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Step 1: From Idea to Reality
Start with a written business plan. It will be your own custom roadmap that shows you where you are in relation to where you want to be. Any bank, nonprofit, or public-sector financing and/or grants you hope to obtain will require a written business plan.
Develop a business plan
Connect with our local Michigan Small Business Development Center representative for free, hands-on business planning support.
Nicole Potvin Young | nmyoungp@mtu.edu | (906) 450-5042
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Tap into free educational resources
Additional free and low-cost resources such as help obtaining market research, business workshops, and webinars can be found at www.michigansbdc.org
Step 2: Locating Your Business
All businesses, including those that are home-based and store fronts, should research the necessary zoning laws of the county and city where your business will be located. Never purchase or lease a building without first checking with the appropriate zoning department.
Check the zoning category of the property and get in touch with the appropriate zoning administrator.
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Schoolcraft County Zoning Ordinance Administration
Natasha Rosebush | zoning@schoolcraftcounty.us | (906) 341-3677
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City of Manistique Zoning Ordinance Administration
Corey Barr | water@water-mstq.com | (906) 450-3682
Step 3: Licenses & Permits
To run your business legally, there may be certain state, county, and/or city licenses and permits you will need before getting your business up and running. The Michigan Small Business Development Center is always available to help you walk through these steps.
Step 4: Financing & Incentives
Special incentives and programs may be available depending on your type of business, needs, and future plans. Support often starts with a call or meeting to discuss more details. Contact Victoria George to get the conversation started at (906) 341-5010 or email vgeorge@discovermanistique.com.
Connect with a local financial institution
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To help with financial needs contact one of our local financial institutions who are members of Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce.
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Not able to qualify for a traditional business loan? Learn more at Northern Initiatives, a Community Development Financial Institution that may be able to help.
Tax Abatements, Grants & More
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For Tax Abatements contact our City Manager at
(906) 450-3682 | citymanager@cityofmanistique.net
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To view Tax Abatement options visit:
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To view additional programs and resources available visit:
Step 5: Workforce Development
Our local Michigan Works! office offers a wide range of free services to help businesses recruit, hire, train, and retain employees. They even have programs available that help fund the wages of eligible employees if you quality!
Connect with our Business Services Specialist
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Julie Bosanic | jbosanic@upmichiganworks.org | (906) 280-6181
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WorkLiveUP is a comprehensive platform designed for individuals and businesses interested in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It covers various aspects, including employment prospects across different industries, lifestyle amenities such as recreational activities and cultural events, and business resources like job postings and networking events. Overall, WorkLiveUP serves as a central resource for fostering economic development, community engagement, and an enhanced quality of life throughout the U.P.
Bonus Steps
Start maximizing your business exposure while building relationships. Here are additional ways to get more involved in the community and start off on the right foot.
No-Cost Small Business Development Services, Resources & Tools
The Small Business Development Center's Mission is to help your Michigan small business succeed so we offer free support with small business consulting, tools and resources. Provided or developed by experts, each one is geared to help you with a key aspect of Michigan entrepreneurship.
Business Consulting Services
Marketing
Many times new businesses focus on the first 5 steps of this checklist and forget to develop a marketing plan. One of the main reasons to create a marketing strategy is to help you connect with the right people and customers.
Create a Marketing Strategy
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Make an outline of how you plan to share your products and/or services to the community and future customers.
Create an Action Plan
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Turn your goals, strategies, and other plans into an action plan that can help your business stay on track and measure progress.
Networking
There are many ways to promote your new business. Our networking settings put you into contact with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners. This creates the perfect environment for business opportunities to be shared between community members.
