U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
(SBDC) OVERVIEW
Small Business Act
§ 21. (a) (1) The Administration is authorized to make grants…
to assist in establishing small business development centers
MISSION
Created in 1980 as a unique cooperative partnership through which federal, state and
local government, the higher educational community, and the private sector could most effectively
meet the business, education and management and technical assistance needs of current and
prospective small business owners.
Carroll Thomas, Associate Administrator
SBA Office of Small Business Development Centers
March 27, 2014
Counseling SBA’s vast counseling and training bonestructure reaches all U.S. small businesses
Legend
SBA Footprint
*
SBA Field Structure
68 District offices
20 Branch offices
24 Alternate Work Sites
SBA District Offices (68)
Small Business Development Centers (938)
SCORE Centers (356)
Microlenders (199)
Women’s Business Centers (110)
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (19)
Veterans Business Outreach Centers (16)
National Network
63 Lead Centers
940 Service Center
Locations
4,200 Business
Advisors and Trainers
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Lead Center Host
Organizations
48 Universities and
Colleges
8 Community Colleges
7 State Governments
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
SBDC APPROACH
Help entrepreneurs make informed decisions about
starting a new venture
Assist existing businesses with growth and
stabilization/survival strategies
Provide support via training, business counseling and
access to online resources and tools
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
SBDC APPROACH
Teachers and Coaches

Assess Situations – Work with entrepreneurs to identify options to
solve problems and address identified needs
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Development of Business Plans
Financial Packages
Credit Applications*
Contract Proposals
Strategic Planning
Marketing Plans
*Assess capital and cash flow needs

Assist with development of a business plan, financial forecast, loan proposal, and
lender presentation
 Educate clients on financial ratios and lending criteria used by financial
institutions
 Connect the business owner with appropriate funding sources
 Post-funding consulting to maximize success and promote an ongoing strong
relationship with the bank or other funding source
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
SBDC APPROACH
 Strategic Business Planning
 Financial Management
 International Trade
 Government Contracts
 Commercialization (SBIR/STTR)
 Exit Strategies and Business Valuation
 Environmental and Energy Efficiency
 Capital Acquisition
 Competitor and Market Analysis
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
T is for Technology and a great place to collaboraTe
•
•
•
Technology designation may
be given to SBDCs that have
the knowledge and ability to
advise small businesses in
the science and technology
fields or in high growth
industries.
Many other SBDCs without T
designation also support
technology commercialization
SBTDCs support the Small
Business Innovation Research
and Small Business
Technology Transfer research
and development programs.

Grand Valley State University –
Michigan SBTDC

Inter American University of Puerto
Rico – Puerto Rico SBTDC

North Carolina State University –
North Carolina SBTDC

Ohio Department of Development –
Ohio SBTDC

University of Arkansas – Arkansas
SBTDC

University of Maryland – Maryland
SBTDC

University of Missouri – Missouri
SBTDC

University of Pennsylvania –
Pennsylvania SBTDC
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
SBDC RESULTS – FY 2013
• Counseled and trained 532,377 entrepreneurs of which
67,208 received more than five hours of business
advisement
•
According to a 3-year longitudinal impact study these
clients receiving 5+ hours of advisement:
 Report greater increases in revenues and profit margins
 Retain more staff
 Hire more employees
• Helped entrepreneurs create more than 14,294 new
businesses
• Assisted small businesses in the acquisition of $4.5
billion in capital
Carroll Thomas SBA SBDC
3/27/2014
Thanks!!
Questions
Carroll Thomas
Associate Administrator
SBA Office of Small Business Development Centers
carroll.thomas@sba.gov
202-205-6766