Local Engineer looking for advice on starting an IT agency in NC – How do you reach small businesses here?

Hey everyone,

I’m an IT Engineer with 4 years of experience, and I’m currently trying to transition from my corporate job to starting my own custom software agency here in NC.

I specialize in the "heavy-duty" side—Custom Management Systems, AI Agentic Solutions, and MCP. I know the tech side perfectly, but I'm finding the "business" side in North Carolina a bit tough to navigate.

My current strategy is this: Since I'm new, I’ve been offering to build custom systems at 50% of the market rate (like websites for $50 or custom CRM/management tools from $100) just to build a local portfolio. I even tell people they don't have to pay until the work is done and they are 100% satisfied because I want to earn their trust.

My questions for the NC community:

1. For those who own small businesses (lawyers, garment shops, restaurants), where do you usually look for tech help?
2. Is offering a "Pay after you're happy" deal a good way to get my first few local clients, or does it sound "too good to be true"?
3. If I wanted to offer a referral fee to locals who connect me with clients, is there a specific community or group where that is common?

I’m really passionate about helping local shops automate their manual work, but I’d love some "boots on the ground" advice on how to grow here. Thanks for any insight!