Glenn Gibson of Portland credits the Small Business Development Center for helping him put together a business plan that his banker said was one of the best he has ever seen.
"The most crucial part in starting up a business is to have a business plan," Gibson said, "and they put together a very professional, extensive one that included cost and profit projections over a three-year period. They have also provided tax and marketing help with their seminars."
"I went to the SBDC because it's a free source of information," Gibson said.
Now, after a year in his new business, Gibson continues to use the center, attending its seminars and visiting the office frequently.
Gibson and his stepfather, Gene Rogan of Rockport, started Success On Hold, a service that allows clients flexibility in choosing the information or music they offer to a call-in customer who has been placed on hold.
With Success on Hold, business owners can use different types of music other than elevator music and re-record messages as often as they wish from their desk.
According to national statistics from North American Telecommunications Association, US West Communications and AT&T, 70 percent of business callers are placed on hold. Of those, 60 percent hang up while holding and 30 percent will never call back.
"When customers hear elevator music, more than likely they will hang up and call a competitor," Gibson said. "We stop that."
In its first year of business, Success On Hold has developed as many as 100 customers, Gibson said.