With ADC, you can start or expand a business with the confidence that you have the knowledge for success and an effective community advocate.
Entrepreneurial Training Program
Entrepreneur trainings/workshops are held throughout the year with two-day classes scheduled in the Twin Cities for February, April, June, August, October, and December. Classes in Greater Minnesota are scheduled on need basis. During this class, prospective and new business owners will learn HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN:
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A BUSINESS PLAN is a tool for understanding how your business is put together. You can use it to monitor progress, hold yourself accountable and control the business's fate. And of course, it's a sales and recruiting tool for courting key employees or future investors. Writing out your business plan forces you to review everything such as your value proposition, marketing assumptions, operations, financial, and staffing plans. As part of your operational plan, you'll lay out major marketing and operational milestones. The plan becomes a baseline for monitoring your progress.
But even more than a tool for after-the-fact learning, a plan is how you drive the future. When you write, "We expect 50 customers by the end of year one," it's not a passive prediction-you don't just wait for the customers to show up. It becomes your sales force's goal. The plan lays out targets in all major areas: sales, expense items, hiring positions and financing goals. Once laid out, the targets become performance goals. So viewing your plan as a fund-raising tool is just the beginning of the story. You'll use the plan for so much more-for managing yourself, for operating the business and for recruiting. And of course, a well-written plan is great for attracting talent.
Financing / Small Business Loans
Eligibility Requirements: Successful completion of the ADC Business Development workshop or a business that has a proven record of successful operations for more than a year.
ADC’s loans are for those who don’t qualify for traditional financing. Loan are available to small and medium-sized businesses located in the Twin Cities metro, St. Cloud, Rochester, Owatonna, Faribault, Mankato, Willmar and Marshall. Eligible borrowers include individuals, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives. The money for the loan fund may come from different sources; some of those sources limit where, geographically, the funds can be used.
Loan Products
Microloans:
For startups and existing small businesses, loans up to $50,000.
Small Business Loans:
For Startups and existing businesses, loans up to $350,000. ADC is an approved SBA Community Advantage (CA) lender. These loans benefit businesses operating in underserved areas for working capital, etc. These are 7(a) SBA Guaranteed Loans.
Large Business Loans:
Exposure over $350,000 is categorized as Large Loans.
Sharia Compliant / Asset Based Financing:
For startups and existing small businesses. Buy and sell agreements for assets like vehicles, equipment etc.
a. Exposure up to $10,000 or less can be approved internally by ADC Internal loan committee if the risk is acceptable.
b. Exposure up to $50,000 is categorized as Microloans
c. Exposure up to $350,000 is categorized as Small Business Loans
d. Exposure over $350,000 is categorized as Large Loans
ADC’s loans include -
Fixed interest rate / ROI, Monthly repayment for up to 5 years or more. Real estate loans generally have at least 10-year term. No pre-payment penalty, One-time commitment fee, plus collateral filing fees. Complimentary post-loan support (Technical Assistance): accounting, marketing, human resources, legal, and more
ADC’s loans can be used for -
Leasehold improvements, inventory, supplies, working capital, machinery, equipment or property purchases etc.
Participating on Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP)
The Business Technical Assistance Program or B-TAP program was created to provide consulting support to businesses located in the City of Minneapolis. Through B-TAP, the City contracts with local non-profit organizations focused on entrepreneur training and economic development to provide direct services to new and existing businesses. Small- and medium-sized businesses located in Minneapolis are eligible to receive the services. Considering starting a new business in Minneapolis,
Looking to expand business operations in Minneapolis, Pursuing certification as a Minority- or Woman- Owned Disadvantaged Business, Need general business advice.
Click here for more info on how your business can access these services through Minneapolis B-TAP program.
Participating on Elevate HennepinTM Initiative
Elevate HennepinTM , an initiative from Hennepin County, is designed to support businesses of all sizes in their efforts to grow, create jobs, and evolve. Through this effort, businesses located in or operating in Hennepin County can access no cost advising, find business events, and identify local, state, and federal business-support resources.
Businesses can get up to 25 hours of insight, technical assistance, or consulting from each advisor. The more than 20 advisors have expertise in all manner of business topics, including:
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Finance
- Legal
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Web development
- Human Resources
- Strategic planning
- Loan and grant consulting
To get started, visit ElevateHennepin.org or reach out to [email protected] to connect with a business navigator to help navigate this incredible resource.
