Academic Summit Small Business Development Center (ASSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research.

We work with real people and real businesses. Our assistance helps people like you achieve real success in your business.

What Is a Small Business Development Center?

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provides marketing, financing, and business-related assistance to local entrepreneurs. SBDCs exist as a partnership between Academic Summit and local promising young entrepreneurs as well as college or university students, with the purpose to help foster small businesses and jobs by providing educational resources to business owners and those looking to start a business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide business-related assistance and knowledge to help entrepreneurs start, run, and grow their business.
  • SBDCs are created through a partnership between Academic Summit, promising young entrepreneurs nd local universities and colleges.
  • SBDC business consulting and business training is offered at a low cost.
  • The impact of SBDCs on the economy is large, as they help launch and assist thousands of businesses and create thousands of new jobs.

Academic Summit Small Development Center’s services include:

  • One-on-one business counseling for existing and start up businesses.
  • Assistance with developing, writing, and implementing business plans.
  • Preparing and implementing budgets.
  • Cash flow management.
  • Evaluating business acquisitions.
  • Evaluating legal entities.
  • Periodic Training Seminars.
  • Help in identifying and applying for business financing.
  • Assistance with financial analysis and planning.
  • Access to business education and training opportunities.

CERTIFICATE IN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

A 15 credit hour, 5 course series designed to prepare the new entrepreneur for a smooth launch. Included in this series is BMGT100 “Basics of Business Setup,” a 2-hour online hybrid course where you will cover all aspects of creating a business plan:

  • Is business ownership for you?
  • Identifying what you plan to sell
  • Targeting your customer
  • Developing a marketing plan
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Financing options
  • Formal structure

Other courses in the certificate are:

Introduction to Accounting (BACC 100): 3 credit hour course – investigates the fundamental concepts of accounting. Available as a hybrid web-based course.

Introduction to Business for Business Owners (CBUS 104): 3 credit hour course – develops student understanding of today’s business world. Available as a web and web hybrid course.

Marketing Strategy for Business Owners (BMGT 117): 4 credit hour course – explores the various processes and concepts inherent in the discipline of marketing. Available as a web-based course.

Business Computer Systems for Business Owners (CBUS 150): 3 credit hour course – covers the role of computing in society today in business and industry, including system design and analysis. Available in both traditional and webbased course format.

Understanding a Small Business Development Center

SBDCs help promising young entrepreneurs “realize their dream of business ownership” and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace.

SBDCs combine private sector know-how with the educational background of universities in order to provide entrepreneurs with the resources they need to feel confident in starting and running a business.

Types of Assistance Provided by SBDC

SBDC advisors provide aspiring and current small business owners a variety of free business consulting and low-cost training services including business plan development, manufacturing assistance, technology development, lending assistance, exporting and importing support, disaster recovery assistance, procurement and contracting aid, market research help, support, and healthcare guidance.

SBDCs provide the knowledge, education, and expertise small businesses are often missing. Whether it’s taxes, financing, marketing, training or networking, SBDCs are there to help their clients overcome challenges, discover new opportunities, and unlock their potential so that their businesses can achieve new heights. The SBDC network includes dedicated business advisors working in partnership with universities, economic development professionals, chambers of commerce, lenders, investors, and entrepreneurs themselves.