Entrepreneurial Support
Wayne County Small Business Hub
Wayne County is partnering with TechTown, Invest Detroit, and ProsperUS to provide access to free or low-cost small business services to businesses throughout Wayne County. The Wayne County Small Business Hub is designed to help small business owners at every stage—from ideation to expansion— elevate their businesses to the next level.
Core Services Offered
- Business Plan Development & Review
- Targeted Business Consulting
- Seminars and Workshops on Business Topics
- Financial Management and Analysis
- Accounting Assistance
- Legal Support
- Licensing and Regulatory Guidance
- Access to Capital
TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub, is a nonprofit business service organization that provides programs, education, and resources for early to growth stage small businesses and tech entrepreneurs. For tech startups it can help validate their tech ideas, conduct customer discovery interviews, gain sales traction, optimize operations and access capital. For revenue generating small businesses TechTown helps them stabilize and grow by supporting entrepreneurs in building core business skills, increasing revenue, creating jobs and accessing capital.
Invest Detroit creates financial vehicles to bridge funding gaps and advocate for collaborative systemic change through intentionally dismantling barriers and providing access for historically underserved communities. Their financings programs focus on four areas: Real Estate, Commercial & Industrial, Small Business and Venture Capital.
Loan categories include:
- New Construction and Renovation Projects
- Commercial and Industry
- Venture Capital
ProsperUs Detroit supports entrepreneurs with opportunities and capital needed to build businesses, generational wealth, and vibrant neighborhoods.
The Lending Program ensures funding is available to people who may not qualify for a traditional loan. This program:
- Deploys microloans and credit-building opportunities to help entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and scale their businesses in Wayne County
- Supports entrepreneurs with pre- and post-loan technical assistance to strengthen their financial health and increase borrowing confidence
- Engages philanthropic organizations and government agencies to implement credit enhancement strategies, allowing ProsperUs Detroit to expand the range of community-based capital solutions available to small businesses
- Ensures positive financial activity is reported to credit bureaus, helping entrepreneurs build credit and access larger capital opportunities in the future
Additional Wayne County Services for Business
Protection of a business name is established by the registration of that name through the County Clerk's office in the county in which the business is located.
The certification program can give your company a level playing field when bidding on County procurement/contracts. As a certified supplier equalization credits are applied accordingly when bidding on County contracts.
As a Certified County-Based Enterprise (CBE), your business receives equalization credits during the bid evaluation process, giving you a competitive advantage when competing for Wayne County contracts. CBE certification is available to businesses headquartered in or with primary operations in Wayne County. Certified vendors are also added to the Wayne County Procurement Division's Direct Solicitation List within their commodity/product code.
Permits – Food Service Licensing
The State of Michigan requires that Food Service establishments be licensed by the Local Health Departments.
In Detroit - Licensing - City of Detroit
For the Balance of Wayne County - Food Service Licensing - Wayne County
Other Small Business Assistance Programs & Services
The MI SBDC is a statewide organization that provides no-cost consulting, business education, and market research to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, and transition their businesses.
Help with SBA services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery.
Provides free, expert guidance to start, grow, or strengthen your small business. SCORE connects you with experienced mentors, practical resources, and business education built for every stage of your journey.
The MMTC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and growing Michigan's small and medium-sized manufacturers. It offers personalized consulting, training, and operational support to help companies innovate, optimize processes, adopt advanced technologies (like Industry 4.0 and AI), and improve profitability.
Key Services Offered
MMTC provides specialized training and expert consulting across several core areas:
Operational Excellence: Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and quality management systems.
- Advanced Technology: Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and Industry 4.0 solutions into production.
- Leadership & Workforce: Supervisory training, culture building, and employee upskilling.
- Cybersecurity: Protection compliance, particularly for defense supply chain requirements.
- Business Growth: Market research, supply chain optimization, and cost modeling.
The Schoolcraft College Business Development Center (BDC) is a hub for economic development that helps entrepreneurs and established companies launch, grow, and improve their operations. It offers a mix of professional education, one-on-one consulting, and corporate training.
Key services include:
- Business Consulting: Free, confidential consulting for aspiring and established business owners.
- Entrepreneur Seminars: Multi-week courses and workshops on writing business plans, financial management, marketing, and legal issues.
- Government Contracting: Advising and technical assistance on securing government and defense contracts through the APEX Accelerator program (formerly PTAC).
- Workforce Training Solutions: Customized employee training and professional development to improve specific skills and operational efficiency.
- Market Research & Networking: Data evaluation services and access to local business networks.