Small Business & Entrepreneur Services

Are you an aspiring or current beauty entrepreneur? Join us at Brooklyn Public Library for our Glow & Grow: Beauty Essentials Series! These free programs are designed to help you build, grow, and stay ahead in the beauty industry.

Glow& Grow model in gold

About Glow & Grow

Glow & Grow empowers emerging beauty entrepreneurs with vital resources, expert guidance, and networking opportunities, equipping them with skills to build successful beauty businesses. By fostering innovation and inclusive practices, we aim to inspire and elevate participants, preparing them to thrive in today's evolving beauty industry. These sessions offer valuable insights and hands-on resources for beauty entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey.

Check out the special Women's History Month and Glow & Grow Work Life blog post, Breaking Barriers, Building Brands: Women in Beauty Entrepreneurship

Upcoming Glow & Grow Programs

Beauty Business Research - Part 1

Learn the fundamentals of market research, competitive analysis, and customer insights to build a strong beauty business foundation.

Date: Thursday, March 20th | 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Location: Virtual

RSVP here

Beauty Business Research - Part 2

Dive deeper into research strategies, industry trends, and data tools to refine and grow a successful beauty brand.

Date: Thursday, March 27th | 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Location: Virtual

RSVP here

Dress for Success Cosmetics Drive

Support beauty entrepreneurs and job seekers by donating new, unused cosmetics and beauty products to empower confidence and success.

Date: Monday, April 1 - Wednesday, April 30th

Location: Business & Career Center

Learn more here

The Art of Trend Forecasting

Discover how cultural shifts, social media, and technology shape beauty trends and learn how to stay ahead in the industry.

Date: Thursday, April 3rd | 12:00 - 2:00 PM

Location: Virtual

RSVP here

2025 Beauty & Personal Care Trends with Mintel

Understand what's new and next in consumer behavior and the impact on beauty and personal care marketing and innovation.

Date: Thursday, April 17th | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Virtual

RSVP here

AI & Branding in the Beauty Industry: Elevate Your Brand with Smart Strategies

Learn how to build a strong beauty brand with AI-driven tools and strategies.

Date: Thursday, May 1st | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Business & Career Center

RSVP here

AI & Visual Identity in Beauty: Transforming Moodboards into Brand Aesthetics

Learn how to turn Pinterest moodboards into a cohesive beauty brand identity using AI.

Date: Thursday, May 8th | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Business & Career Center

RSVP here

Digital Marketing 101 for the Beauty Industry

No matter your beauty niche, this workshop will help you show up online with clarity and confidence.

Date: Thursday, May 15th | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Business & Career Center

RSVP here

Styled For Success: Using Your Wardrobe to Represent Your Brand

Use the Power of Your Beauty Brand Persona to Elevate Your Professional Presence.

Date: Thursday, June 5th | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Business & Career Center

RSVP here

More Small Business & Entrepreneur Services

One-on-One Business Coaching

Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering weekly, free, in-person one-to-one business advisement by appointment every Thursday at Brooklyn Public Library’s Business & Career Center! Get help on access to financing, marketing and sales strategies, government procurement, and business planning. These business advisement sessions are available to existing for-profit businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. They do not provide assistance to nonprofits (see SCORE NYC instead) or cannabis based businesses (see Business Solutions Brooklyn Center instead). To see a schedule of upcoming sessions, visit: bit.ly/BPLSBDC. To contact Pace SBDC, call 212.618.6655 or email sbdc@pace.edu

To make an appointment for a free one-to-one session, sign up and complete the online counseling request using the new SBDC eCenter system, NYSBDC eCenter Direct.
- You will be prompted to create an account user name and password in order to complete your counseling request.
- In the “Area of Assistance” section please indicate that you would like to schedule an in-person session at the Brooklyn Public Library, the date you are requesting, and what you would like assistance with.
- After your account is created and counseling request submitted, an SBDC counselor will be in touch to confirm your appointment date and time.

City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP)

City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) partners with the Brooklyn Public Library Business & Career Center and the Pace SBDC to offer virtual small business legal clinics. These clinics, conducted by NELP, are an opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with a team of pro bono attorneys to discuss legal issues related to their small businesses, such as intellectual property rights, contracts/agreements, business structure and incorporation, commercial leasing and more. Click here for future clinic dates and programming.

To contact the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project, call 212.382.6633 or email nelp@nycbar.org

Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Clinics and Office Hours

In New York City, MWBE certification provides access to valuable resources, including government contracting opportunities, financial assistance programs, and networking events.

Join our MWBE clinics and learn about:

Certification program overview
Registering in the Payee Information Portal (PIP)
Registering for product service (NIGP) codes
Starting a MWBE certification application

Participants will also have the opportunity to work with someone one-on-one after the informational presentation to begin the application process or address specific questions.

To register for an upcoming clinic at one of our local branches: https://bit.ly/MWBEatBPL
To make an appointment to get one-one help at MWBE Office Hours, available on the SECOND Tuesday of the month in the Business & Career Center, email brooklyn-bsc@nycbusiness-solutions.com. Office hours start in December 2024 and end in June 2025.

Brought to you by the Business & Career Center in partnership with NYC Small Business Services (SBS), the Staten Island Business Outreach Center (SIBOC) and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

Local Business Assistance Providers

Business assistance providers are nonprofit organizations that offer suggestions to small businesses on a wide range of planning, financial and operational issues. If you are looking to start a business, these are the places you would turn to for practical counseling, business mentoring and coaching. Appointments need to be made with the agencies directly.

Download a list of business assistance providers that serve Brooklyn, New York.

Check Empire State Development's Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, including their directory of Entrepreneurial Assistance Centers. for additional organizations that offer services to individuals wishing to start or expand their business in New York State.

For online guidance for on how to start a business in New York or New York City, accessing financing programs and contracting opportunities, check the NYC MyCity Business Portal.

Other Resources and Programs

Subject Guides

Useful Subject Guides on the resources you need to be a successful entrepreneur, created by our business librarians. Check the "Subject Guides" box to see our most up to date Subject Guides.

Online Resources

Online databases with authoritative information about your industry, competitors, and target customers. Download our list of business, personal finance, and career development databases.
Subscriptions to the leading trade magazines and business newspapers in print and online.

Events and Classes

Expert led events and classes on all aspects of starting, running, and growing your business.
Librarian led events on how to utilize all of the library’s business resources and where to look for additional help.
Go to our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming business events and classes.
Be sure to also check the NYC Business Solutions, Brooklyn Center on Eventbrite for free small business programs on starting, financing and marketing your business in Brooklyn!

PowerUP Business Plan Competition

Annual business plan competition for Brooklyn entrepreneurs that awards finalists with seed capital and feedback from our qualified judges.
Competition includes free workshops on:
- Writing your business plan.
- Implementing marketing strategies
- Determining financial projections.
- Researching your customers, competitors and market.
Go to our PowerUP page for more information.