New state-run website allows small business owners to consult experts for free

NH starts website to advise small businesses

CONCORD, N.H. — The state launched a new website Thursday that connects small businesses in New Hampshire with volunteer experts to answer questions on topics as diverse as accounting and international trade.

The free service, called MyExpertNet, has 41 business professionals so far who will give advice on a number of categories, including starting a business, finance and energy efficiency.

The site was developed by the Knowledge Institute, an Exeter-based consulting firm that helps small businesses grow, in conjunction with the state and major sponsors Comcast and Public Service of New Hampshire.

William Osgood, president of the Knowledge Institute, said while there is a lot of information available on the Internet for small business owners, much of it is not qualified. Social media and forum sites have been increasingly popular as places where people can pose questions, “but it’s difficult to know whether the person providing the answers is reliable as a source of information,” he said. Experts are screened before they are added to the site, he said.

The website also links business owners to counselors at other organizations, such as the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and the Women’s Business Center.

Russ Ouellette, one of the volunteer experts, runs Sojourn Partners, a leadership coaching firm in Bedford.

“Anyone who has ever started a business knows that the process is daunting at best and terrifying at worst,” he said. “To have someone who has been through what you’re going through and who is willing to take the time to help you navigate the rough waters is invaluable.”

Online:

www.myexpertnet.org