West Company has been a Mendocino fixture, providing business advice, for more than thirty years. We started in the 1980’s as a place for women to learn job skills and start their own businesses, and we were one of the very first federally funded Women’s Business Centers in the U.S.
Late last year, we decided to re-name ourselves to West Business Development Center, in order to better reflect our mission. We are focused on helping any business with one to 100 employees by giving them free business advising and low-cost workshops. If you are a business in Mendocino or Lake County at any stage, whether you just started or have been in business for many years, you qualify for free business advising at the West Business Development Center. We still run our Women’s Business Center to help women entrepreneurs with networking events, advising and workshops. We also host the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for Mendocino and Lake Counties.
We offer free,confidential, one-on-one, expert business advising on:
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making a profit
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finding customers
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turning a hobby into a business
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starting a business in Mendocino or Lake County
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getting a loan
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expanding your business
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hiring people
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learning digital marketing
Our low-cost workshops are focused on teaching you new skills and helping you network with other entrepreneurs. We cover everything in Business Basics to get you up and running. Let us help you turn your passion into a profit, take your business online, open your boutique, or start a food business.
Our mission is simple, our name is new. If you are a business in Mendocino or Lake Counties, we are here to help you. Small businesses are the heart and soul of every community, so we are here to support you on your journey.
Sign up today to become a West Business Development Center client. It is free and easy.
Call us, email us or come and take one of our new workshops this year. We have an exciting slate, amazing teachers and you will meet lots of business owners just like yourself. We truly believe creating a community of entrepreneurs contributes to the sustainability and liveliness of our community.
Stay tuned to this space where we’ll be posting new workshop descriptions, pricing and links to register.
Special thanks to our amazing entrepreneurs featured in our above video (in order of appearance):
Airport Barber Shop, 1360 S State St, Ukiah, 707-380-6644
Braggadoon, Sign Shop, 435 N Main St, Fort Bragg, 707-964-5050
Pippi’s Longstockings, 123 East Laurel St, Fort Bragg, 707-964-8071
Noyo Harbor Tours with Captain Dan, 32399 Basin St, Fort Bragg, 707-734-0044
Testa Vineyards, 6400 N. State St., Calpella, 707-485-7051
Alive Retreats, 27400 Ridge Rd, Willits, CA 95490, 415-722-1258
MendoTechNet, 1080 N State St, Ukiah, (707) 391-2472
And hear first-hand how these businesses set up, grew and expanded with WBDC:
Stan’s Maple Café, 295 S State St, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 462-5221
First Location 1080 N State St, Ukiah, CA 95482, (707) 391-2472
Second Location 580 Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport, CA 95453, (707) 380-3527
SlamDunk Pizza, 720 N State St, Ukiah, CA 95482, (707) 463-1000
