Small Business Resources

Thinking of starting a business in Wilson? START HERE with our definitive 5-step guide to getting started in our market.

How do you define a "small" business?

The answer isn't as simple as you think. In fact, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) has a formulas that factor in numbers of employees, NAICS codes, and gross receipts to determine whether a business officially qualifies as "small". While there is no precise way to qualify a business according to size in our market, for our purposes, the Wilson Chamber of Commerce usually defines a business as "small" when they meet the following criteria:

Is not a government-affiliated enterprise. Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations can be considered small businesses, provided that a majority of their revenue is not tax-derived.

Has local autonomy. Ownership (not just management) decisions are made at the local level, with minimal corporate oversight.

In most cases, will employ fewer than 100 full-time workers. Several of Wilson's small businesses employ many more seasonal or part-time workers, but few have a full-time census greater than 100.

Note that this small business definition is only useful to estimate relative business size in the Wilson market, and is not an official designation of any authority outside the Wilson Chamber of Commerce.

Listed below are tools available to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Wilson. This list is by no means exhaustive, so check here frequently for updates. Furthermore, we understand the constraints many small businesses face, so many of the programs and services listed here are FREE. Please call us if you need more information, or know of a resource that should be added.

Business Link North Carolina (BLNC)

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BLNC offers a central resource for issues common to all small businesses across the state, including: customized licensing information, employer and business structure forms, referrals to state occupational licensing boards, and the Office of the State Small Business Ombudsman. Business counselors offer free, one-on-one advice by calling (800) 228-8443.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund

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CSBDF provides small business loans and business services to start-ups and existing businesses in North Carolina. As a statewide nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the focus of CSBDF is on supporting small businesses in underserved areas. Their mission is to foster economic development by providing capital, business services, and plicy research to support small businesses.

East Carolina University's Entrepreneurial Initiative

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ECU's Entrepreneurial Initiative mainly provides support for start-up companies that are introducing new technologies or processes. The EI will also advise companies for possible venture funding. Eligible businesses must be referred by an Economic Developer, and/or Small Business Center (SBC) or the Small Business and Technology Development Center (see below). Contact: Marty Hackney, Director (252) 737-1345.

Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program (E-TAP)

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Located at the University of North Carolina's Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, E-TAP pairs promising hi-growth companies with some of the school's brightest MBA students. Students are selected based on prior work experience and a passion for entrepreneurship. The program aims to help start-ups and existing hi-growth businesses in economically distressed communities. Selected companies have the potential to grow and are in a range of industries from tourism to manufacturing. Contact: Elizabeth Basnight, E-TAP Manager, (919) 962-8201.

North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development

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NCIMED is a nonprofit management consulting and services firm focused on business diversity. The Institute includes trusted advisors to businesses large and small, government agencies, policymakers and organizations that understand the key role diversity plays in ensuring business and economic success. NCIMED is also home to the Women's Business Center of North Carolina. Contact: Maggie Givens, 919-956-2310.

North Carolina Military Business Center

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The NCMBC Mission is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities to expand the economy, grow jobs and improve quality of life in North Carolina. Their goals are to increase federal revenues for businesses in North Carolina; support the integration of transitioning military, family members, and veterans into the North Carolina workforce; and to support recruitment of defense businesses in North Carolina.

Small Business Center at Wilson Community College

Small Business and Technology Development Center at East Carolina University

Upper Coastal Plain Business Development Center (BDC)

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The BDC is an entrepreneurial business incubator serving startup and existing small businesses in the Upper Coastal Plain Region of Eastern North Carolina. The center offers below market-rate, turnkey office space equipped with all the startup essentials, so you don't have to worry about setting up and contracting for telephones and fax, utilities, Internet, copy center, or receptionist. Contact: Olga Abrams, Acting Manager, (252) 234-5951.

United States Small Business Administration (SBA)

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The SBA is an expansive federal agency whose mission it is to id, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. Local offices help small businesses navigate federal issues such as grants and loans, inports/exports, and government contracting. Contact: North Carolina District Office - Charlotte, (704) 344-6563.

Wilson, City of

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For businesses operating INSIDE the corporate municipal boundaries of the City of Wilson OR its extraterritorial jurisdiction, the staff at the City of Wilson can help you navigate most local regulatory and service matters, including: zoning, permitting, privilege licenses, setting up utilities, etc. To determine if you are subject to city regulations and/or services, contact the Development Services Department at (252) 399-2219.

Wilson, County of

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For businesses operating OUTSIDE the corporate municipal boundaries of the City of Wilson AND its extraterritorial jurisdiction, the staff at Wilson County can help you navigate most local regulatory and service matters, including: zoning, permitting, health inspections, etc. To determine if you are subject to county regulations and/or services, contact the Planning & Zoning Department, (252) 399-2847.

Wilson Downtown Development Corporation

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Historic Downtown Wilson is a North Carolina Main Street Community in recognition of achieving standards for downtown commercial district revitalization. For new or existing businesses interested in relocating to Historic Downtown Wilson, the staff at WDDC can help you find a location for your venture, navigate the development process, and apply for a number of local, state, and federal incentives, including: Historic Preservation Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits, Mill Rehab Tax Credits, and Film Tax Credits. For more information contact the Downtown Development Division at (252) 296-3464.