Play your small business lifeline: Leverage your nearest SBDC
What prevents small business owners from reaching out for help?
There are a few good answers to this question:
- They’re too busy,
- They don’t know who to ask, and
- They think they can’t afford it.
Do any of these sound familiar? It wouldn’t surprise me if they do, but before I go any further, I want to modify my first reason above to: They think they’re too busy.
I’ve helped many small business owners over the years, who wish they would have reached out for help much earlier. Correcting a few problems early on would have prevented years of unnecessary pain and substantially improved their rate of growth.
I’m glad you’re here looking for some tips and today the tip I want to share is going to lead you back into your own community…or at worst a nearby community. Have you explored all the resources available at your closest Small Business Development Center (SBDC)? They’re usually free, so there goes the “can’t afford it” argument.
SBDCs are nearby
Just for the sake of an example, I did a search to see how many SBDCs there are in Kansas. After all, Kansas sits squarely in the middle of the Lower 48 and it’s typical of many other areas in our country. There are no fewer than 13 SBDCs spread out across the state, often associated with a college or university.
I didn’t plot them all out on a map but considering that I-70 runs 424 miles across the state, it’s about 35 miles between exits that will take you to an SBDC. In other words, for most Kansans, getting to an SBDC shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes to an hour.
Yes, I know they can be located to the north and south as well, but all I’m trying to do here is chip away at the excuse that you don’t have the time to talk to someone or attend a seminar at your nearest SBDC…even if you don’t live in Kansas.
You’ll find your local SBDC to be a fantastic source of information and advice on all the “nuts and bolts” issues of running a small business, such as keeping your financials in order (and understood). These foundational issues of running a small business can be the difference between merely creating work for yourself and creating a commercial asset.
SBDC advice
No matter where you are in the life of your small business, you’ll discover resources that are greatly beneficial. If you’re getting ready to launch a startup, you’ll find advisors to help you. If you’ve been established for a number of years, you’ll be able to get the help you need to take your business to the next level.
Are you ready to get started? If you are, then right now there’s really only one thing you need to know: your zip code.
Head over to this page where you can search for SBDCs in your area. Enter your zip code in the box and start down the path of additional growth and success.
Related: 7 Great Web Resources to Build Your Knowledge and Grow Your Business.