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As a small business owner, you may often feel as if you have to go it alone. After all, your business doesn’t have the budget or extensive resources that larger businesses have available to bring in outside consultants to provide training for your employees, help you refine your business plan, or develop a vision for your business’ future.
But luckily, you aren’t alone. You have the Small Business Development Center –— Olympic College (SDBC) right in your backyard.
You may be more familiar with the SBDC’s former name, the Kitsap Business Assistance Center. In August we changed the name of the Center to more closely align it with other Small Business Development Centers in Washington, as well as to reflect the Center’s service expansion into Mason County.
The question you should ask yourself now is this: have you taken advantage of all the services the Center has to offer your business?
The SBDC was established in 2004 with the express purpose of providing business assistance — the vast majority at no cost — to area business owners like you, whether you’ve just gotten started or have been here for decades. What benefits can it provide you?
Free Business Counseling
Unlimited, confidential business counseling sessions with SBDC’s certified business advisor are available by appointment at no cost to you. Whether you are thinking of starting a business or have been in business for years, are a sole proprietor or have hundreds of employees, we strongly encourage you to utilize SBDC’s counseling services any time your business needs them. Counseling sessions may include help with business plan development, determining the right legal structure for your business, choosing the right accounting software, financing, and so on.
Low-Cost Workshops and Seminars
Business-centered workshops and classes taught by local business experts are presented regularly by the SBDC through Olympic College’s Continuing Education program for a moderate fee. Topics covered include starting a business, developing a business plan, business tax basics and other subjects suitable for the businessperson and more. Many of these classes and workshops are held in the evenings and weekends, so you can focus on the important day-to-day tasks related to running your business. Business related academic credit courses are also available on all campuses or through several distance learning options.
In addition, the SBDC, in conjunction with Olympic College’s Customized Training department, can even develop and conduct customized business workshops and training for your organization or business, arranged to suit the needs of your attendees with respect to subject matter, length of workshop, and location.
Complimentary Business Resources and Referrals
The SBDC office, which is located in the Norm Dicks Government Center, has access to large repositories of complimentary electronic and print resource materials available for your perusal, and can also serve as a referral source for you to other business services, support and organizations available in the community.
A simple phone call is all it would take for you to schedule an appointment to take advantage of the many services the center can provide to help you ensure the long-term success of your business. What are you waiting for? Call (360) 307-4220, Monday through Friday, to take advantage of all that the SBDC can offer your business.
(Editor’s Note: Wendy Miles, Director of Customized Training and Military Education at Olympic College, oversees the operation of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). For partnership opportunities, contact Ms. Milesher at 360-475-7786. For SBDC counseling services and workshops contact Rand Riedrich at 360-307-4220, rriedrich@olympic.edu.)
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