We put you first.

Personalized Support for Your Business

Advance Thief River provides practical, one-to-one support for entrepreneurs and business owners in Thief River Falls and the surrounding area. Whether you are starting a new business, growing an existing company, exploring a new location, or looking for financing, we can help you understand your options and take the next step with confidence.

Our work begins with a conversation. We take time to understand your goals, challenges, timeline, and opportunities. From there, we help connect you with the right tools, partners, and resources to move your business forward.

How We Can Help

Business Planning
Developing a clear business plan that defines your goals, market, operations, and path for growth.

Financial Projections
Creating realistic projections to help you understand cash flow, evaluate feasibility, and prepare for financing conversations.

Business Loans and Grants
Connecting you with local, regional, and state financing resources, including loan programs, grant opportunities, and lender contacts.

Site Selection and Business Locations
Helping you explore available buildings, development sites, zoning considerations, and location options that fit your business needs.

Angel Investment Opportunities
Making connections to potential investors and other sources of private capital when appropriate.

Marketing Strategy
Helping you think through your target audience, messaging, digital presence, and strategies to reach new customers.

QuickBooks and Financial Systems
Providing guidance to help organize your bookkeeping, track financial performance, and better understand your numbers.

Website, Social Media, and Digital Presence
Helping you strengthen your online presence through website planning, digital marketing, and social media strategy.

Connected to a Strong Business Support Network

Advance Thief River works closely with local, regional, and state partners to help businesses access the expertise and resources they need. These partnerships allow us to connect businesses with support for planning, financing, permitting, workforce, marketing, training, and technical assistance.

Our partners include:

Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center
Provides free, confidential one-to-one consulting to help businesses start, manage, and grow.

City of Thief River Falls
Provides business resources, incentives, permitting assistance, and community development support.

Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce
Supports local businesses through promotion, networking, advocacy, and community engagement.

Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Offers business financing, training, consulting, and resources to support economic vitality across the region.

Northwest Regional Development Commission
Provides planning, technical assistance, and support for community and economic development projects.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Offers statewide tools and resources for business planning, startup, expansion, financing, and workforce development.

A Strong Place to Do Business

Thief River Falls is home to a diverse and resilient business community with strengths in manufacturing, electronics distribution, tourism, health care, retail, professional services, and small business entrepreneurship. Major employers such as DigiKey, Arctic Cat, and Seven Clans Casino help anchor the regional economy, while locally owned businesses contribute to the character, vitality, and quality of life of the community.

Get Started

Through our partnership with the Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, area businesses and startups can access free one-to-one consulting for business planning, financing, marketing, operations, and more.

To begin, submit an SBDC application and a member of the business support team will follow up with you.