Helping Your Business Start, Grow and Succeed
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We offer no-cost, personalized, confidential, one-on- one consulting for start-ups, entrepreneurs and existing businesses. The SBDC is focused on helping business owners and key decision makers create and retain jobs, attain capital, and improve profitability for long-term success.

After you contact and sign up with your local Center, you will be contacted to discuss the Center’s specific process. Consulting services are available by appointment to existing and start-up business owners.

Clients will meet with a consultant, set goals, and develop an action plan. Over time, you may add or change the goals, or bring in additional consultants to help as new issues arise.

Clients usually meet with their consultants 3-5 times, depending on your needs, objectives and timeline.

Trainings & Workshops

Learn more about upcoming training and workshops

Marketing

The SBDC has a number of tools and resources available to support the market research needs of most small businesses. Work with one of our consultants and our SBDC research resources team to identify, focus and develop information about the market and market opportunities for your business. Work with our specialists for web assistance, e-commerce or social media to improve your online performance and sales. Learn to promote your business using various media, advertising, and public relations techniques.

Business Planning & Management

Creating a business plan, or developing a business model, as well as ongoing review, helps clients create a road map and continually adapt to changing demands. Business modeling usually begins with a customer focus. Effective business plans include company history, demographics, operations, administration, financials, products/services, economic considerations, and marketing. The SBDC has experts in intellectual property, new product development, HR, operations, licensing, permitting, international trade, manufacturing, management techniques, and a host of other specialties.

Financial Management

SBDC consultants provide a host of expertise in all aspects of financial management, ranging from QuickBooks experts, to financial modeling experts and cash flow assistance. The SBDC provides access and support in traditional lending and can help a client prepare for angel investing and crowdfunding. Reviewing product pricing and product mix and understanding and improving decision making based on financial reports are a few of the ways the SBDC can help our clients be more successful.

Resources

The SBDC can provide customized research for small businesses. Each Center has business reference information covering a variety of topics.

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The Central CA Small Business Development Center is a regional network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the California Economic Development Corporation and Regional Hosts. The regional host of the network is the University of Merced. The Central CA Regional SBDC and its affiliate SBDC Centers are nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the California SBDC closest to you.