University of Scranton SBDC Services
> Checklist for Starting a Business
> How to write a Business Plan
Consulting, Education and Information Services
Consulting
To succeed, all businesses require both sufficient capital and the knowledge to use it wisely. SBDC consultants help entrepreneurs develop the planning, management, and financial skills necessary to make their business thrive.
The SBDCs’ one-on-one management consulting emphasizes education and guidance in finding practical solutions to business problems. Consulting is confidential and provided at no charge by a staff of skilled professionals. Consulting areas of expertise include:
- Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Business Plan Development
- Capital Acquisition
- Computing Applications and MIS
- Customer Service
- Environmental Issues
- Feasibility Analysis
- Financing and Loan Packaging
- Financial Analysis
- Franchising
- Government Marketing
- Homebased Business
- International Trade
- Internet Marketing
- Legal Issues Management
- Manufacturing
- Marketing and Advertising
- Market Research
- Minority Business Development
- OSHA/Workplace Safety
- Personnel
- Engineering Development Services
- Public Relations
- Retailing
- Regulatory Assistance
- Strategic Planning
- Taxes
- Technology Commercialization
- Women’s Business Issues
Specialized Consulting Services
The SBDC is responding to the rapidly changing economy with new and specialized programs.
Examples include:
Government Marketing – The Government Marketing Assistance Program (GMAP) system provides government contract leads for firms that want to sell their products or services to government agencies. GMAP saves businesses time and money by matching a firm’s goods and services with bids and leads published in the Commerce Business Daily and The Pennsylvania Bulletin, as well as requests for small bids from the Defense Logistics Agency and various other government agencies.
International Trade – If your company is looking to grow, the international marketplace offers a world of opportunities. The Pennsylvania SBDC’s specialized international trade services can help small firms take the steps to becoming a successful competitor in foreign markets. If your company is already engaged in international trade, the SBDC can help you take advantage of new opportunities.
Engineering Development – The Engineering Development Services offered at the Bucknell University SBDC helps firms design, construct and test products with commercial potential and offers assistance in conducting patent searches.
Profiting from Prevention – The Environmental Management Assistance Program offers information on how reducing pollution can result in increased profits and competitiveness through increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste. The SBDC can help identify commonsense and cost effective conservation opportunities and provide guidance on environmental regulations.
Technology Commercialization – The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center’s Technology Commercialization Assistance services are designed to assist technology entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to develop a corporate strategy that will assist them in taking their technologies to market.
Education
SBDC courses, seminars and conferences provide up-to-date, practical information on a wide variety of business topics. Programs teach basic business skills as well as more advanced and specific business management. These low-cost workshops feature experts and leaders from industry, government, higher education, and professional associations. See the Calendar of Events for information on upcoming University of Scranton SBDC events.
Information
Access to information is essential to maintaining a competitive advantage. The Worldwide Information Sources for Entrepreneurs — WISE – program utilizes a wide variety of resources to help entrepreneurs obtain the timely, relevant, and detailed information they require to make sound business decisions.
WISE reaches well beyond the Web and provides subsidized access to other valuable resources including hundreds of commercial online and CD-ROM databases. Our SBDC also maintains a library of key print directories, periodicals, and government publications. The SBDC provide guidance in conducting research and analyzing the information. The University of Scranton SBDC also offer workshops on market research and its application to
business growth.
SBDC Clients
The University of Scranton SBDC services are available to all small businesses and prospective entrepreneurs in our eight-county area of Northeast Pennsylvania in all industry sectors.
In 2014:
- Over 3,000 hours of consulting were provided to over 300 clients
- 564 individuals received 1,714 hours of training
- Over 1,100 telephone calls for information were answered
- $4,000,000 million in capital was raised on behalf of SBDC clients
SBDC Partners
The SBDCs are a public – private partnership and are funded with investments from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the University of Scranton. This support enables consulting services to be provided at no charge.
If you are interested in meeting with an SBDC Business Consultant,
click here to access our online Request for Counseling Form.