Move over corporate America.

Velocity and the City of Sterling Heights have teamed to provide small business owners in Macomb County access to SizeUp, an online tool that will provide them with the same data that helps large corporations succeed.

“It’s amazing. I was in awe listening to all of the opportunities available with the data that will be provided,” said Taylor Miller, owner of Monarch Coaching and among those who attended Wednesday’s launch of the software program being made available.

In addressing the crowd, Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool said some people might think because the city works hand-in-hand with big companies such as Stellantis and General Dynamics that they might be neglecting smaller companies.

Vanderpool said that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“We’re the only city in Macomb County that has the Velocity Center,” Vanderpool said of the business incubator and accelerator that drives innovation and supports growth. “We’re very proud of that and we work closely with the center to provide opportunities such as this online tool.”

The free software, accessible through Velocity’s website, helps level the competitive playing field by providing local entrepreneurs with business intelligence and market research data usually obtained through expensive multinational consulting firms or in-house research analysts.

One of the quotes presented to Wednesday’s group said, “Good at work does not always mean good at business.”

At least 62.5% of the small businesses in Michigan fail because they don’t have access to consulting firms or data insights and strategies that would help them make money and stay in business by answering questions such as:

• Who are my competitors?

• How do I compare to them?

• Is this the best location for my business?

• What are the household incomes for this area?

The software also enables small business owners to introduce products and services at strategic times in their firm’s lifecycle, enabling them to retain loyal customers and increase acquisition of new customers. Local entrepreneurs looking to start a new company can also use the information obtained through the tool to create a solid business plan for investors.

Among those who can’t wait to try it is Gina Forte of Macomb Township.

“This is just one more tool that will help to educate me as an entrepreneur,” said the owner of Immaculate Services, a company that provides janitorial services to commercial properties, offices, healthcare facilities and for those moving in and out of residential areas. “I’m going to look up my competitors and see whether I’m in the right area for what I do.”

The $13,500 software, made possible through Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) SmartZone program, uses big data, cloud computing and advanced algorithms to provide small businesses with information pertaining to their company.

It’s sourced from hundreds of public and proprietary databases, covering firmographics, demographics, geography, labor, wages, costs and consumer spending.

“In today’s digital and information economy, if you don’t have access to intelligence, your business is at a significant disadvantage,” said Paula Macpherson, executive director of Velocity.

“Our hope is that entrepreneurs throughout Macomb County will be able to do research in their industries and be able to make good business decisions that drive their business forward,” added Macpherson.

The new service is completely free for local businesses and available anytime through the Velocity website at mivelocity.com/sizeupsterlingheights.