Business Center Establishment

Advantages / Limitations:

Improve access by start-ups and existing businesses to information relevant to starting and/or running a business, which, in turn, increases economic activity in the region; Improve access by start-ups and existing businesses to training on the fundamentals of running a successful business and increase the efficiency of newly-founded and existing businesses; Improve access by start-ups and existing businesses to consulting services addressing registration, taxation and customs issues and thus help these businesses become less dependent on public administration; Improve  existing businesses’ access to consulting services promoting the development of competitive products, raising productivity, cutting costs, communicating effectively and introducing new technologies to increase competitiveness; Provide access to market information linking SMEs with markets at the local, national and cross-border levels (connecting business partners); Provide a link between entrepreneurs and credit institutions; The presence of skilled Business Centre staff and technical infrastructure supports additional activities by governmental and non-governmental development programmes, such as needs assessments, sector studies, potential analyses, and entrepreneur trainings.      The availability of business development services may attract investments by both the public and the private sectors in the region; Increased capacity to provide trainings on new concepts related to market economies; The development of demand-based training, consulting services and information products; Enhanced training and consulting skills improve the quality of services rendered by Business Centre staff and lead to increased benefit for the users of the services.

Lack of trust in consulting services among business community; Limited market - reluctance to pay for training and consulting services because to the target group has no experience with such services and their benefits; Financial sustainability is highly dependant on the provision of services by donor organizations working in the area; Limited financial resources for start-up businesses may negatively impact the demand for training and consulting; Fluctuation of Business Centre staff - capacity building measures such as Training of Trainers (ToT) and Training of Consultants (ToC) programmes will make Business Centre staff more attractive to other employers and they may obtain jobs elsewhere. Limited market of highly skilled ToT and ToC providers.