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 are 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!
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: See options below on the next steps to becoming a client:
You will receive a follow-up email from ksbdc@jccc.edu with the below information depending on your business age/status.
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 every other month)
- 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:
*In business is defined by our office as business entity filed (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.) AND making sales.
If you qualify as in business, you will be assigned to an advisor.
Additional information, such as clarification questions or a request for a business plan draft, may still be requested/required in order to meet with an advisor.
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!
