Running a small business requires tons of effort, but the right support can make all the difference in your success. Greenville, SC, offers a wide-range of resources for small business owners—think: mentoring, funding, training, networking and more—to help you and your team grow with confidence.
Here are seven essential resources for Greenville, SC entrepreneurs—many of which our Endeavor members have used to fuel their business success.
1. Greenville Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce is the backbone of both large and small businesses in Greenville, SC. With more than 1,900 members, this organization offers top-notch educational resources, professional connections and advocacy, and access to a network of other local professionals that can help move your small business forward. As a member of the Greenville Chamber, you can participate in leadership programs (such as Opportunity Greenville, Leadership Greenville or Pacesetters for Young Professionals), serve as an Ambassador or on a Council, and attend networking functions to help establish your business as a visible community presence.
Quick Start: Attend two events this month, then follow up with three professionals you met at the events. This simple action lays a strong foundation for measurable, sustained momentum.
2. GVLtoday
GVLtoday is a local news email that hits your inbox every morning– sharing community events, new job opportunities and news to keep you up-to-date on all things Greenville. They make it simple and accessible to keep your finger on the daily pulse of local happenings in your neighborhood. Plus, if you want to amplify your brand awareness, GVLtoday offers a variety of ways to promote your business – with sponsored content and strategic promotions across GVLtoday’s website, newsletter and social media accounts.
Quick Start: Pitch a story or share an upcoming event your business is hosting to boost attendance. Then, use GVLtoday’s advertising options to reach a hyper-local audience, learn community trends and align your content calendar to match your potential customers’ interests.
3. South Carolina Small Business Development Centers
The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are a go-to resource for entrepreneurs seeking expert financial guidance and strategy. Their pro bono advisors and consultants can help you formulate bank-ready business plans, financial projections and marketing roadmaps, while securing the capital you need to launch or scale. SBDC also offers bilingual consultation services in both English and Spanish.
Quick Start: Request a consultation on the organization’s website, then come in with your numbers and request a 90-day plan with clear goals and milestones. Treat your advisor like a coach, follow the schedule they create for you, and take full advantage of all the resources for small business owners that SBDC has available (check them out here).
A Word from the Pros: “Don’t do it on your own. Get a solid start with the right entity formation and a financial guide who can help launch a company with realistic income expectations, tax guidance, and less debt risk.”
— Darren Leet, Brand Identity Designer (and Endeavor member), Darren Leet, Incorporated
4. GVL Starts
GVL Starts is a 9-week program offered by Furman University that helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into real business models that can be tested in the marketplace. As a GVL Starts course participant, you’ll receive honest, actionable feedback from mentors who operate their own businesses in Greenville, SC. You’ll also learn how to create a pitch for lenders, investors, partners and other stakeholders. This incubator program is best suited to those who want accountability and structure, and the opportunity to pitch an early business concept without major risks.
Quick Start: GVL Starts is offered twice a year for fall and spring cohorts. Spots are limited, so check for application deadlines. Fall 2025’s applications are being accepted until October 23, 2025.
A Word from the Pros: “Speaking with people who have ‘been through it’ is enormously useful. Those discussions were extremely motivating [with] information on pitfalls, how to deal with certain financial issues, how to approach clients, what to do about office space, and how to manage employees or freelancers.”
— Andy Mendelsohn, Digital Marketer & Web Designer (and Endeavor member), Upper West Creative
Note: Andy was not a GVL Starts participant, but agrees with the value of feedback and advice from others while growing your small business.
5. United Way of Greenville County
Community impact enhances brand trust. If you’re looking for ways to get involved in the community, United Way is a great starting point. They connect Greenville business professionals with local skills-based service opportunities, volunteer projects and workforce initiatives. Greenville happens to be a very giving, philanthropic town, and many of the strong business relationships started when two United Way volunteers got to know one another – and one another’s business talents – while working to better the community. Team volunteering reinforces a positive, mission-oriented business culture and speaks volumes to stakeholders and community members (plus, it’s a tax write-off).
Quick Start: Partner with United Way to create a robust quarterly volunteer plan with one hands-on project, one skills-based activation and one local event that is meaningful to you, your team and target customer.
6. Business Network International
Picture this: you walk into a local Business Network International (BNI) chapter meeting with a specific goal to introduce yourself to at least one potential contact, then you leave with three referrals from members who trust your work. That’s the BNI effect. The weekly cadence of meeting attendance creates accountability, the referral system keeps everyone focused on both their objectives and contributions, and mutually beneficial relationships compound as a result.
Quick Start: Show up to a BNI meeting prepared with your networking objectives and strategies. Contribute to the discussions and interactions thoughtfully, then track which referrals convert into business leads so you can refine and experiment accordingly.
A Word from the Pros: “I joined BNI for networking, the largest networking organization in the world, right off the bat. Our first tax season we received referrals from nine different BNI chapters….true story! Because I leveraged this [resource], I’ve obtained clients all over the country.”
— Matt Green, Licensed CPA (and Endeavor member), Ledger Medial Accounting Services
7. Endeavor Co-Working
Business ownership should energize and excite you—and while it can be tough, it should not feel isolating. Growing your business in an ecosystem of other professionals can be extremely invigorating, making a tough day good and a good day better.
Endeavor makes it easy to interact with other entrepreneurs, marketers, designers, contractors and executives in an environment built for focus and connection. Think: flexible memberships, meeting rooms to impress clients, an events calendar designed for continuous professional development and valuable resources to help your business scale to the next level.
Quick Start: Schedule a tour, try coworking with us for a day and ask about upcoming member events. Explore our various memberships and meeting rooms to determine the best option for your needs.
A Word from the Pros: “And then there’s Endeavor, which has been an excellent resource for me in Greenville. Better environment for more efficient workdays, plus excellent co-workers and events to encourage a wider field of view.”
— Darren Leet, Brand Identity Designer (and Endeavor member), Darren Leet, Incorporated
How to Stack Resources for Small Business Owners
- Start with a Chamber of Commerce membership to broaden your professional network.
- Layer in GVL Starts if you are still formulating product-market fit.
- Meet with SBDC to lock in the financials and a business lender plan.
- Enhance local brand equity with United Way volunteer opportunities.
- Leverage GVLtoday for increased visibility and community reach.
- Commit to a local BNI chapter to maximize consistent, referral-driven professional growth.
- Work from Endeavor to stay up-to-date on Greenville’s flourishing creative business community.
Discover What’s Possible Here at Endeavor
Greenville is packed with resources for small business owners who want traction and momentum without all the guesswork. Pick one or two of these resources to activate this month, then incrementally build in the next layer once you start seeing positive results.
If you want a productive work environment and a robust professional community that ties it all together, we would love to show you around. Book a tour and experience for yourself what makes Endeavor the best co-working space for growing businesses in Greenville, SC.