What is SBDC & Professional Counseling?

The Nevada SBDC’s professional counseling services are available free of charge to small business owners and prospective small business owners. While the definition of a small business varies depending on industry, 98% of all firms in the state of Nevada are qualified as small businesses and therefore, qualify for this program. Nevada SBDC clients are counseled by professionals who utilize their educational and business experience to provide practical, relevant advice. Counselors for the Nevada SBDC office include:

• Full time NSBDC Business Development Specialists
• Private Consultants such as CPAs, business owners & trade association members
• University faculty
• Retired executives (SCORE – Service Corps of Retired Executives)

Counseling Services Available Through the Nevada SBDC include assistance with:

• Marketing
• Accounting and record keeping
• Loan applications
• New business start-up
• Strategic planning
• Capital formation
• Management / Human Resources
• International Trade
• Technology development assistance
• Business planning
• Business environmental assistance
• Internet Assistance
• Demographic information
• Crisis / Risk Management
• Nevada Grow Initiative

In addition to counseling, the Nevada SBDC offers a variety of educational training seminars designed specifically for small businesses. See the Training Calendar for more information.

All Services are bilingual and include:

• Professional business consulting – practical, relevant advice to help business owners and prospective business owners
• Microloans for businesses
• Entrepreneurial training (including NxLeveL) in how to start, manage and grow businesses
• Assistance in getting government contracts
• Programs that support Nevada’s changing demographics, particularly women and minorities
• Economic and demographic analyses – Current and accurate small-area data (using GIS as a tool) to research our region, used to help businesses select locations, understand market trends and predict growth
• Environmental and energy-efficiency assistance for Nevada businesses and governmental entities – free, confidential and non-regulatory
• Student support and learning opportunities
• Technology-development assistance with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, including researching and marketing new and innovative technologies
• Nevada’s official population estimates and projections
• Regional business and economic research for businesses, nonprofit agencies and governmental entities, to help make decisions about growth and development
• Small business services focusing on veterans, Reservist and Guard members in their efforts to start or expand a veteran-owned small business initiative.