Starting a new business can be a massive undertaking. Creating a business plan, obtaining loans and developing marketing strategies can feel overwhelming. But in Utah, several organizations want you to succeed and offer resources, mentoring and connections to help build a sustainable business. Here are six places to start. 

Utah Small Business Development Center. Located at Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus in Sandy and in Kaysville at Davis Technical College, the SBDC offers free business consulting. Whether your business is just an idea or a built-out concept, working with SBDC professionals can increase your chance of success. 

SBDC also provides information about financing, customer relations, employee management and business accounting through the Entrepreneur Academy, workshops and training classes. It also hosts networking events to build support so your business can thrive. To learn more, visit utahsbdc.org.

Suazo Business Center. Nearly 10% of Utah businesses are owned by Latino or Hispanic entrepreneurs. Suazo Business Center is often a first step for members of underserved communities to help them build and grow a thriving company. Bilingual consultants offer advising appointments to create an understanding of small business while providing guidance and mentorship.

With locations in Salt Lake and Ogden, Suazo Business Center has classes in Spanish and English to cover topics like QuickBooks, business development, legal structure, accounting and financing. It also has a series of workshops to tackle issues from HR to government contracts. For more information, visit suazocenter.org.

SCORE Utah. With free business mentoring and low-cost educational workshops, SCORE Utah can help expand your network and grow your business. Its online courses allow entrepreneurs to explore all areas of business ownership, including e-commerce, customer service, crisis management and online marketing.

SCORE Academy premium courses offer inexpensive training in grant writing, AI for business or sales, and marketing strategy. Additionally, SCORE will provide a free mentor who will partner with you on your business journey. Mentors give advice and educate business owners to help them feel supported. To learn more, visit score.org/utah.

Utah Microloan Fund. For business owners who might have a low credit score or no access to collateral, the Utah Microloan Fund is a “lender of last resort” that can help entrepreneurs who can’t get traditional business loans. It can offer lending to higher-risk clients because its purpose is about creating impact, not profit. 

For 35 years, the organization has funded microloans to help people build their dreams. By providing training and financing to businesses that don’t qualify for traditional funding, the Utah Microloan Fund is a resource for those who have been declined for a bank loan. The microloans are set at a fixed rate, with up to six years for repayment. 

Plus, its popular Banking on Women program helps women create a business plan and apply for funding to make it a success. Visit utahmicroloanfund.org/orientation for more information. 

Local Chambers of Commerce. For advocacy and networking, the local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to connect with like-minded business owners, find opportunities for promotion and get your company involved with volunteer activities. 

The Salt Lake Chamber is the biggest in Utah, while the South Valley Chamber represents many communities in Salt Lake County, including Sandy, Draper and Riverton. ChamberWest serves businesses in Taylorsville, West Valley, Kearns and West Jordan, and several smaller chambers serve individual cities, like Murray or South Salt Lake. The Davis Chamber is the primary organization for businesses in Davis County.

There are also specialized chambers, including the Utah Black Chamber, the Utah Hispanic Chamber, the Utah Asian Chamber and the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber. For a complete list of Chambers of Commerce, visit utahassociationofchambers.com.

Spice Kitchen Incubator. If you have an idea for a food truck or restaurant, but can’t invest in a truck or brick-and-mortar location, the Spice Kitchen Incubator is an answer to your prayers. Spice Kitchen provides hands-on learning for refugees and other disadvantaged community members interested in creating a food business.

Part of the incubation program includes access to affordable kitchen space, plus capital, operations development and technical assistance. Graduates of the program include Bhutan House, IndieGo Coffee, Wings on Wheels and Waterwheel Kitchen. To learn more, visit spicekitchenincubator.org.