Inside Scoop

August 2025

Bringing You the Latest Tools to Help Your Business

Your Season, Our Support

Mid-August is upon us, with an early Labor Day less than two weeks away. We know business owners are fully in the weeds, covering extra shifts for summer staff who have departed and generally, doing their best to get through these final two weeks before the "Locals Summer' begins.

Here at the CDP, we are busy planning our upcoming workshops including:

QuickBooks Online three-part workshop series January 15th, 22nd, and 29th
Bringing Your Food Product to Market on January 27th and February 3rd,
Food Manager Training/ServSafe Exam on February 24th and March 3rd.

We are finalizing details for "ART. TRENDS. COLLAB. THRIVE!", our annual collaboration with The 204 in Harwich happening sometime in February, 2026 and our annual workshop series with the Provincetown Commons which will run from January-April, 2026.

In early 2026, we will offer workshops focused on steps business owners can take to prepare for leaving their businesses. Whether the plan is to sell to a third-party, including your employees, or give it to a family member, in one year or ten, there are certain steps to take that will ease the process for everyone. Think of it like this: you don't go on vacation without planning - how can you go on a "permanent vacation" without planning?!

The CDP will once again offer monthly regional office hours at the Provincetown Commons and The 204 in Harwich.

Information about all this programming may be found here. We look forward to working with you to nurture the launch and growth of your small business!

Small Business Assistance

The CDP is ready to support small business owners.

Thanks to grants and donations, the CDP provides free small business services including:

Business Plan Development
Financial Planning, Cash Flow Projections, and QuickBooks Assistance
Marketing Strategies
Exit Planning - Succession Planning
Accountability Partner

Upcoming Regional Office Hours:

9/15 Provincetown Commons 9-1
9/18 The 204 in Harwich 9-12

To schedule an appointment, visit the CDP Business Events page or book an appointment with Pam or Tricia.

Make an appointment for Free Small Business Assistance

CDP Referral Program

Recent referral prizes include gift certificates to

Farm Gallery, Salty Market, Cook's Organics, Homeport Restaurant and Truro Vineyards.

REFER A BUSINESS TODAY! YOU MAY BE SEPTEMBER'S LUCKY WINNER!

Community Partner Opportunities

Business Front Door

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Executive Office of Economic Development are excited to partner with you as you look to start, scale or grow your business in Massachusetts. Whether you are a well-established business in the state or considering moving and/or starting a business here, the Business Front Door is our newest platform to ensure that you receive the most up to date and relevant information about the state’s resources for businesses.

Benefits of the Business Front Door (BFD)

Businesses have a centralized hub for interacting and coordinating with Team MA.
Businesses receive a designated Team MA point of contact and know who to communicate with for one-on-one support.
Businesses have a channel for asking questions and flagging barriers to their growth.
Businesses with less time and capacity can easily log in to BFD and contact Team MA.
Businesses can understand which state resources are most relevant, receive guidance tailored to their business needs, and track these opportunities in their business dashboard.
Organizations supporting the business ecosystem throughout the state (e.g., chambers, municipalities, etc.) can effortlessly refer businesses to Team MA.

LEARN MORE About the Business Front Door

Junk Fee Regulations Enforcement Begins September 2nd

The Massachusetts Attorney General has issued regulations on “junk fees” (940 CMR 38.00) which will begin to be enforced on September 2, 2025. These regulations fundamentally change how Massachusetts businesses must disclose pricing to consumers.

To summarize, this regulation requires the clear and conspicuous disclosure of the total price of a product being advertised to consumers, including any fees, interest, charges, or other expenses necessary to complete a transaction. It also requires clear and conspicuous disclosures concerning recurring charges, including all financial obligations a consumer may incur, and information on cancellation of those contracts. Key provisions include:

Total Price Disclosure: Businesses must clearly and conspicuously disclose the Total Price of products or services at the time of the initial price presentation. The Total Price disclosure must occur before collecting personal information from consumers, with certain exceptions.
Prominence Requirements: The Total Price must be displayed more prominently than any other pricing information, ensuring consumers aren’t misled by artificially low advertised prices.
Fee Transparency: The nature, purpose, and amount of all fees must be clearly disclosed. Optional or waivable fees must be identified as such, with instructions on how consumers can avoid them.
Negative Option Features: Businesses offering trial periods or recurring charges must provide clear terms, simple cancellation mechanisms, and advance notification before recurring charges.