Our Center
Our advisors have both the experience and knowledge to work with small businesses and entrepreneurs at every life stage of their business. Our team provides comprehensive, in-depth, long-term assistance through advising and training.
The Kansas SBDC at JCCC is one of eight regional centers in the State of Kansas and approximately 1,000 centers throughout the United States.
For more information:
How the Kansas SBDC works:
- Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with State of Kansas (Department of Commerce) and Johnson County Community College.
- Grant-funded national organization providing professional consulting & training to businesses in Kansas.
- Most services are no-cost (workshops, classes, and events are usually offered at a low cost).
- All data and information remains confidential.
- Our work with you is a partnership. Our job is to advise and guide, help you make informed decisions, and provide resources. Your job is to complete the work. We do not do the work for you!
FAQs
Most likely the answer is yes. We help entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business, business owners needing help growing or making their business more profitable and we also help business owners who are at the stage where they are ready to exit the business thru transitioning leadership to an employee or thru a sell of the business. Not for sure the SBDC can help? Contact us anyway, if we can’t help you we will know who can.
The majority of our services come at no cost due to our funding partners at the Federal/State/Local levels. Sometimes there are small fees for some of our training classes to help offset the additional costs for food/drink/space rental/user licenses and/or 3rd party presenters. Any fees are disclosed on our course registration page.
Yes, to use our full suite of services you need to be signed up as a Client. Sign-up is free and only takes a few minutes. Signing up as a client allows our funding partners to know we are working with real people and that their funding dollars are being put to good use. Becoming a Client also ensures your information is kept private through our strict client confidentiality policies. Visit our Become a Client page.
No, the Kansas SBDC is part of the America’s SBDC network with locations serving every state and most US territories. If you live outside of Kansas but your business is or will be located in Kansas, the Kansas SBDC will help you. If your business is near Kansas and our services are more convenient for you to access, the Kansas SBDC can usually also help you – as part of America’s SBDC network our primary mission is to help U.S. businesses when they need help. If outside of Kansas, an internet search with your state name & “SBDC” will show local SBDC options.
While our Advisors are knowledgeable about available Loans & Grants and experienced with application processes, we do NOT provide the actual dollars.
No, the SBDC helps businesses at all stages and phases. We help entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business, business owners needing help growing or making their business more profitable and we also help business owners who are at the stage where they are ready to exit the business thru transitioning leadership to an employee or thru a sell of the business. Not for sure the SBDC can help? Contact us anyway, if we can’t help you we will know who can. Visit our GROW Your Business section for more information.
We are able to work with all industries that meet SBA eligibility guidelines for a “small” business. More information about eligibility and the SBA’s table of size standards can be found HERE.
We are not able to work with businesses involved in illegal activities such as prostitution, drug dealing, etc.
The SBDC can typically help any business up to 500 employees (There are industry exceptions that can decrease/increase that employee number or businesses with really large revenues that are excluded. See the latest info on size standards a SBA as “Small Business” is defined differently for different programs at the Federal Level). 99% of Kansas businesses meet the criteria that the Kansas SBDC can help, so rest assured that we can probably help your business.
More information about eligibility and the SBA’s table of size standards can be found HERE.
Our office’s volume of requests is usually pretty high, so we are unable to take walk-in appointments. Our Program Coordinator is usually available to answer intake and basic questions. We are sometimes out of the office due to vacations, sickness, traveling to other towns in the area, national conferences, etc.
To help ensure you get the assistance you need, we also have Live Assistance at our 7 day per week Statewide Call Center. While the Statewide Call Center may not be as knowledgeable about your specific location or need like your local center would, the Call Center will be able to guide you through our online tools & resources, including our VIDEO LIBRARY of on-demand training, and be able to get you connected with the appropriate Advisor or 3rd party for more advanced topics. We make every effort to be here when you need us and we truly appreciate your patience when that gets delayed.
Economic Impact
We are proud of the economic impact created by our small business clients.
CLICK HERE to learn more!
