A Place To Start, Inc.

General Information & Introduction to the Organization

 

 A Place To Start, Incorporated, is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.

 

The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are to provide educational and charitable assistance through advising, teaching, referring the public to area resources and disseminating educational materials. Educational materials include, but are not limited to, materials that relate to small business, career and personal development through printed and electronic publications, lectures and workshops.

 

The primary objectives and purposes of this corporation are:

to provide educational and charitable support to individuals, small business owners and the community-at-large for the public benefit, mental health and economic growth of the community.

 

A Place To Start, Incorporated, assists the public to start, grow or exit small businesses, offers career advice and assistance with personal development, as well as related referral services.  We help individuals define their goals and focus them on the appropriate path to achieve those goals.

 

A Place to Start accomplishes its charitable and educational works via printed and electronic educational publications, seminars and workshops, one-on-one consulting and referral services that point individuals to the most appropriate resources.

 

This organization works in partnership with other nonprofit, scholastic and governmental organizations to ensure the public is aware and may take advantage of area resources.

 

Major corporations pay several hundred dollars ($200-750) per hour (2004 data) for business development consultants, from business analysts to marketing specialists. Small business owners and those individuals interested in small business development do not have such resources.  This nonprofit organization provides marketing and business development consulting at no cost or for a substantially reduced fee.

 

Additionally, those interested in starting a small business often are not privy to all that is involved in a new venture.  Starting a small business may not be as viable for them as a change in career.  Therefore, in addition to small business development consulting, we provide career advising and life coaching to ensure the individual is seeking the appropriate type of help, and is selecting the best path for their interests, goals, life situation and self-evaluated capabilities.

A Place To Start, Inc.

ABOUT US

 If you would like to volunteer,

donate to or use the services of

A Place To Start, Inc.,

please contact us!

A Place to Start was conceived to provide free and/or low-cost consulting and referral services in business, career and personal development for the public benefit of Santa Cruz County community members.

Our board members have expertise in the areas of  

 

-  Business Development

-  Business / Operations Management

-  Sales / Customer Relations

-  Finance / Financial Planning

-  Strategic Marketing / Planning

-  MarCom (Marketing Communications)

-  Career Development / Job Seeking Skills

-  Personal Development / Family Dynamics

Many board members are also experienced in providing professional instruction in the above areas of expertise.