Start a New Business in Connecticut

The business division of the state of Connecticut is the hub for all things business - whether you’re just thinking about starting a business or your you’re trying to be more efficient and effective at growing your business.

The customized checklist will guide you through the ins and outs of starting a new business wherever you may be in Connecticut.

If your business is already up and running, you can use the site to manage licenses and permits, register new employees, update your business information, access tax forms and stay up-to-date on tax changes, and get a better understanding as to what funding sources and resources are available to you.

State of Connecticut Business Division website

The Connecticut offices of the Small Business Administration provide help with SBA 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.

The main office in Hartford serves Hartford, Tolland, Windham, Litchfield, and New London counties.

The Bridgeport location serves New Haven, Fairfield and Middlesex counties.

Main office:
280 Trumbull Street
Second Floor
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Phone: 860-240-4700

Additional location:
915 Lafayette Boulevard
Room 214
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
Phone: 203-335-0427

Connecticut Small Business Administration SBA website

The mission of the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut.

From starting or growing a business to increasing income, the Women’s Business Development Council drives business success in a tangible and accessible way.

WBDC is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the tools and resources to help women thrive. Services include business advising, entrepreneurial training, financial education, access to capital, grant opportunities, and more.

Southwestern Center
184 Bedford Street, Suite 201
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Phone: 203-353-1750

Naugatuck Valley Center
470 James Street, Suite 007
New Haven, Connecticut 06513
Phone: 203-353-1750

Southeastern Center
61 Bank Street
New London, Connecticut 06320
Phone: 203-353-1750

Women’s Business Development Council WBDC website

The Entrepreneurial & Women's Business Center (EWBC) is part of the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business.

The organization empowers Connecticut-based women and people of color to take control of their economic future by connecting them with training, one-to-one coaching, networking events, and resources to advance their entrepreneurial success.

You will gain access to the latest technology tools to simplify operations and obtain skills and tactics to increase economic prosperity. Coaching and training programs expand your strategic thinking and help you increase engagement within your community.

Free and low-cost services are offered remotely and in-person to women (and men).

Babcock House
260 Girard Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
Phone: 860-768-5681

Entrepreneurial and Women’s Business Center at the University of Hartford website

Connecticut Small Business Development Center is a member of the U.S. Small Business Development Center Network.

Once you've requested advising assistance, you will have access to resources and knowledge to help you achieve virtually any objective you have for your business. Every business is assigned an advisor who works closely with you to deeply understand your business and help you drive it forward.

The Connecticut SBDC provides comprehensive business assistance, exclusive market research reports and management tools, connection to public and private resources and support, as well as no-cost, online business training courses.

222 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, Connecticut 06108
Phone: 877-723-2828

Connecticut Small Business Development Center CTSBDC website

The mission of the Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance Center is to provide marketing and procurement assistance to Connecticut businesses interested in selling their goods or services to federal, state, or local governments. CT PTAC is a statewide program serving all cities and towns in Connecticut.

Assistance comes in the form of teaching, mentoring, coaching, and electronic tools to research and identify government contracting opportunities.

Connecticut PTAC’s services are provided at no charge.

Headquarters:
19-B Thames Street
Groton, Connecticut 06340
Phone: 860-437-4659

East Hartford Office:
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc.
222 Pitkin Street
Suite 101
East Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Rocky Hill Office:
287 West Street
Building 50
Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067

Milford Office:
Parsons Government Center
70 West River Street
2nd Floor
Milford, Connecticut 06460

Bridgeport Office:
Bridgeport Regional Business Council
10 Middle Street
14th Floor
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

Stamford Office:
Women's Business
Development Council
184 Bedford Street
Suite 201
Stamford, Connecticut 06901

Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance Center CTPTAC website

Loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.

United States Small Business Administration SBA website

Connecticut Innovations is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm. It is the leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies. By offering equity investments, strategic guidance, and introductions to valuable partners, the organization enables promising businesses to thrive.

Investment includes venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies.
Connections includes introductions to a vast network of small and big businesses, talent, university researchers, service providers, suppliers and more.
Business advisors include mentors who specialize in your sector or the skills you need, including executives in residence.

470 James Street
Suite 8
New Haven, Connecticut 06513
Phone: 860-258-7858

Connecticut Innovations website

Founded in 1941, the UConn School of Business is one of the most comprehensive business schools in the nation, offering academic programs at the bachelors, masters, doctorate and advanced certificate levels, in four Connecticut locations – Storrs, Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury. The School of Business has established a strong reputation for high quality research, teaching, collaboration and outreach, spanning a wide array of functional disciplines including Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Information Management.

In addition, the UConn School of Business operates the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It provides programs for:
- building a business including a venture building overview, seed funding, gaining traction, and a new venture competition.
- developing a business including an experiential learning overview, BUILD Hartford program, an entrepreneurship bootcamp for veterans, a family business program, and a business consulting accelerator.

2100 Hillside Road
Storrs, Connecticut 06269
Phone: 860-486-2317

University of Connecticut UConn School of Business website

The mission of the Yale University School of Management is to educate leaders for business and society.

Every challenge is a chance to think about both immediate questions and big questions, the metrics of organizational success and impact on people’s lives. School of Management success is measured in how it ultimately affects lives and strengthens communities.

SOM's approach to management focuses analytical tools on the issues you care most about to help you find the ideas and resources to advance toward your real goals.

At Yale SOM, your convictions will be tested by difference and ultimately made stronger. Your experience at SOM will set you up to build thriving organizational cultures throughout your working life.

Edward P. Evans Hall
165 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut 06511
Phone: 203-432-5932

Yale University School of Management website

Central Connecticut State University’s School of Business provides high-quality, affordable, and accessible educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students from Central Connecticut and the greater Northeast region. The business school prepares the next generation of business professionals by empowering students for success in the workforce of today and tomorrow; developing close relationships with regional businesses; responding to employers' workforce needs; and promoting faculty excellence in teaching, scholarly activity, service, and community engagement.

1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, Connecticut 06050
Phone: 860-832-3200

Central Connecticut State University CCSU School of Business website

Programs include Accounting, Applied Ethics, Business Analytics, DEI, Business Economics, Finance, International Business, Management, and Marketing.

In addition to traditional scheduling, the School offers classes at night and on weekends to serve the needs of part-time graduate students from the regional business community, and full-time students.

The School also designs individual programs of study for each student to meet his or her educational goals and professional objectives.

1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, Connecticut 06824
Phone: 203-254-4000

Fairfield University Charles F. Dolan School of Business website

The Hartford Business Journal provides business news, information and analysis for business owners and decision makers. It delivers coverage of business and economic trends, issues and news, and recognizes and celebrates exceptional achievements within the business community. They also connect their readers by hosting interactive events statewide.

The publication delivers business information statewide through a variety of media to help the business community access what it needs. It delivers news, analysis, and information about the business community via its website and its flagship print publication.

The Hartford Business Journal serves the business decision makers in Hartford and throughout Connecticut — people who are developing, managing and growing their business.

100 Allyn Street
Suite 3
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Phone: 860-236-9998

Hartford Business Journal website

New Haven BIZ is a regional publication providing news, information, and analysis for business owners and decision-makers.

They cover business and economic trends, issues and news, and recognize and celebrate exceptional achievements within the region’s business community.

Smart, informed, engaging, and irreverent, people turn to New Haven BIZ to find out who and what is making the region’s economy tick.

900 Chapel Street
10th Floor
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
Phone: 203-937-2148

New Haven BIZ Magazine website