Start a New Business in Utah
small business resources for women entrepreneurs
Being a business owner can be daunting, but you don't have to face it by yourself. I’m committed to helping you along the way - whether you’re just starting out or taking your business to the next level. That's why I’m sharing Utah business development resources to support women like you on your entrepreneurial journey.
This is by no means a complete list. It’s a helping hand and a place for you to start researching the best resources for your needs. I believe we all do better when we share information with each other. If you know of a resource that would help our community and you’d like me to add it to this list, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you!
Utah Government Agencies
State of Utah - Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity - Business Services
The office supports Utah entrepreneurs and businesses by utilizing state and federal resources and private-sector contracts to cultivate economic prosperity for all Utahns.
The business services team manages several initiatives facilitating economic opportunities for doing Business in Utah including:
Startup Initiative providing new online resources and original content that give small businesses an entrepreneurial roadmap.
Utah APEX Accelerator
Utah Center for Immigration and Integration
Utah Innovation Center
Utah Small Business Credit Initiative
PO Box 146705
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Phone: 801-530-4849
State of Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity Business Services website
Utah Small Business Administration - SBA
The Utah SBA is supported by a main district office in Salt Lake City and an additional location in St. George. They provide services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
Both locations are available to serve all 29 counties across Utah.
Salt Lake City district office:
125 South State Street
Suite 2227
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138
Phone: 801-524-3209
Utah Small Business Administration SBA website
Additional location:
196 East Tabernacle Street
St. George, Utah 84770
Phone: 435-632-0355
Utah Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations
Women’s Business Center of Utah - WBCUtah
Women’s Business Center of Utah boasts a team of experts dedicated to providing customized advising, education, and networking opportunities to women entrepreneurs in every county of the state.
WBCUtah helps business owners avoid costly mistakes, build confidence, gain critical skills, and implement best practices to run purposeful and profitable businesses.
WBCUtah services are free.
Salt Lake Chamber
201 South Main
Suite #2300
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Cedar City Business & Innovation Center
510 West 800 S.
Cedar City, Utah 84720
Phone: 801-328-5066
Women’s Business Center of Utah website
Utah Women’s Networking Group - UTWNG
The Utah Women’s Networking Group connects members with the people, resources, encouragement, and inspiration to be as successful as they can be.
UTWNG empowers and supports women entrepreneurs by:
connecting members with like-minded business owners and professionals through events and social media.
educating members through events and valuable discussions.
providing members with resources and referrals for growing their business or in their personal lives.
inspiring and encouraging members to live their dreams and accomplish what they are truly passionate about.
supporting local nonprofits that provide valuable services to the community.
Utah Valley Women’s Business Network
The Women’s Business Network is a valley-wide initiative that empowers women to own, serve, and collaborate with businesses in Utah Valley. The WBN focuses on unifying, supporting and building community through hosting events and networking opportunities, utilizing accessible resources, and developing professional skills. The Women’s Business Network is open to all business women in Utah Valley.
2696 North University Avenue
Suite 220
Provo, Utah 84604
Phone: 385-482-2555
Utah Valley Women’s Business Network website
Utah Small Business Development Centers - SBDC
The Utah Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) have training, tools, and access to help business owners succeed in starting, growing and transitioning their businesses. With free, confidential consultation and free or low-cost training, Utah’s SBDC Network is here to help you.
At any stage of your business, certified business consultants are available to assist you with the following services.
Business Planning and Start-up Assistance
Management and Leadership
Business Valuation, Finance, and Capital
Marketing and Sales
Customer Relations
Accounting and Budgeting
Employee Management
Market Research
Cash Flow Management
Government Contracting
Buying and Selling a Business
International Trade
Lead Center:
Salt Lake Community College
9750 South 300 West
Sandy, Utah 84070
Phone: 801-957-5441
Utah Small Business Development Centers website
Additional Utah SBDC centers can be found in Blanding, Cedar City, Ephraim, Kaysville, Logan, Ogden, Orem, Price, Richfield, St. George, Tooele, and Vernal.
National Association of Women Business Owners - NAWBO Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City Chapter of NAWBO represents women business owners in a broad spectrum of endeavors from interior design, marketing, and customized web-based services to restoration, power sweeping, and nontraditional industries like engineering and construction.
The organization’s goals focus on:
helping the community of women business owners create more wealth and economic stability within their companies and communities.
improving the business culture and community to work more efficiently with women-owned businesses.
strengthening members’ partnership capabilities with other businesses, embracing the “Together Everyone Accomplishes More” philosophy.
helping the membership become an influential force and the face of good business throughout the State of Utah.
PO Box 526095
Salt Lake City, Utah 84152
National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO Salt Lake City website
SCORE Utah
SCORE Utah provides free and confidential business advice to entrepreneurs working to start new businesses and grow existing businesses.
SCORE volunteers are successful real-world business professionals with experience in areas such as accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.
SCORE Utah provides:
volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries
free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email, or by video
free business tools, templates, and tips
inexpensive or free business workshops and webinars
Phone: 385-371-6237
SCORE Utah website
Funding - State and Federal Sources
U.S. Small Business Administration - Funding Sources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:
Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.
Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.
Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.
Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.
Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
Utah Educational Institutions
Brigham Young University - BYU Marriott School of Business - Entrepreneurial Management
Entrepreneurs may create and start business ventures to bring ideas to market, while others pursue these efforts as employees in companies ranging from startups to established firms. Others may focus on acquiring, owning and managing business ventures of all sizes and types. No matter where they find themselves, entrepreneurs seek to discover problems and innovate to solve those problems.
BYU School of Business graduates typically create, launch, and manage a new business venture, work for startup ventures or rapidly growing enterprises, or join a larger established company in a product development and business development role.
Previous companies entrepreneurship students have started include: 1-800-Contacts, Allegiance, DearElder.com, J Dawgs, KT Tape, Novi Security, HM Cole, Eco-Scraps, FiberFix, Owlet, Estify, KiTech, and Entrata. Students have also been hired by larger firms such as Kohls, Barclays Capital, General Mills, Aramark, and Qualtrics.
730 TNRB
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah 84602
Phone: 801-422-4081
BYU Marriott School of Business Entrepreneurial Management website
University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business - Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy
The David Eccles School of Business is a place where you launch companies and understand how to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in all you do. It is where the new world of multidisciplinary collaborative business is applied in classrooms and companies in the heart of Silicon Slopes.
The Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the David Eccles School of Business is globally recognized for enabling students to experience entrepreneurship in both theory and practice. Coursework covers building blocks such as ideation, innovative business models, venture funding, strategy, product development, entrepreneurial marketing, and social entrepreneurship. Beyond the classroom, the department offers engagement opportunities through its worldclass institutes and centers.
Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building
1655 East Campus Center Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Phone: 801-581-7676
University of Utah Eccles School of Business Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy website
Utah Business Publications
Utah Business Magazine
Utah Business fosters connection, insight and recognition for Utah’s thriving professional community. Through events, the magazine, and the website, it highlights the ideas, innovations and people behind Utah business success stories.
55 North 300 West
Suite. 500
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Utah Business Magazine website
Salt Lake Business Journal
The Salt Lake Business Journal provides actionable business news to business executives throughout the Wasatch Front.
825 North 300 West
Suite NE220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Phone: 801-533-0556