October 2025

Inside Scoop

Bringing You the Latest Tools to Help Your Business

Crisp Days, Bright Ideas

Friends,

October greets us with cool, refreshing days and a sense of clarity that inspires new ideas. It’s the perfect season to pause, reflect, and make plans for what’s ahead.

We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for our QuickBooks Online three-part workshop, scheduled for January 15, 22, and 29, 2026. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to sharpen your skills, this series is designed to build confidence in managing your business finances.

Also, our Bringing Your Food Product to Market workshop, is open for registration! This in-person event will be held at the CDP office in Orleans, MA, on January 26 and February 2, 2026. It’s a great opportunity to learn how to take your food product from concept to market with expert guidance and peer support.

Our individual small business assistance is available at our Orleans office, on Zoom, and during Regional Office Hours in Harwich and Provincetown. Let’s connect to explore your goals, challenges, and opportunities.

As the final quarter of 2025 gets underway, the CDP is standing ready to assist you in accomplishing the goals you set earlier this year. Register for these upcoming workshops or schedule an appointment to finish 2025 strong and set yourself up for success in 2026.

We look forward to working with you!

Pam

Business News To Know

October is Cybersecurity Month:

Small Steps, Big Protection

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month-a great reminder that protecting your business doesn’t have to be hard. Simple actions can go a long way in keeping your data and customers safe.

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends these quick tips:

Spot and report phishing: Don’t click suspicious links or attachments.
Use strong passwords: Make them long, random, and unique; try a password manager.
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security.
Update software: Regular updates fix security gaps.
Enable system logging: Back up data regularly.
Encrypt sensitive information: Add extra protection for sensitive information.

Cybersecurity is about consistency: small steps today can prevent big problems tomorrow.

Visit the Massachusetts Division of Banks for weekly tips to help businesses stay secure.

MA Pay Transparency Is Here:

Are You Ready?

Do you employ 25 or more people? If so, the new Massachusetts Pay Transparency Law taking effect on the 29th of this month, could impact you!

The new law requires employers to include salary or hourly pay ranges in all job postings and to share this same information with current employees or applicants upon request, whether it’s for a new hire, a promotion, or an internal transfer. If you have 100 or more employees, you’ll also need to submit aggregate pay and demographic data to the State.

This goal of this law is to create a fair, open hiring process and make sure everyone knows the value of the work they do. Penalties for noncompliance will apply, so now’s the time to review your job postings, HR policies, and pay practices.

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
Record Keeping
Marketing Strategies
Exit Planning - Succession Planning
Accountability Partner

Upcoming Regional Office Hours:

11/13 The 204 in Harwich-9:30-12:00
11/18 Provincetown Commons-9:00-1:00

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

Make an appointment for Free Small Business Assistance

CDP Referral Program

Recent referral prizes include gift certificates to

Homeport Restaurant, Truro Vineyards, Abiyoyo, and Tula+.

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

Upcoming Workshops

Art-Related Workshops & Resources

10/28 Deadline to apply for Mass Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals

10/30 Artist residencies 101 with Yasmine Ameli

11/05 Information Session for the 2026 Creative Exchange Cohort

11/12 &19 Fostering Relationships with Galleries and Museums with Kristen Becker

Food Related Workshops & Resources

10/25 Cape Cod Culinary Incubator's Maker's Market

10/28 How AI is Transforming Food & Beverage Manufacturing

11/9 Becoming a Food Maker at the Cape Cod Culinary Incubator

11/26 CommonWealth Kitchen Virtual Info Session + Tour

General Business Workshops and Information

10/28 Google Analytics Made Simple: Unlock the Key Insights for Your Business

10/30 Mental Resilience for Entrepreneurs: Thriving Under Pressure

10/31 Blue Economy Employer Forum

10/31 Legal Compliance: Stay Out of Trouble and Don't Get Sued

11/04 First Employee Essentials: An Overview for Small Business Hiring

11/05 Contracts Made Simple: A Guide for Entrepreneurs

11/13 Navigating Tariffs – A Guide for Small Businesses

11/13 C-Suite to Main Street: Building a Business Around Your Personal Brand

11/18 Ask an Expert: Activating Your B2B Strategy with LinkedIn

11/19 Cybersecurity Basics: Protecting Yourself and Your Business

Community Partner Opportunities

10/28 WE CAN GROW Information Session

GROW, (Get Results with Others’ Wisdom), is a facilitated peer mentoring forum to empower women with the support and tools they need to be successful in growing their business. A facilitated peer mentoring 6 session program to empower women with the support and tools they need to be successful in growing their businesses. This program empowers entrepreneurs with the support and tools they need to be successful. Attend the information session to learn more.

12/8 Celebrate Excellence: Nominate a Small Business for the 2026 NSBW Awards

Do you know a small business making a big impact? The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards. These awards recognize outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and advocates who drive innovation and strengthen their communities.

Additional Business Resources