Do you own a small business? Have you thought about starting your own business? If you have, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Kern Community College District can help.

According to Cope Norcross, the Director or the Small Business Development Center, every year, thousands of people across the country receive free assistance from the SBDC. Trained small business consultants can meet with you at your business or at the Taft Chamber of Commerce Offices. The services are at no cost to the business owner or entrepreneur and supported by the Small Business Administration the California Community College system, local cities, community organizations and banks.

"The Kern Community College District SBDC Network is not only a valuable resource for small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs, but it also leverages almost $150,000 by local and federal partners for every $1 allocated by the State, encouraging collaboration in the best interest of the State's small business community according to Mr. Norcross.”

Established in 1990, Kern Community College District’s SBDC program is designed to provide consulting and training assistance to small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity, and improved management. The SBDC’s of California are supported through a partnership between the SBA, Economic and Workforce Development office of the Chancellors Office of the Community Colleges in California and many of California’s chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, cities and economic development agencies.

In 2007, according to the UC Merced Regional Small Business Development Center Network, the Central California Small Business Development Centers provided a significant direct economic impact for the Region. This included 43 business startups, 359 jobs created, and 80 jobs retained as a result of SBDC one on one counseling. Additionally, SBDC business advisors assisted aspiring and existing business owners to obtain 79 SBA loans totaling $9,987,500 and 38 commercial bank loans totaling $11,645,365. Equity investments in businesses assisted by the UC Merced SBDC’s totaled $1,846,000.

During the period 1552 entrepreneurs and existing business owners were assisted by SBDC business advisors. Workshops/training events conducted by Small Business Development Center personnel in the region totaled 349 with 4,429 entrepreneurs and business owners attending.

During the time period of January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008, the Weill Institute Small Business Development Center serving Kern, Inyo, and Mono counties assisted 1056 aspiring and existing business owners with 2,772 hours of counseling at no cost to the clients. Workshops/training events conducted during the same period totaled 118 with 2,454 attendees. Economic impact resulting from Weill Institute SBDC business advisors during the time was significant-28 business started/created, 114 jobs created, and 2932 jobs retained. The change in sales due to SBDC efforts totaled $2,738,000, SBA loans of $5,966,000, commercial bank loans of $13,564,000, and equity capital infused into business operations totaled $1,007,000.

This article is the first in a series of articles designed to help you, the small business person in starting or expanding your business. In this column we will cover a number of topics from developing your business plan to starting operations. Each article will focus on an important component of business planning such as marketing, budgeting, cash flow, cost of goods, personnel and other topics. If after reading the article you would like some personalized assistance at no cost, our counselors can work with you on:

Develop and update business plans

Identify sources of capital

Set up record-keeping systems and analyze financial records

Identify funding sources for start-up or expansion

Conduct specialized research geared to specific needs of the business-owner

Create marketing strategies and advertising campaigns

Explore suitable ways to conform to government regulations

Increase opportunities to sell to federal, state, and local governments

The SBDC program is the SBA's and the State of California’s most extensive economic development programs, helping small businesses create jobs and strengthen local economies. For more information on how the Small Business Development Center can help you, just call 661-395-4126 for an appointment. Or, you can call the Taft Chamber of Commerce at 661-765-2165 to check on the availability of an SBDC business advisor to assist in your business ideas for improvement.

For further information on the Weill Institute Small Business Development Center, or to register for one of the upcoming workshops, please go to http://www.weill-sbdc.com/.

Coming Up: Developing Your Business Plan