Washington State Small Business Development Center
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Advising

In-depth, confidential, no-cost advising is a key service of the SBDC. When you contact the SBDC certified business advisor in your area, you also have access to the resources--and expertise--of the entire Washington SBDC Network. 
 
Whatever your business, or whatever your question, a business advisor within the SBDC network can help you find the answers you need.
 
During the initial meeting, you and your advisor will discuss your business’ history, current situation and your vision for the future. With your goals front and center, you and your advisor can then begin building a plan to get you there. At subsequent meetings, you will obtain knowledge and tools to help you make well-informed business decisions.
 

In-Depth

 

Typically, management advising meetings include topics like finance, strategic planning, marketing, employment issues, managing growth, procurement, e-commerce and more. The SBDC also offers interactive counseling sessions via the Internet.

Your involvement with an SBDC adviser is driven by your short- and long-term operational and strategic needs. To meet long-term goals, SBDC clients are encouraged to make use of the resources we offer on an on-going basis. In fact, many SBDC clients meet with their advisor on a monthly basis and an average of 28% of our clients return each year for continued advising to address new challenges and opportunities.
 
 

Confidential

 

 
The information you provide will be held in strictest confidence and will not be released to any parties outside of the Washington SBDC network. Your information will never be sold, shared with other organizations or used for commercial advantage of any SBDC representative or third party. Click here for  exceptions  .

 

Customized Advice

 

Our advisers are knowledgeable professionals who typically have extensive management and consulting experience in a wide variety of industries. And, because they are certified via a nationally recognized peer review process, you can be sure that you are receiving sound, up-to-date,  business management advice. 

This experience and knowledge, coupled with extraordinary access to local and national resources , means our advisers can give you objective, practical insight to help you discover solutions  to accelerate your success. 

Working with us on a one-on-one appointment basis, you will develop a plan specific to your unique situation.

No Cost

 

We will never try to sell you anything! Our advising services are paid for by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Washington, Washington State University and various local community organizations. We have strict conflict of interest policies that prohibit our advisers from getting any benefit from assisting you, thus keeping our focus where it belongs, on your business. However, minimal fees may apply for specialized training, services (such as research) or materials.

Insight

 

Working with your SBDC advisor can help you gain fresh and objective insights into your business. Our goal is to help you find or formulate the knowledge, understanding and tools you need to make informed business decisions.
 

Solutions

 

Your advisor can guide you through the discovery process to develop viable solutions to any challenge or opportunity your business is facing.

Success

 

For 30 years the SBDC has consistently proven that businesses using our resources have a higher level success, both in the short term and over the long haul.

Exceptions:


 

  • Information about the SBDC's service delivery is reported in aggregate to its funders and the general public. Specific information about you will not be released without your consent.

     
  • The SBDC will collect and report in aggregate (your individual information is not reported) to its funders and the general public demographic statistics such as; size, location, age and industry of your business; the general nature of your engagement with the SBDC; and impact statistics such as financing obtained, sales increased or jobs created.
     
  • If you were referred to the SBDC, the SBDC will typically notify the referrer that you have sought assistance from the SBDC. The SBDC, however, will not disclose in detail the nature of the assistance you are requesting. You can authorize the adviser to disclose appropriate information to your attorney, lender, CPA or others that you are working with in conjunction with the adviser. This is typically done through an email from you authorizing the adviser to talk with that person.