Business Support
Resources for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs at all stages in their journey can get connected to the most relevant programs for their business by filling out Epicenter’s Entrepreneur Intake form. We also encourage you to browse our curated library of commonly sought-after resources, tools, and workshops available for small business owners.**
GET
CONNECTED
If you haven’t already, let our team connect you to the right resources for your business by filling out Epicenter’s Entrepreneur Intake form.
VIEW
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out our event calendar to view upcoming workshops and programs for local small business owners.
SIGN-UP FOR CO.STARTERS
CO.STARTERS prepares entrepreneurs with insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action.
Quick Links for
Registering a Business
Register Your Business: TN Secretary of State
The TN Secretary of State's division aids in business name searches, name registrations, and filings (initial, annual, and change requests). This division is also responsible for formation guidance for LLCs and corporations.
Best for: Early stage entrepreneurs and people with a company that is legally registered as an LLC or Corporation.
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Obtain Your Business License
The Business Tax Division provides licenses needed to legally operate a business within Shelby County and Memphis.
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Shelby County Accessor of Property
The Accessor's office aids businesses in completing and filing their annual personal property returns.
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TN Department of Revenue
The Department of Revenue is the tax division for the State of Tennessee. Their office assigns tax accounts once the business has registered with them. This office works in conjunction with the Business Tax Division. Each business should establish a TNTAP (Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point) account to account for their quarterly and annual tax obligations.
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Shelby County Accessor of Property
The Accessor's office aids businesses in completing and filing their annual personal property returns.
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Internal Revenue Service
The IRS is responsible for processing personal and business tax returns, and assigning EIN (Employer Identification Number) to business entities.
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Get Started:
Resources for Planning a Business
Tennessee Smart Start Small Business Guide
With Tennessee SmartStart, users can access to support and resources is crucial to early business success. This online tool will help you visualize your business model and connect with resources across the state. Learn More>>
The Startup Roadmap: Your Guide to Successfully Starting a Business
The Startup Roadmap, presented by SCORE and sponsored by FedEx, guides your journey, from your business idea through opening your doors to customers.This Roadmap will take you from the initial step of defining your business idea through your ultimate destination: launching your business. In each chapter, we’ll teach you what you need to do and give you the resources and expertise you need to get it done. Learn More >>
How to Perfect your Pitch: Presented by SCORE
Do you have a product that’s ready to go to market? Is this your year to persuade buyers to put your product in their stores or maybe you’re ready to secure an angel investment? This webinar will help you master the art of persuasion and learn how to pitch your product or business to potential investors. View Webinar >>
LIVE and On-Demand Business Workshops from SCORE
The Business Guide from the Small Business Association
The U.S. Small Business Association provides tools and education for planning, launching, managing and growing a business. Learn More >>
Build your Brand:
Resources for Marketing
Wordpress
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to host and build websites. WordPress contains plugin architecture and a template system, so you can customize any website to fit your business, blog, portfolio, or online store.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a drag-and-drop website builder that allows people to use pre-built website templates and elements to create and modify webpages.
Wix
Similar to Squarespace, Wix is an intermediate-level drag-and-drop website builder that allows people to use pre-built website templates and elements to create and modify webpages.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic, currently as a platform inside the Google Marketing Platform brand.
Canva
Canva is a graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The app includes templates for users to use. The platform is free to use and offers paid subscriptions like Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise for additional functionality.
Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelance services. The company provides a platform for freelancers to offer services to customers worldwide.
Find Funding:
Resources for Business Capital
Navigating business capital can be tricky if you do it alone. Let our team connect you to the most appropriate resources for your capital needs by filling out Epicenter’s Entrepreneur Intake Form.
Economic Development and Growth Engine (EDGE)
EDGE focuses on developing and fostering public/private partnerships to create jobs, grow the local economy, revitalize neighborhoods, attract investment, spark innovation, and encourage entrepreneurship.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. Use Lender Match to find lenders that offer loans for your business.
Pathway Lending
A national leader in economic development lending, Pathway Lending is a Community Development Financial Institution that increases access to capital for underserved businesses in Tennessee & Alabama.
Communities Unlimited
This nonprofit organization provides in-depth, one-on-one assistance to minority-owned, women-owned and rural small businesses. It offers a Small Business Administration-guaranteed microloan ($5,000 to $15,000) that does not require a tax return or business plan to apply, which makes it the perfect partner for people new to the business world.
River City Capital
River City Capital is a CDFI that provides lending, connections to additional capital and technical assistance for start-ups and existing businesses through Communities Unlimited.
Presented by SCORE: Capital 101- Funding Options to Start and Grow Your Business
Watch this insightful webinar, presented by Small Business Majority's Lindsey Vigoda, for a discussion of the different options available to help you get the funding you need. View Webinar >>
Find Community:
Professional Networks for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely road, but it doesn’t have to be! Memphis is home to many professional organizations that allow you to learn from and connect with people who understand you and the unique needs of your business.
Arrow Creative
More than a building, program, or studio space: Arrow is the creative central in the heart of Memphis. Arrow makes art accessible to inspire the creative spirit in all Memphians. They are a source of creative entrepreneur enrichment, arts education, and art immersion for the entire community.
ArtUp
ArtUp believes that artists and creatives are small business owners with enterprises that encourage growth in the creative economy.
Bunker Labs
Bunker Labs connects military veterans to the resources that help grow their businesses. Connect with entrepreneurs in your industry who are solving hard problems. Collaborate. Learn from each other. Grow together. Win together.
The Greater Memphis Chamber
The Greater Memphis Chamber gives member businesses the support they need to reach their full potential. They work with site selectors and relocating companies to demonstrate the advantages of doing business in Memphis and they advocate with local, state, and federal governments on behalf of our members.
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
NAWBO is the leading professional organization for female business owners and entrepreneurs in Memphis and Shelby County! NAWBO empowers women to make the difference in how CEOs run their businesses today and tomorrow.
The Society of Entrepreneurs
The Society of Entrepreneurs was founded in 1991 to foster the development of the entrepreneurial spirit, and to recognize the myriad contributions of area entrepreneurs. The Society of Entrepreneurs’ membership comprises Mid-South business owners, presidents and other key executives. Members are chosen annually by their peers, and must be mature entrepreneurs who have exhibited personal business achievement, creativity, determination, integrity, leadership, self-direction and the ability to transform a vision into a dynamic business accomplishment.