Veteran entrepreneurs can receive business training, counseling and mentoring at Veterans Business Outreach Centers. At these centers, veterans can also find out about financing options and receive procurement guidance which can help them better compete for government contracts.

In FY 22, Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) New England served 552 clients in New Hampshire during FY22. cweonline.org/vboc

Client:

On Target Fitness, Portsmouth, NH

Alec Liberman, Founder/Owner 

Hear firsthand how Alec continued to develop the skills learned during their military service to start his business. In this YouTube interview, Alec shares the basics behind his business model, what he learned from opening a fitness facility, and the steps he takes to keep his business On Target.

Hear about Alec’s Journey Here

USMC Veteran Alec Lieberman is both a client of VBOC and SCORE Merrimack Valley and was named the NH SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2019. 

The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) delivers education & training programs on many business topics including start-up, financing, and marketing and also offer one-on-one confidential business advising statewide.

In FY 22, CWE NH served 517 unique clients (including 9 new business starts), conducted 121 training events with 999 attendees, and supported clients in generating $3MM in new revenues. CWE NH created/retained 1,436 jobs and helped client obtain over $1MM in capital infusion under their grant for the Women’s Business Center (WBC). Visit to learn more cweonline.org

Client:

Golden Dog Adventure Co., Barrington, NH 

Traci Bisson, Owner

Golden Dog Adventure host fun and unique experiences for dogs and their people. They bring dogs and their people together for exercise, education, and socialization in a positive, welcoming, and fun environment. 

Traci’s story embodies what they are always striving to nurture at CWE – a place where people can come with their questions and get answers, and also a place where people can bring their expertise to share with others.

Read Traci’s Success Story Here

Traci Bisson is both a CWE client as well as a consultant with CWE.

SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors. Experienced executives share real-world knowledge as often as you need, in person, via email or over video chat. SCORE provides free business mentoring and advice to new and existing business owners.

In FY22 combined numbers for Merrimack Valley and Seacoast Chapters include over 3,000 mentoring sessions with 1,200 clients and 128 training sessions with 3,200 attendees.  SCORE NH is made up of 175 volunteers and actively recruited 50 new members this year. To learn more or to become a volunteer visit SCORENH.org 

Client:

Beeline Skin Care, Henniker, NH 

Susan Lanphear, Founder

In 2012, Susan created a line of hypoallergenic skin care products after working as a chemist in research and development in an industrial setting. Beeline products are handcrafted in NH with the therapeutic benefits of local honey and beeswax. Beeline donates a portion of all sales to saving the honeybees. You can “bee beautiful naturally” and save the honeybees at the same time! 

Read Beeline’s Success Story Here

Need Help with Your Business or Business Idea? 

Mentors at Merrimack Valley SCORE and SCORE Seacoast are there to provide you local, expert advice. 

NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) is comprised of a team of 16 staff members with 11 business advisors servicing the different regions of the state. They provide one-on-one confidential advising services on all aspects of small business ownership including specialized assistance in regulatory compliance, technology development and international trade at no cost to clients. In addition, they offer an online e-Learning platform with 23 free e-courses that cover a variety of small business topics. 

In FY 22, NH SBDC provided 1,442 clients with advising (including 62 start-ups). NH SBDC conducted 91 training events with over 1,500 attendees and supported $591MM in revenues resulting in creating or retaining over 7,100 NH jobs. To learn more and to request a mentor visit NH SBDC

Client:

Walter Bat Company, Nashua, NH 

Aaron and Adria Bagshaw, Owners

2020 was also a great year of reflection for Adria and Aaron as WH Bagshaw celebrated 150 years in business as a pin and needle manufacturer.

So, in late 2020/early 2021, when the opportunity presented itself to take over their sons pitching coach’s bat business. They created Walter Bat Company which makes personalized, hand-crafted wood bats. They also sell apparel and will soon open a new training center, complete with a pro shop.

While Adria and Aaron have mainly used NH SBDC’s one on one advising, they also enjoy attending SBDC’s workshops and participating in their surveys. “We get so much information that’s helpful,” says Adria.

Read their Success Story Here

Adria and Aaron of WH Bagshaw Company of Nashua a fifth generation of Bagshaw’s worked with the NH Small Business Development Center. NH SBDC played a key role advising the company over the past decade. Adria joined the NH SBDC advisory board in 2010 and has served as chair for the last six years.

Bagshaw bagged the title of NH SBA Family-Owned Business of the Year in 2018.

By: Mike Vlacich

SBA New England Regional Administrator 

As we wind down the holiday season and 2022, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on a new report released by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and our administrator, Isabella Casillas Guzman.

I want to thank our amazing SBA workforce and resource partner teams for the extra hours and devotion they invested in helping the backbone of our economy, small business. Over 90 percent of businesses in New England are small and those companies employ upwards of half of our region’s workers. In addition to their role in producing jobs, small businesses support our communities and tie our region and nation together.

Through great effort and innovation, the SBA reached nearly $43 billion nationally in funding to small businesses, providing more than 62,000 traditional loans through its 7(a), 504, and Microloan lending programs and over 1,200 investments through SBA licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. This news is significant. As Administrator Guzman said, “While still managing billions in COVID relief, the SBA also delivered record lending in FY22, helping tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across our nation get the needed funding to start, grow, and build resilient businesses”.

Read Entire Story Here

Mike Vlacich is the New England Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration who oversees agency activities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.