Concord, NC and Cabarrus County owners can get free help from the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Small Business Center, the NC SBTDC, the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, the Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and state and federal offices. Oakwick Lending Group, a small-business funding broker in Concord, NC, lists them here and is not affiliated with any.
Where this list comes from
The City of Concord keeps a Business Assistance page listing organizations that help businesses; descriptions below in quotation marks follow that page or the organization's own website, accessed 2026-10-16. Check each organization's site for current services, hours and eligibility before you go.
Counseling and training
| Organization | What it offers (as listed) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Small Business Center | Workshops, seminars and free counseling for starting and expanding businesses | New owners, business plans, cash-flow basics |
| NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) | A business advisory resource for growing businesses | Established firms planning growth or financing |
| Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Educational programs, mentorship and capital access for new and existing small businesses | Early-stage ventures |
| Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC) | Consultations, information and referrals through Small Business Advisors | Questions about state programs and where to start |
Source: City of Concord, Business Assistance page, accessed 2026-10-16.
Economic development and the chamber
The Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation describes itself as "the lead economic development agency for Cabarrus County and its municipalities" and says it supports local startups, existing businesses and the recruitment of new industry (Cabarrus EDC website, accessed 2026-10-16).
The Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce lists its address as 57 Union Street South, Concord, NC (chamber website, accessed 2026-10-16). Membership organizations like a chamber are useful for introductions and local referrals rather than for funding itself.
State and federal offices
- North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division: entity filings, annual reports and certified documents. Our certificate of existence guide explains what to check.
- North Carolina Department of Revenue, business registration: tax accounts for a new or growing business.
- U.S. Small Business Administration, North Carolina District Office: SBA programs and SBA-participating lenders.
- N.C. Department of Insurance: information on business insurance, listed by the city.
Specialized programs the city lists
- U.S. Export Assistance Centers of North Carolina, for businesses selling abroad
- NC State University's Industry Expansion Solutions, for manufacturers adopting new technology and practices
- Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (SETAAC), for manufacturers affected by imports
- National Institute of Minority Economic Development
Source: City of Concord, Business Assistance page, accessed 2026-10-16.
City and county services
Permits, inspections and zoning for a space inside city limits run through the City of Concord; our zoning and permits checklist follows its Small Business Permit Guide. County services are on the Cabarrus County website.
Grants
Grants are outside what Oakwick Lending Group offers or arranges. If a grant might suit your project, ask the counselors above which programs exist and whether you qualify before taking on debt.
Once the plan is ready for a funding conversation
Free advice and a broker are not either-or. Many owners take their plan to a counselor first, then compare funding options such as term loans once the numbers are firm. The six-way comparison sets out the structures, our Concord, NC page has the county's business data, and the guide library has the other guides.
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