Start Your Business

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Want to start or expand your business?

NVME’s professional staff can help!

  • Research your ideas to assess viability
  • Learn about marketing, financials, and management
  • Get organized and create a solid plan
  • Develop your website

Classes include:

  • Exploring self-employment
  • The basics of starting a business
  • Website development offered in partnership with Empower by GoDaddy
  • Venturing Forth, an in-depth business planning course

Get started by scheduling an individual coaching session or browse through the current Start Your Business classes below to find one that’s right for you. Use the filters to search for online or in-person classes, day or evening sessions, or specific topics.

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10
February

Your Marketing Strategy (Online)

Date: February 10, 2026Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pmClass Delivery: OnlineClass Instructor: Alicia LaFosse

This workshop with our professional staff introduces you to marketing strategies for your small business—developing a mission statement and customer profiles, conducting market research, branding, and selling. We’ll give you a framework so that you can create your o...

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12
February

Cybersecurity for Small Business (Online)

Date: February 12, 2026Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 amClass Instructor: Oyebanjo ‘Banjo’ Ogunlela

This workshop is designed to help small business owners and staff understand modern cyber threats and learn the essential steps required to protect their business data, systems, operations, employees, and customers from evolving digital threats.

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12
February

Business Basics (Online)

Date: February 12, 2026Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pmClass Delivery: OnlineClass Instructor: Oyebanjo ‘Banjo’ Ogunlela

This three-session class with our professional staff covers the basics of writing a business plan, marketing, recordkeeping, and cash planning. The class is for those thinking about or in the early start-up phase of a new business.

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17
February

Bookkeeping Solutions (Online)

Date: February 17, 2026Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 amClass Delivery: OnlineClass Instructor: Destin DeCambre

This workshop will help you understand the basics of keeping accurate financial records. Our professional staff will present several choices so you can choose the system that works best for your business.

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18
February

Exploring Self-Employment (Online)

Date: February 18, 2026Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pmClass Delivery: OnlineClass Instructor: Destin DeCambre

This workshop will help you decide if self-employment is the right choice for you. Our professional staff cover the pros and cons of owning your own business, the steps needed for start-up, the major elements of a business plan, and the many resources available to help ...

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19
February

Tax Readiness for the Self-Employed (Online)

Date: February 19, 2026Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 amClass Delivery: OnlineClass Instructor: Alicia LaFosse

Learn how to organize your financial records, understand your tax responsibilities, become familiar with tax forms, and file your taxes with confidence from our professional staff. This workshop is designed for sole proprietors.

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Don’t Know Where to Start?

I am not sure I would have mentally gotten through writing a business plan without NVME. With their help, I stayed on track, stayed motivated and believed in myself.

— Laura (Lewiston)

Celebrating Your Wins

Participants in our programs accomplish all kinds of personal, work, and financial success, big and small. Here are recent stories of people from all across Maine who are reaching their goals.

Ambrosia Ross: Everyone Contributes to the Story

I studied psychology at the University of Maine at Machias. One of my electives was a certificate course in business and entrepreneurship, and I absolutely loved it. In my 30s, with four kids, I was missing the improvisation and excitement of acting in plays, which I...

J. Bean Palmer: Rejuvenated

When I took New Ventures Maine’s website building class, I was frustrated with my existing author website. I write award-winning children's books–upbeat, timeless stories for middle graders. My site looked professional, but I didn't know how to make changes to it. I...

Jordan Scarpa: Excited For What’s To Come

The hardest years of my life were 2020 to 2023. A series of tragic events, including a near-fatal crash and the loss of many loved ones, led to some terrible decisions. In 2022 I found myself facing a judge in a courtroom and being sentenced to jail time, years of...

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