Business success requires both sufficient capital and the knowledge to use it wisely. SBDC consultants help entrepreneurs develop the planning, management, and financial skills necessary to make their business thrive.

The SBDC's one-on-one management consulting emphasizes education and guidance in finding practical solutions to business problems. Consulting is confidential and provided at no charge by a staff of skilled professionals. Consulting areas of expertise include:

Accounting and Bookkeeping Business Plan Development Capital Acquisition Computing Applications and MIS Customer Service Energy Efficiency Environmental Management Issues Feasibility Analysis Financing and Loan Packaging Financial Analysis Franchising Government Contracting Homebased Business International Trade Legal Issues Long Range Planning

Management Manufacturing Marketing and Advertising Market Research Minority Business Development Personnel Product Development/Engineering Public Relations Retailing Regulatory Assistance Strategic Planning Taxes Technology Commercialization Women's Business Issues Worker Health and Safety Issues

Specialized Consulting Services

The Pennsylvania SBDCs also offer services to small business owners through a number of specialized programs. These programs provide assistance in areas requiring greater depth of knowledge and experience beyond standard business management expertise.

Environmental Management Assistance Program - The Environmental Management Assistance Program offers confidential compliance assistance with environmental and health and safety regulations, on-site assessments to look for opportunities to cut costs through pollution prevention and energy efficiency, and assistance developing and marketing environmental technology.

Government Marketing Assistance Program - To help companies sell to federal, state, local and quasi-government agencies, the SBDC's Government Marketing Assistance Program provides a computerized bid lead program, and assistance in marketing products and services to government, proposal preparation and contract compliance. The program saves businesses time and money by matching a firm's goods and services with bids and leads published in the Commerce Business Daily and The Pennsylvania Bulletin, as well as requests for small bids from the Defense Logistics Agency and various other government agencies.

* Small firms in Southeast Pennsylvania looking to enter the government marketplace can take advantage of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Procurement Technical Assistance Program.

Technology Commercialization Assistance Program - The Technology Commercialization Assistance Program assists high growth and technology firms with sophisticated business management issues including alternative financing, human resources, patents and trade marking, intellectual property, and product commercialization. Cooperating with their host institutions, the Technology Commercialization Assistance Program also helps struggling US Department of Defense contractors locate markets outside of the Department of Defense.

International Business Assistance Program - To help companies export Pennsylvania products and services, the SBDC's International Business Assistance Program helps companies in assessing their company's international trade readiness; evaluating their products or services for export potential; identifying the best foreign market opportunities; developing strategic and marketing plans; identifying foreign sales agents and distributors; planning market entry strategies; explaining international trade procedures and regulations; providing information on technical standards and export/import documentation; determining sources of trade financing and risk management; identifying trade mission and trade show opportunities; and determining import restrictions, duties, and tariffs.

Product Development Center - The Product Development Center helps inventors bring products to market by offering engineering services early in the development cycle, before major investment is attracted. With the help of engineering students, faculty and outside resources they perform patent searches, assist with technical appraisals, conduct brainstorming sessions, evaluate and review design options, source component suppliers and provide computer aided design (CAD) drawings.