or, make an appointment with a representative of SCORE – the Service Corp. of Retired Executives. To make an appointment, contact Vicky Jones at vjones@blountchamber.com.

Business Start-Up Seminars

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) offers free assistance to helpstart, grow and develop successful, thriving businesses. If you are thinking of starting a new business, attend a business start up seminar offered monthly to answer any questions you may have concerning licenses, permits, legal forms of business organization, business planning and financing. These seminars are free to Chamber members as well as non-members. Dates are listed below and are conducted at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, 201 S. Washington St. Maryville, TN. 37804. To sign up , contact vjones@blountchamber.com or call 865-273-1207.

This course cover Small Business Administration (SBA) loan options including which loan program meets a specific entrepreneurial need. The session begins with the 5 C's of credit, character, cash flow, collateral, capitalization and conditions, then transitions to an overview of SBA's actual loan programs. Specific information will be shared about interest rates and repayment terms plus our participating lenders.

The Business Start-up Seminar from 9 a.m. and concludes at noon on the following dates:

March 30
April 17
May 15
June 19
July 17
August 21
September 11
October 16
November 20
December 11