Consulting Services

The PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no-cost consulting services to entrepreneurs and small business owners. All consulting is unbiased and completely confidential. Whether you need help identifying local markets for your business, developing a business plan, or have compliance issues you would like to clarify, the SBDC consultants are ready to help. Click here to sign up as a client.

The Right Service for You

SBDC consultants help entrepreneurs develop the planning, management, and financial skills necessary to make their business thrive. One-on-one management consulting emphasizes education and guidance in finding practical solutions to business problems. Services cover a range of topics relevant to small business owners.

Start Your Business

For over 35 years, the PennWest Clarion SBDC has provided consulting and training designed to teach prospective and new entrepreneurs the basics of starting and successfully operating their own businesses.

Studies have shown that 80% of SBDC assisted firms are still in business eight years after their start-up date. Businesses started with SBDC assistance survive longer and grow faster than the average firm.

The First Step Seminar

The PennWest Clarion SBDC offers First Step Seminars to help entrepreneurs start their own business. This seminar assists entrepreneurs in starting down the path to successful business ownership – evaluating business ideas, developing a business plan, and exploring financing options. First Step Seminars are offered on a regular basis in all counties across the PennWest Clarion SBDC region.

The Next Step

The next step to growing your new business is to take advantage of the SBDC’s one-on-one consulting and information services. After completing a First Step Seminar, you will be able to meet confidentially with an SBDC consultant at no cost. Your consultant can help you with any issues you learned about in your First Step Seminar, tailoring their advice to your business idea and needs.

Grow Your Business

The PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center works with existing businesses to assist with their expansion, help them identify changes to handle their growth, and put them in the best place for future growth and success. Growth issues such as financing, finding new markets, dealing with personnel issues, and strategic planning are addressed both in our educational programs and in one-on-one consulting sessions.

Business Skills Workshops

The PennWest Clarion SBDC offers Business Skills Workshops in a variety of topics to help existing business owners learn new skills or further develop current skills. These topics cover business finances, employee engagement, and many other skills necessary to run a successful business.