Start a New Business in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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!
New Jersey Government Agencies
Department of State, New Jersey Business Action Center - NJ BAC
New Jersey’s BAC Small Business Advocates support small businesses throughout the state. From startups to main street businesses, advocates can help you access a variety of resources tailored to meet your needs including:
Mentoring Assistance: From creating a business plan to preparing financial statements or developing valuable social media strategies having a business mentor can help your business succeed.
Financial Resources: Advocates can refer you to a variety of financing options available to your business including micro-lending. They can also assist with credit repair services.
Licensing and Professional Certifications: Services help you trouble shoot issues you may encounter with licensing or professional certifications.
Navigating Regulatory Processes: Advocating on your behalf, NJ BAC can coordinate with other state departments to quickly identify challenges and formulate a sound and effective path forward.
Labor and Workforce Issues: A variety of state training grants and resources are available to help you recruit the best staff or train new and current employees.
Procurement Assistance: From training and technical assistance to request for proposal (RFP) notifications, advocates can provide you with essential information to be better positioned to compete for government contracts.
Export Assistance: From exporting basics and customs procedures to reporting or other topics, International NJ BAC advocates can help you lay the ground work for global success.
New Jersey Department of State
PO Box 300
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Phone: 1-800-Jersey-7
Department of State New Jersey Business Action Center
Business New Jersey
Business.NJ.gov is your one-stop for learning about opportunities and regulations in New Jersey.
Plan Your Business:
Create a business plan
Choose a business structure
Select a location
Building permits and ADA compliance
Leasing tips
Buy an existing business or franchise
Finance your business
Licensing and certification
Start Your Business:
Industry starter kits
Business names
Register your business
Hiring employees
Trademarks, patents, and copyrights
Operate Your Business:
Taxes and annual report
MWBE, SBE, VOB and other certifications
Manage employees
Closing your business
COVID-19 workplace requirements and funding
Grow Your Business:
Funding
Prepare a loan application
Government contracting
Open another location
Exporting
Market your business
New Jersey Small Business Administration - SBA
The New Jersey SBA is supported by a district office in Newark. 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.
The district office in Newark serves all 21 counties in New Jersey.
Examples of educational activities and events include Connecting with Customers and Manage Your Business Remotely; How to Keep Business Records; and New Tax Changes for Small Businesses.
District office:
2 Gateway Center
Suite 1002
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: 973-645-2434
New Jersey Small Business Administration SBA website
New Jersey Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations
New Jersey Small Business Development Centers - NJSBDC
The NJSBDC delivers business advisory services and training to established and new small to mid-sized businesses, and high-impact, growth-oriented businesses. Get free, hands-on counseling from NJSBDC experts who work with you until you have fulfilled your business goals.
Request counseling and they will match you with a NJSBDC business expert to help you overcome your business challenges and help you meet your business goals.
Headquarters
Rutgers Business School
1 Washington Park
Suite 800
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: 973-353-1927
New Jersey Small Business Development Centers website
Additional New Jersey regional offices are located in Atlantic County, Middlesex County, Bergen County, Monmouth County, Burlington County, Morris County, Camden County, Ocean County, Cape May County, Passaic County, Cumberland County, Salem County, Essex County, Somerset County, Gloucester County, Sussex County, Hudson County, Union County, Hunterdon County, Warren County, and Mercer County.
Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship of New Jersey - WCEC
The Women's Center for Entrepreneurship's mission is to empower women to invest in themselves via entrepreneurship by providing necessary resources for women to successfully start, own, operate and grow their businesses.
Workshops, webinars, one-on-one business counseling, educational discussion panels, and networking events are available for women entrepreneurs at any stage in their business journey.
A virtual business accelerator program, GrowthVenture, is available to small business owners with established businesses, looking to scale-up with accountability.
227 Main Street
2nd Floor
Chatham, New Jersey 07928
Phone: 973-507-9700
Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship of New Jersey website
New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners - NJAWBO
NJAWBO (The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners) is the longest-standing statewide women business owners’ organization in New Jersey. It encourages and supports business ownership by women, offering myriad opportunities for networking, collaboration, education, leadership, professional development, and mentoring.
NJAWBO also serves as the voice of women business owners to the New Jersey Legislature.
NJAWBO
P.O. Box 133
Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009
New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners website
SCORE New Jersey
SCORE provides a wide range of services to established and budding business owners alike, including:
Free Mentoring: Confidential business mentoring in person at more than 230 local chapters and partner locations or remotely via email, phone and video. SCORE mentors are experts in entrepreneurship and related fields.
Webinars and Courses on Demand: SCORE regularly offers free online events on topics ranging from startup strategies to marketing and finance. Attendees can watch webinars live, or view recordings online on their own time.
Library of Online Resources: Business owners can also benefit from SCORE’s extensive collection of guides, templates, checklists, blogs, videos, infographics, and more.
Local Workshops: Many local SCORE chapters hold free or low-cost in-person or online workshops and roundtable discussions covering various topics.
Princeton serving Central and Southern New Jersey's Middlesex, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester & Salem counties
Princeton, New Jersey
Phone: 800-634-0245
Southeast New Jersey serving Southern Jersey Shore, from Pt. Pleasant to Cape May.
33 Washington Street
Toms River, New Jersey 08753
Phone: 732-505-6033
Monmouth serving Monmouth County.
765 Newman Springs Road
Brookdale Community College,
ATeC Building, Room 110
Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
Phone: 732-660-5220
SCORE New Jersey 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.
Business New Jersey Growth Funding
Whether you're looking for startup capital or considering a loan to finance the expansion of your business, a variety of opportunities are available.
Funding resources include:
Angel investor tax credit program
Gap financing
Bond financing
R&D voucher program
Child care facilities improvement program
Direct loans
Grants
Disadvantaged business enterprise supportive services program
. . . and more.
New Jersey Educational Institutions
Rutgers University - Business School - Newark and New Brunswick
With top-ranked, competitive programs serving undergraduates and those pursuing an MBA or other business-focused master’s degree, Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick offers an education designed to prepare students to face the challenges and seize the opportunities presented in today’s professional landscape.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship offers students a framework for understanding the entrepreneurial process, and exposes students to challenges, problems, and issues faced by entrepreneurs who start new businesses.
Identify and evaluate business opportunities
Develop a business concept
Assess and obtain required resources
Manage the growth of new ventures
Effectively manage a small business
Avoid common entrepreneurial mistakes
Rutgers Business School—Newark
1 Washington Park
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Rutgers Business School—New Brunswick
100 Rockafeller Road
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
Rutgers University Business School Newark and New Brunswick website
Stevens Institute of Technology - School of Business
Technological innovation and entrepreneurship are the hallmarks of Stevens’ education and research programs. Core learning experiences such as the Program for Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship at Stevens (IDEaS) and the Innovation Expo encourage students to bring their research and new business ideas to life.
Dedicated resources at Stevens, such as the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, provide students, faculty, and alumni with guidance from concept to commercialization, and the Stevens Venture Center completes the entrepreneurship ecosystem, connecting Stevens start-ups to networking opportunities, funding, and other resources critical to accelerating growth.
1 Castle Point Terrace
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Phone: 201-216-5000
Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business website
New Jersey Business Publications
Commerce Magazine
Commerce, the flagship publication of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ), reaches business leaders throughout the Garden State. It is dedicated to covering key business trends and issues and advocating for New Jersey’s business community.
365 West Passaic Street
Suite 490
Rochelle Park, New Jersey 07662
Phone: 201-368-2100
Commerce Magazine website
New Jersey Business Magazine
New Jersey Business Magazine is the Garden State’s longest-standing business publication. Ninety-four percent of readers hold senior management positions at businesses across all industries.
10 West Lafayette Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Phone: 973-882-5004