How the Kansas SBDC works:
- We are a grant-funded national organization providing professional consulting & training to businesses in Kansas.
- Our grant partners are the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kansas Department of Commerce, and our host, Johnson County Community College (within the branch of Workforce Development & Continuing Education).
- Most services are no-cost (workshops are offered at a low cost to offset instructor invoices).
- 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!
Pre-requisites:
- Be a for-profit business.
- Your home address OR business address must be in Johnson, Wyandotte, or Miami County in Kansas.
Click Here to find the closest Kansas SBDC location near you or contact our statewide virtual help center!
For our neighbors in Missouri, the closest SBDC location is UMKC.
America’s SBDC network covers all 50 states and U.S. territories! Click here to find your nearest SBDC.
Due to our funding we are unable to work with starting a non-profit. Check out Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership located at UMKC.
Step 1: Complete short assessment to become a client of our center
The signup is confidential and free of charge. It will take 10-15 minutes to complete, and gives us additional information about your business in order to match you to the best advisor for your needs!
Step 2: Next steps to becoming a client:
In ideation stage, pre-venture, not yet in business, or in business* for a year or less:
Before unlocking the free consulting resources available to you, you will be required to complete ONE of the below options:
- Attend Business Basics – How to Start a Business (offered approximately every 6 weeks)
- If unable to attend our in-person class, you can enroll in Business Basics On Demand (self-paced, enroll at any time)
- If unable to attend either of the above courses, a request for a business plan draft will be requested (and we can provide you resources and templates to create your draft).
After completing one of these options, you will be assigned to an advisor.
If you have already been in business* for one year or longer:
If you qualify as in business, you will be assigned to an advisor.
Additional information (such as clarification questions or a request for your business plan draft) may still be requested in order to meet with an advisor.
*Kansas SBDC defines “in business” if you have registered with the local, state, and/or Federal Government (e.g., LLC registration, gotten a business license, agency-issued tax identification, etc.) as applicable and required, and has at least one of the following:
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documented a transaction from the sale of a product or professional or personal service for the purpose of gain or profit
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contracted for or compensated an employee(s) or independent contractor(s) to perform essential business functions
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acquired debt or equity capital
to pursue business operations (e.g., to purchase inventory, equipment, building, business, etc.)
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incurred business expenses in the operation of a business beyond registration expenses
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for IP-based entities only, are actively pursuing non-dilutive capital.
Once you are eligible to meet with an advisor:
You will receive a final email from ksbdc@jccc.edu with notification of your assignment to one of our three in-house advisors.
- Your advisor will email you within 2 business days (usually much sooner) with an introduction.
- This email will include their contact phone and email, and a link to book an appointment directly onto their schedule.
- **If you do not receive this email within 2 business days, check your junk/spam folder.
From here on out, you will be able to book appointments directly onto your advisor’s calendar and can email back and forth with your advisor directly. We also recommend signing up for our email blasts to stay updated on what our office can provide!
