Small Business Consulting

Our team of business consultants can assist in everything from using social media effectively, introducing you to lenders, writing a business plan, and more.

Oakland Thrive, formerly Business Forward, is composed of business experts and consultants with a deep understanding of Oakland County’s business climate and decades of combined experience with the challenges of small business, growth into large global entities, and the limitations of government. 

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We work with entrepreneurs and small business owners to provide free targeted support including one-on-one consultations, training, and workshops in business development, market research, eCommerce, legal support, accounting, and more.

Oakland Thrive exists to connect Oakland County’s entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need in order to be successful. We partner with local business service providers, chambers of commerce, and other known economic support organizations. While Oakland County has a great many programs and organizations that support community and economic development, too often small business owners are unaware that these resources even exist. While Oakland Thrive exists to help all of Oakland County, special attention is given to underrepresented communities and minority-, woman-, LGBTQ- and veteran-owned businesses. Oakland Thrive services previously fell under the county as a government initiative.

Small Business Consulting

Oakland Thrive is composed of business experts and consultants with a deep understanding of Oakland County’s business climate and decades of combined experience with the challenges of small business, growth into large global entities, and the limitations of government. We work with entrepreneurs and small business owners to provide free targeted support including one-on-one consultations, training, and workshops in business development, market research, eCommerce, legal support, accounting, and more.

Portrait of a male group of black happy small business workers laughing at the door of an urban plant nursery wearing aprons in Dallas
An older woman handing a tray of plants to an older man, both are smiling

Oakland Thrive exists to connect Oakland County’s entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need in order to be successful. We partner with local business service providers, chambers of commerce, and other known economic support organizations. While Oakland County has a great many programs and organizations that support community and economic development, too often small business owners are unaware that these resources even exist. While Oakland Thrive exists to help all of Oakland County, special attention is given to underrepresented communities and minority-, woman-, LGBTQ- and veteran-owned businesses. Oakland Thrive services previously fell under the county as a government initiative.

Oakland Thrive exists to connect Oakland County’s entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need in order to be successful. We partner with local business service providers, chambers of commerce, and other known economic support organizations. While Oakland County has a great many programs and organizations that support community and economic development, too often small business owners are unaware that these resources even exist. While Oakland Thrive exists to help all of Oakland County, special attention is given to underrepresented communities and minority-, woman-, LGBTQ- and veteran-owned businesses. Oakland Thrive services previously fell under the county as a government initiative.

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Small Business Consulting Services

Oakland Thrive offers a wide array of free or low cost resources supporting Oakland County’s entrepreneurial economic ecosystem.

Business Consultants

Oakland Thrive can connect you with consultants who will work one on one with you to help strategize, implement your business plan, and more.

Human Resources

Attracting, hiring, and retaining talent is key to success. Oakland Thrive can help you with hiring issues, labor law compliance, determining employee benefits, and more.

Government Contracting

If you’re interested in doing business with the government, Oakland Thrive has expert partners who can help you properly register, look for opportunities, and provide aid with government contracts.

Learn More Now

Training & Workshops

Oakland Thrive offers a variety of training and workshops on subjects pertinent to the small business owner and entrepreneur.

Check them out here!

Legal Support

From business contracts to patents to commercial real estate and more, Oakland Thrive can connect you with the business legal services you need.

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Accounting

Oakland Thrive offers financial support services for small businesses covering bookkeeping, financial analysis, financial literacy, growth projections, and more.

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eCommerce

Whether you’re setting up a website for the first time or already have an established web presence, Oakland Thrive can help you market and sell your products and services online.

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Funding

Oakland Thrive can help you find potential funding sources for your needs, understand different types of loans, identify grant opportunities, and more.

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Childcare Businesses

Oakland Thrive will work with your childcare business to ensure that you’re growing, connecting to resources, and developing a sustainable business.

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Market Research

Oakland Thrive can help your business build a digital presence to help you increase sales.

Digital Marketing & Advertising

Oakland Thrive can help connect your business with expert advice that can target your desired market and increase your visibility in the marketplace.

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Language Translation Services

Oakland Thrive offers language services so that you can meaningfully connect with your customers and understand their needs.

Hospitality Services

Oakland Thrive has a dedicated expert in the food service industry to help your business grow.

Learn More Now
Hear What Our Clients Have to Say.

Oakland Thrive has a track record of success when it comes to helping small businesses in Oakland County by connecting them to the resources they need to thrive. Businesses that have benefitted from connecting with Oakland Thrive include:

Gloria N. Smith and Tara Smith, co-owners of Total Glamour Beauty Supply in Southfield

When Total Glamour Beauty supply opened in 2021, business was slow. Our Business Forward consultant helped connect them with marketing assistance, education on retail best practices, and funding. Our consultant referred them to SCORE for marketing assistance and with CEED Lending, an initiative of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council.

TOTAL GLAMOUR BEAUTY
SOUTHFIELD
Jennifer Heard, founder of Love Bigger in Rochester Hills Michigan

In 2020, Jennifer Heard started Love Bigger, an app to connect people downsizing with local charities. Heard’s Business Forward Consultant helped to adjust Love Bigger’s business structure, allowing Heard to apply for additional lending to begin the beta testing necessary for the app to go live. The consultant also set up a registered apprenticeship program through Michigan Works! and received a grant to help fund the program.

LOVE BIGGER
ROCHESTER HILLS
Cynthia Dane, Founder and CEO of Recipes For A Reason in Highland Township

When Cynthia Dane, Founder and CEO of Recipes For A Reason, was looking to sell her jars of organic vegan soup in retail shops and online, our Business Forward consultant connected her with a valued Resource Partner for Oakland County who used their relationship with Whole Foods to give Dane an opportunity to present samples for consideration. Recipes For A Reason has a fully functional online store as well.

RECIPES 4 A REASON
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP
Our Impact

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Businesses Served Since 2022
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Businesses Served Since 2022
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in free services offered
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Partners
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