Small Business Development Centers

This continues our series about programs designed to help you grow your business

When the Small Business Administration found too many of their guaranteed loans failing, they recognized business training for their clients would decrease the number of business failures. So, they partnered with educational facilities in all 50 states to create Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

Any small business owner, or potential small business owner, qualifies for services from an SBDC. Small Business Development Centers provide their services free of charge, though they may charge a small fee for workshops or seminars.  You can find an SBDC in all 50 states Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories using the locator on the SBDC association's web site.

Services You Can Receive at a Small Business Development Center

Each SBDC advertises their services on their web site or through other means. Use the locator to find the SBDC nearest to you to find the exact times, dates, and availability of services. SBDC’s provide

• Coaching and Counseling in several areas of assistance: capital acquisition, loan package preparation, market research and plans, business operations, accounting, contingency planning, and much more.
• Entrepreneur training through live classes, online classes, and web based training. They offer full college courses such as StartSmart, CreditSmart, and others. They also sponsor single attendance workshops on finding funding, marketing, business foundations, and other topics. Some of the training requires no charge, others require small fees.
• Mentor/Mentee programs connect successful business owners willing to nurture growing business owners.
• Information & Publications remain available to any person. Many SBDCs maintain a library of legal forms, research materials, books, export guides, tools for feasibility analysis, and business plan forms.
• Government Procurement counseling and access to government contracts.
• Women’s and Minority Business Centers offer collaboration, training, counseling, and training to people who meet the requirements.

I hope that you can connect with the Small Business Development Center nearest you. I remain convinced that you can find the help you need to grow your business.

Join us on Tuesday to learn more about the Small Business Administration.

Share your experience with a Small Business Development Center?