Services

The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State (SBDC) is a front-line, immediate response, high-impact program designed to facilitate small business growth, job creation, and access to capital.
Integrated services to meet the needs of experienced small business owners, as well as individual entrepreneurs.
The SBDC works with entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages of business development with fewer than 500 employees.

Our Core Services provided include:

  • Free, One-on-One Business Advising
  • Workshops and Training Programs
  • Strategic Business Planning
    Market Feasibility and Research
  • Marketing Strategy Development
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Financial Projections Development
  • Capital Source Identification
  • Business Assessment Valuation 
  • Inventory Control Assessment
  • Loan Packaging Guidance
  • Government Contracting
  • Franchising
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Home-Based Businesses
  • Veteran’s Business Issues
  • Woman’s Business Issues
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Starting Your
Business

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Growing & Maturing Your Business

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Exporting Your Business

As a small business client there is no limit to how long you can work with us. We’re with you for the long haul.

We’ll be there as you formulate your idea and build your first prototype. We will crunch the numbers with you to develop your financial projections and monitor your cash flow. We will help you package your loan and locate the financial resource that best fits you and your business. When you do well domestically we’ll be there to train and help you export. And when you’re ready we’ll guide you through building a succession plan, selling your business, acquiring a new one or developing an exit strategy. Whatever your need we’ll be your Advisor every step of the way.​

Our training is designed to augment our one-on-one advising.

Our goal is to advance your business knowledge needed for where you are in your business stage in a group session lead by our Certified Business Advisors or industry professionals. Group sessions allows us to deliver a greater amount of information, in a shorter amount of time, to a larger number of clients allowing us to get you out of the training room and back to growing your business faster.

Our Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network provides export assistance for new-to-export businesses as well as existing exporters looking to expand overseas markets. ​

These efforts strengthen individual companies, and also diversify Ohio’s economy, create additional jobs, support the future competitiveness of Ohio companies and help to restore America’s balance of trade through Ohio’s participation in global markets.
Specific services include:

  • Export Readiness Assessment
  • Export Documentation
  • Market Research and Strategies
  • Trade Mission Preparation
  • Export Compliance Education
  • Export Financing
  • Cultural and Language Assistance
  • Logistics
  • Pilot Programs for New-to-Export Companies

Our MTSBDC provide businesses with one-on-one advising to assist in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies and advanced manufacturing. ​

Designed for manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees, our advisors focus on management advising and educational services.

The following represents a sampling of areas covered:

  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Business Process Improvements
  • New Product Development
  • Commercialization Strategies
  • Process Assessments
  • Market Research and Strategies
  • Growth Strategies
  • Technology Marketing
  • Licensing Basics and Strategy
  • Patenting, Trademarks and Copyrights
  • Intellectual Property Issues and Marketing

PROS: Professional Resource Opportunity Service

To lead and support the development of new and emerging enterprises throughout Central Ohio by providing technical and professional business management counseling via a network of active expert volunteer professionals.

The Ohio SBDC, through its partnerships, provides a comprehensive network of business services by effectively working with local resources in the private, public, non-profit, and educational sectors. PROS is a business counseling service provided through this network. It connects active practicing business professionals who have volunteered to share their expertise with “qualified” SBDC clients who are in need of professional topic specific business advice.
 
Every PROS volunteer has committed to providing at least one-hour of free counseling assistance to any “qualified” SBDC client and/or training instruction during topic specific SBDC workshops or seminars. These volunteer professionals realize a community’s economic health is dependent upon the well-being of its emerging small business community. Therefore, their commitment is strong and their willingness to serve is high.
 
Although not required to do so, once the professional information, input and insight has been provided, many SBDC clients have decided to continue the client/counselor working relationship on a fee-based basis. This decision is up to and is solely made by the client.

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