| Most
people, at one time or another, have dreamed of being their own boss.
With the help of agencies like the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) Small Business Development Center (SBDC), that dream can become
a reality.
According
to the Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses represent
about 99 percent of the nation’s employers. Small businesses
employ about half of the private sector workforce and are responsible
for as many as three-quarters of the new jobs created each year.
In Alabama, small businesses employ nearly half of all workers in
the state.
But,
starting and managing a business takes more than motivation and
talent, it takes research and planning. In today's competitive business
environment, the decisions a small businessperson makes at the start
of their business can be critical to its long-term success.
“Most
small businesses fail because of insufficient funding or a lack
of management skills,” said Ernie Gauld, director of the UAB
SBDC. “Entrepreneurs often overlook competition or other factors
that can bankrupt businesses. Some just go out and rent spaces and
sign their names on contracts. They're not prepared. Fledgling entrepreneurs
should look for reputable agencies like the hundreds of SBDC offices
nationwide to get free confidential counseling before taking the
financial plunge.”
UAB’s
SBDC helps entrepreneurs pilot their ventures during the start-up
phase and afterward through a variety of services, including:
- Business
Counseling – These services, conducted in one-on-one meetings,
include assistance in preparing a business plan, projecting financial
information and research into market opportunities.
- Seminars
– The center offers a variety of seminars on topics that
cover starting a business, taxes and marketing.
n Procurement Assistance – Governmental agencies at the federal,
state and local levels purchase large quantities of products and
services each year from small businesses. Entrepreneurs can register
with the center’s procurement specialist for bid-matching
and other services.
- Women's
Prequalification Loan Program – This program was developed
to promote the SBA's business loan program to current and prospective
women small business owners. It also provides specialized support
and assistance with the agency’s loan application process.
The UAB sbcd acts as an intermediary, assisting prospective women
borrowers in developing a viable loan application package. That
application can be submitted directly to the SBA for consideration
of a loan prequalification. On approval, the UAB SBDC can assist
the applicant in locating a competitive lender. possible solutions
to a particular business problem is provided to the owner at the
completion of the class.
- Business
Student Consultation – UAB’s School of Business regularly
offers free consulting by students enrolled in a senior level
class. Conducted by SBDC Counselor Joe Primm, the class convenes
three times per year. To be eligible for participation, companies
must have been in business for at least one year and agree to
the class parameters. A comprehensive document outlining possible
solutions to a particular business problem is provided to the
owner at the completion of the class.
-
International Business – The center can help assess export
and import possibilities for small businesses. Additionally, referrals
to the Alabama International Trade Center are made for expert
assistance in conducting foreign market research and developing
strategic plans for international trade.
nService Corps of Retired Executives – The center hosts the
local chapter of SCORE volunteers, a group sponsored by the SBA.
SCORE is made up of businessmen and women with successful careers
and entnge.”
UAB’s
SBDC helps entrepreneurs pilot their ventures during the start-up
phase and afterward through a variety of services, including:
- Business
Counseling – These services, conducted in one-on-one meetings,
include assistance in preparing a business plan, projecting financial
information and research into market opportunities.
- Seminars
– The center offers a variety of seminars on topics that
cover starting a business, taxes and marketing.
n Procurement Assistance – Governmental agencies at the federal,
state and local levels purchase large quantities of products and
services each year from small businesses. Entrepreneurs can register
with the center’s procurement specialist for bid-matching
and other services.
- Women's
Prequalification Loan Program – This program was developed
to promote the SBA's business loan program to current and prospective
women small business owners. It also provides specialized support
and assistance with the agency’s loan application process.
The UAB sbcd acts as an intermediary, assisting prospective women
borrowers in developing a viable loan application package. That
application can be submitted directly to the SBA for consideration
of a loan prequalification. On approval, the UAB SBDC can assist
the applicant in locating a competitive lender. possible solutions
to a particular business problem is provided to the owner at the
completion of the class.
- Business
Student Consultation – UAB’s School of Business regularly
offers free consulting by students enrolled in a senior level
class. Conducted by SBDC Counselor Joe Primm, the class convenes
three times per year. To be eligible for participation, companies
must have been in business for at least one year and agree to
the class parameters. A comprehensive document outlining possible
solutions to a particular business problem is provided to the
owner at the completion of the class.
-
repreneurial ventures who volunteer their time and expertise
to help new businesses start and existing businesses grow and
succeed. They offer counseling services in a group setting with
two or more counselors meeting with the client.
- Library
Resources – The center has a library open to the public with
a number of valuable resources, including more than 200 entrepreneur
manuals that provide detailed information on specific businesses.
A current set of Association Manuals, Thomas Registers, Federal
AR, Business Yellow Pages and various statistical books are available
for research. The center also has a large number of SBA publications
on a variety of topics.
- Internet
Access – The center offers free on-site Internet access for
clients, who may schedule a time to browse the Internet to research
competition and evaluate the viability of their business idea.
- Business
Manual –The center offers a 70-page booklet, “Ticket
to Success,” to guide the new business start-up in preparing
to open. Step by step directions are given and templates provided
to allow easy transfer and organization of information. The book
sells for $10.
For
more information about services, publications and programs available
at the UAB SBDC, contact the center at 205-934-6760 or sbdc@uab.edu.
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