Small Business Development Center Programs
Needs Assessment
The Small Business Development Center’s needs assessment process helps to target the kind of help a business owner needs. Counselors analyze a business’s operations and identify the company’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. That information helps ensure business owners get the expert assistance they need. As a participant in the University Business Assistance Network and a part of the Growing North Dakota initiative, the Small Business Development Center is uniquely positioned to know the expert resources that are available in the state that can help small business owners meet the challenges ahead of them.
Training
Businesses never outgrow the need for continuing education. Owners, managers and employees need to sharpen their skills to keep small business competitive. The Small Business Development Center sponsors low-cost workshops, seminars, and conferences aimed at providing continuing education in the latest business techniques. We bring in national speakers as will as tapping the talent of our excellent North Dakota instructors.
Counseling
The Small Business Development Center provides free individual counseling to small business owners. Our job is one of guidance and education. We help business owners identify the organizational, financial, marketing and technical challenges they face and help them find solution to overcome them. Some of the areas where our counselors provide guidance to small business include:
- Advertising
- Business plan development
- Loan applications
- Personal management
- Financial management
- Cash flow management
- Exporting
- Market research
- Business computers
- Record keeping systems
Computerized Database Research
Businesses need up-to-the-minute information to grow today. As part of the talked-about information Superhighway, the ND Small Business Development Center has the ability to link business owners to hundreds of databases providing current market, technical and business information. The instant access can help give businesses a head start on new technology, product development, manufacturing processes, market strategies, and
business planning.
For more information regarding these programs please contact:
Sign up for services at www.ndsbdc.org
Dickinson SBDC
701.777.3000
701.456.9044
103 1st Avenue West, Suite 102
Dickinson, ND 58601