The Official Website of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED)

Housing and Economic Development

Small Business Community in Massachusetts

Small Business Community in Massachusetts represents:
  • Number of firms with 19 employees or less: 126,300 that is 86% of all MA firms
  • Number of employees in firms with 19 or less employees: 518,500 that is 17% of all employees
  • Number of “Non-employers”: 458,000 (i.e., Sole Proprietors)

Services are provided by:

Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (OSBE), which mission is to create policies and programs to support small businesses & entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth of MA.

OSBE is the most valuable resource for Small Business Community, and utilizes the following business development tools:

  • Small Business Assistance Advisory Council
  • FY 2008 Governor’s Budget:
  • Technical Assistance Grants & Office
  • MA Small Business Development Centers

Access to a wide spectrum of available financing and funding, including:
Technical Assistance Grants
Best Practices
Professional Services
Small Business Procurement Program

There are many additional resources available such as:

Technical Assistance Resources

  • Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
  • Community Development Corporations (CDC)
  • Other Technical Assistance Providers (Other)

Financial Assistance Organizations

  • Quasi’s: (i.e., CDFC, EST, MTDC, MassDevelopment, MTC)
  • Alternative Lenders (i.e.,Certified Development Companies, Micro)

State & Federal programs

  • Workforce Training Fund
  • Career Centers
  • Departments of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulations, Revenue, International Trade, Industrial Accident, etc
  • SOMWBA, AMP
  • SBA
  • Offices of Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurers, Attorney General's

Research and comparative analysis

First stop to consider in your search is Business Resource Team (BRT) or call 1-877-BIZ-TEAM (249-8326))