SBDC Services: Consulting
We provide best-in-class small business consulting services to develop, grow and strengthen your business. With expertise in every industry and at every stage of business, our professional staff will work with you to solve the challenges you are facing. We offer expert advice in:
- Business Plan Development
- Financial Analysis
- Pre-Venture Planning
- Research & Development
- Market Planning
- Business Regulations and Licenses
- Franchising
- Financial & Loan Packaging Assistance
- Management
- Operational Planning
Our one-on-one management consulting philosophy emphasizes education and guidance designed to create practical solutions to business problems. Our consulting arrangements are strictly confidential and are provided by highly-skilled professionals at no charge. Whether you are exploring the idea of entrepreneurship, working to get your start-up off the ground or considering opportunities to grow and develop your established business, we are here to help.
Exploring a Venture
Gathering information and clearly defining a business or product's niche is the primary goal in the exploration stage. We will help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities in the market you would like to enter. If you are thinking of creating new venture, you should begin by attending the University of Pittsburgh SBDC’s special workshop for first-time entrepreneurs, The First Step: Mechanics of Starting a Small Business. The First Step covers many of the issues that a person should consider when making the decision to purchase or start a business. Once you have completed the First Step, or if you already know the basics but could use some business plan guidance, we offer The Second Step: Developing a Business Plan to help you get your enterprise on the path to success. Contact us to register for one of these important workshops.
Establishing Your Business
Our consultants provide tremendous support as you work establish your business, with services including:
- Evaluating and refining your business plan
- Conducting market research
- Identifying funding sources
- Establishing business systems
- Providing information on your regulatory requirements
- Suggesting ways to reduce waste and save money on energy costs
- Evaluating franchise options
- Reviewing home-based business issues
You will meet privately with a consultant to establish and discuss your goals, examine your business’ needs, evaluate staff options and begin making your business plan a reality. Many of our best business development programs can help you expand your skills and supplement your consultant’s guidance.
Growing Your Success
As your business grows, you face increasingly complex issues to manage and maintain your success. We will help you:
- Revisit and revise your business plan to accommodate change
- Examine options to expand into overseas markets or government procurement.
- Strategically manage your business for long-term growth
- Diversify product offerings, methods or distribution channels
- Identify new market opportunities for your products or services
- Assess insurance needs and benefit programs
- Provide support in one of our areas of specialized expertise
Every business needs adequate access to capital, and we can help you secure gap financing through such programs as the Innovation Works technical assistance program, local micro loans, regional assistance programs and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
You can request a business consulting session or contact us to discuss ways we help you achieve your dreams of small business success.
SBDC Sponsors:
