A partnership of government agencies and private organizations, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) is a one-stop shopping source for new business owners looking for tips, and current business owners looking for advice.
Offering classes, seminars, and one-on-one consulting at “no cost,” State Director Robert Hamlin said the organization meets the needs of 98 percent of the state’s businesses – those with under 500 employees.
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”I like to think of us as a tool box,” he said. “We try and give people the tools they need to make their business successful. And I like to say ‘no cost’ instead of free, because people think that if you get something for free then it has no value. There is real value to this program.”
Started 13 years ago the organization, based on Bryant College’s Smithfield campus is one of 57 offices across the country. There are 11 satellite offices located around the state at local Chambers of Commerce.
The state and federal government, as well as Bryant College, fund the organization’s million-dollar budget — setting it apart from others like it.
“To the best of my knowledge we are the only Small Business Development Center in the country located on the campus of a private college,” said Douglas H. Jobling, the former state director who is now a team leader and program manager for the organization.
At the heart of the organization is its ability to educate new business owners and those who have successfully been running a business for some time, but may need help competing in today’s market.
Last year, the organization changed many of its programs to better meet the needs of its clients.
“We stepped back and took a look at what we were doing,” Hamlin said. “Our mission is like that of any business, we need to constantly reinvent ourselves. We are a client-focused organization.”
One of the major changes appeared in the services to beginning business owners. Before, people interested in starting a new business were immediately paired with a consultant – an idea that left both the new business owner and the consultant frustrated.
“We found that way to be a, ineffective, and b, expensive,” Hamlin said. “Now, we ask potential business owners to go through a few business training classes to see if the process is really for them.”
According to Jobling those training programs, the first of which is free, are designed to show people the risks associated with starting a new business.
“People need to understand that starting a new business is going to impact their family, it’s a major life change,” he said. “There are also serious economic risks that we need to make sure they understand. We have a lot of dropouts in the first few weeks.”
Jobling isn’t discouraged by the dropout rate.
“Maybe it’s not a good time for them to do it at this point because they are undercapitalized,” he said. “Whatever the reason it’s helping them to avoid an unwanted risk.”
If a potential business owner makes it past the first few stages, then they are assigned a consultant, at no cost. Consultants can provide guidance on filling out loan applications, creating business plans, and marketing. The organization has more than 100 independent consultants, on average consultants work about eight hours with clients. ”The consultant won’t do the work for them,” said James J. Crisafulli, program manager at the RISBDC. “They just help business owners assess their needs and stay focused.”
Consultants are also provided to current business owners looking to improve certain aspects of their business.
“These are very high quality, educated people that are working in the business community,” Crisafulli said. “They are able to provide valuable expertise in their field to a business owner that might not know that much about it.”
The one thing the center can’t provide for business owners is funding. And according RISBDC officials “there aren’t a lot of grants out there” for start-up businesses.
“You can’t get someone to give you an automobile, you have to earn and invest to get it,” Jobling said. “It’s the same with a business. You have to earn what you get.”
According to Jobling, the hardest part of running a small business is staying focused.
“The owner of every business has to do everything,” he said. “You’ve got to do marketing, accounting, everything. It’s easy to lose focus and get pulled into the day-to-day tasks. Instead, they need to step back and look and where the industry itself is going.”
To help business owners stay on track, the RISBDC offers a variety of courses throughout the year. The next session of classes begins in September and prices for each range from $50 to $1,500. Some of the classes include:
* Business planning: This four-part workshop will prepare business owners to write business plans including a description of the company, product or service, a competitive analysis, marketing information, and the management team. It will also assist business owners in preparing a set of financial forecast and budgets.
* Global Web Page Development: The multi-part program is designed for businesses that wish to expand or enter the global marketplace via the Internet. Internet Service Provider and Web page development services will be offered.
* Market research: This two-session workshop will provide a brief overview of the marketing discipline, from market research to advertising and promotion.
* Quick Books Pro Introduction: This one-day course is designed to help business owners understand the Quick Books accounting software.
