Accessibility

• American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Update: A Primer for Small Business, guidance for small business owners on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to commercial spaces. See the ADA website or call 800-514-0301 (TTY 800-514-0383).
• Disabled Access Credit: a federal credit for small businesses that invest in providing access to persons with disabilities. Refer to Form 8826, Disabled Access Credit (PDF), for information about eligibility.
• Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction: a federal tax deduction encouraging businesses to improve access for persons with disabilities and the elderly. For more information, contact the Internal Revenue Service.

Advocacy

• Newton's Economic Development Commission: promotes local economy by assisting business and offering policy recommendations to City leaders.
• Massachusetts Cultural Council: provides funding/investment and hosts events to advance the creative and cultural sector.
• Massachusetts Competitive Partnership: public policy group promotes job growth and competitiveness.
• Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation: 

Business Guidance

• Business Resources in Massachusetts: a topical directory of business resources, from Apprenticeships to Unemployment.
• Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE): training, technical assistance, and capital for women entrepreneurs.
• Citizens' Guide to State Services: a list of business and economic development organizations maintained by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. 
• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at UMass Mount Ida: free business and financial planning assistance.
• SCORE Boston (Service Corps of Retired Executives): mentoring for small business owners.
• Small Business Center, a collection of resources offered by the International Council of Shopping Centers, available to members and non-members.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): financial and technical assistance.

Business Development

• Charles River Regional Chamber: networking and seminars for small businesses and nonprofits, including resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• MassEcon, nonprofit matchmaker for businesses needing site selection assistance.
• Massachusetts Office of Business Development, State office helps local businesses expand and out-of-state firms relocate in the Commonwealth. 
• Massachusetts Export Center, State office provides technical assistance for importing and exporting.
• Become a Statewide Contract Vendor: Sell goods or services to the Commonwealth by becoming a statewide vendor. Get guidance from the Massachusetts APEX Accelerator.

Commercial Real Estate (CRE)

• Commercial Leasing Handbook. Created by the City of Somerville's Economic Development Division in collaboration with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).  
• "Pop-up" retail resources: Newton-based retail consultant UpNext offers a free webinar and a 25-page workbook on this temporary-storefront strategy to test retail concepts.
• Small Business Tool Kit. This free resource provides an overview of leasing a brick-and-mortar location. Created by the retail real estate consulting firm Graffito SP, which was founded by a Newton resident.

Cost Savings (Energy, Water, Waste)

• Mass Save programs support businesses, nonprofits and houses of worship through energy assessments, rebates and incentives, and programs and technical support. Mass Save also offers industry-specific solutions for data centers, grocery stores, food service and hospitality businesses, laboratories, manufacturers, offices, property managers, and retailers.
  • Consider signing up for a no-cost energy assessment if you use less than 1.5 million kWh in annual electric usage or less than 40,000 therms annually.  Potential energy-saving measures and opportunities that may be identified during an assessment include air sealing and weatherization, lighting system upgrades and controls, refrigeration controls and cooler upgrades, and pipe insulation. You may be eligible for enhanced incentives, including up to 100% of project cost paid by rebates, not including heat pumps.
  • Explore solutions for large commercial and industrial customers, including scoping studies, comprehensive building assessments, and portfolio prioritization plans.
    
• Electric Vehicles: Massachusetts corporations and non-profits are eligible for the MOR-EV Rebate Program for zero emission vehicles registered in Massachusetts. MOR-EV provides rebates of $3,500 - $6,000 for the purchase or lease of eligible battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles, including passenger cars and medium- and heavy-duty trucks and other vehicle types. 
  • Also learn about State and Federal Electric Vehicle Funding Programs information, including grants for workplace charging and commercial fleets, published by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
• Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Water Conservation, a guide for businesses published by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
• Recycling & Waste Reduction Help for Businesses: information from the State on grants, loans, surplus materials exchange, and technical assistance.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Boston College's Center for Corporate Citizenship provides online resources to support supplier diversity.
• The City of Newton Purchasing Department encourages participation of and outreach to minority, local, and women-owned businesses. Current procurement bids are posted online. If you would like to learn more about becoming a vendor to the City, please email purchasing@newtonma.gov.
• The State's Supplier Diversity Office offers several services including Diversity Certification of companies as Massachusetts Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE), and Portuguese Business Enterprises (PBE).

Finance

• MassDevelopment: finances programs and real estate development services.
• Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation: debt financing for small businesses.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): financial and technical assistance.

Interns from Local Universities

• Boston College Career Center Information for Employers
• Lasell University Career Center's Internship Coordinators
• UMass Charles River Campus Information for Employers

Legal Assistance

• Boston College Law School: Community Enterprise Clinic can provide legal guidance on business entity formation, employment, non-competes, lease negotiation, and regulatory issues. The Clinic represents small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations in the Greater Boston area, if the client cannot afford private legal help.
• Harvard Law School: Transactional Law Clinics offer guidance on business formation; contracts; negotiation; financing; buying, selling, and leasing real state; and regulatory issues. The Clinics provide assistance to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and community based-organizations engaged in commercial or economic development activities. 
• Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice: advocacy for education, equity, and economic empowerment.
• US Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review offers a Pro Bono Legal Service.
• Volunteer Lawyers Project provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals in Greater Boston. See the Get Help page. The site also has a list of emergency hotlines and other legal resources.

Life Sciences

• Massachusetts Biotechnology Council: a not-for-profit that performs advocacy work and offers educational opportunities, networking, and partnerships. 
• Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: a quasi-governmental organization that provides grants, loans, and tax incentives to stimulate economic development and job creation.
• Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council: a regional association that represents manufacturers, product developers, suppliers, research institutions and academic health centers. 

Manufacturing
In Massachusetts, manufacturers are entitled to a 3% investment tax credit on appreciable assets, an exemption from municipal personal property taxes on equipment and fixtures, and an exemption to sales tax for the purchase of equipment used directly and exclusively in the manufacturing process.

• 830 CMR 58.2.1: Manufacturing Corporations: A good overview of the Code of Massachusetts Regulation’s classification of manufacturing corporations and related tax benefits.
• Administrative Procedure 303: How to get designated as a manufacturer in Massachusetts by the Department of Revenue.
• Associated Industries of Massachusetts: a membership organization offering insurance, employee training, and HR consulting. 
• Mass Manufacturing Extension Partnership: manufacturing advisor

Technology

• Massachusetts High Technology Council: advocates for policies to improve business climate and competitiveness for investment and job creation.
• Massachusetts Technology Collaborative: spearheads several technology programs (incl. Mass Big Data Initiative).
• Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center: assists researchers and entrepreneurs bringing product to market
• Mass Technology Leadership Council: networking (membership based) with close industry connections and venture capital input.
• MassChallenge: 501(c)(3) networking and programs that help early-stage entrepreneurs.
• MassVentures: addresses capital gaps to encourages the growth of early-stage technology firms
• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: global networking hub for climatetech

Workforce Development

• MassHire BizWorks: services for recruiting, hiring, training, business development, and compliance. Contact Paul Cooley, Business Services Representative, (508) 861-7993 ext. 131, or visit the Metro South/West Office at 39 Grant St., Suite 150, Framingham.
• Corporate Education & Workforce Training: training grants and programs offered through Middlesex Community College.
• Commonwealth Corporation: grant funding for employee training.

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Start here

1. Register for Advising at  the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at UMass Amherst Charles River Campus in Newton. The Center's staff offer a range of free and confidential services for small businesses.
2. Read the Business Guide published by the U.S. Small Business Administration which covers planning, launching, managing and growing your venture. You can also download the Small Business Resource Guide.
3. See Starting a Business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for guidance on choosing a business structure, filing requirements, and other resources.
4. See the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Any business operation must file Articles of Organization with the State.