Ocean County, NJ business owners can find free or public help through the New Jersey Small Business Development Center network, the SBA New Jersey District Office, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Business.NJ.gov, the Township of Toms River and the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce. Lynxstead Financial, a small-business funding broker in Toms River, NJ, is not affiliated with them.
| Free advising | New Jersey SBDC network, with counseling requests by county |
|---|---|
| Federal office | SBA New Jersey District Office, 2 Gateway Center, Suite 1002, Newark |
| State programs | NJEDA small business services; Business.NJ.gov |
| Local | Township of Toms River; Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce |
| Ocean County employers | 15,020 establishments (Census CBP 2023) |
Who this directory is for
Ocean County is a county of small employers. Of its 15,020 employer establishments in 2023, 8,776 had fewer than five employees, and the three largest sectors by count were retail trade (2,057), health care and social assistance (2,025) and construction (1,970) (U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023). Another 56,836 businesses had no employees in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2024). Most of those owners do their own planning and bookkeeping, which is exactly where free advising helps.
The organizations below are grouped from the most local to the most general: advisers who meet one-on-one, then federal and state agencies with financing programs, then the township and chamber that shape day-to-day business in Toms River.
Free advising: New Jersey Small Business Development Centers
The New Jersey Small Business Development Center network provides no-cost, one-on-one counseling on business plans, cash flow, financing readiness and more. Its website lets owners request counseling by county, with Ocean County and Monmouth County both listed (checked 2026-10-16).
U.S. Small Business Administration, New Jersey District Office
The SBA New Jersey District Office is at 2 Gateway Center, Suite 1002, Newark, NJ 07102, and serves all 21 New Jersey counties, including Ocean County (SBA district page, checked 2026-10-16). It can explain SBA loan programs and point owners to participating lenders and resource partners. SBA loans are made by those lenders, not by the SBA directly.
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
NJEDA's small business resources page lists state financing and support programs, including Direct Loans, the Small Business Fund, NJ LEND, the Premier Lender Program and the Small Business E-Commerce Support Program (checked 2026-10-16). Each program sets its own eligibility. NJEDA also runs grant programs; Lynxstead Financial does not offer or apply for grants.
Business.NJ.gov and the Division of Revenue
Business.NJ.gov, presented by the Office of the Governor, the New Jersey Business Action Center, NJEDA and the Department of the Treasury, brings registration, licenses and permits, tax obligations and funding programs into one portal. Registration itself is filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services; our registration guide sets out the steps.
Township of Toms River, NJ
Local zoning, construction permits and municipal licensing for businesses in Toms River run through the Township of Toms River, whose website lists its address as 33 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753, and provides building permit and inspection information (checked 2026-10-16). Businesses in other Ocean County towns work with their own municipality.
Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce, Toms River, NJ
The Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce is the local business association for the Toms River area (chamber website, checked 2026-10-16). Chambers are useful for introductions to accountants, attorneys, landlords and other local businesses. Listing the chamber here does not mean Lynxstead Financial is a member.
Walking into an SBDC session prepared
- Bring the last few months of business bank statements and your most recent tax return.
- Write down what you want the money to do and what you think it costs.
- List current debts, leases and any advances, with their payments.
- Ask the adviser to help you build a simple cash-flow forecast you can keep updating.
A forecast prepared with an adviser is also useful when you later approach lenders, because it shows how the new payment fits alongside existing costs.
Questions to ask any adviser, broker or lender
- Are you paid by me, by a lender, or by both?
- Which of my options are you not able to offer?
- What will this cost in total dollars, not just per payment?
- What happens if I want to pay early or fall behind?
Where a funding broker fits
Advisers help you plan; lenders decide. A broker sits between the two, helping you choose a structure and prepare a request once the plan is clear. Lynxstead Financial is a broker, not a lender. When you are ready, compare the six funding structures, read about term loans for expansion, or see Toms River, NJ business data. Other guides are in the resources section.
By Lynxstead Financial · Updated
Something to ask the North Main Street office?
Unsure which structure fits? Call, or begin online.