GROW your business

Kansas SBDC Advisors work one-on-one with you to dive deeply into your business’ financial performance. While we do not provide accounting or bookkeeping services (see our Links and Resources page for service providers), we go much further in analysis and guidance on a variety of topics:

• Cash flow analysis
• Budgeting
• Benchmarking against norms in your industry utilizing relevant metrics from SageWorks and other sources
• Key Performance Indicators
• Strategic use of debt, including lines of credit
• Value drivers

Access to Capital – Expertise to help Kansas businesses fund their ventures

Access to capital is a major focus of the Kansas SBDC. Clients of the JCCC region typically borrow, invest or access over $14 million annually – 2020 saw that number eclipse $20 million as area businesses participated in various CARES Act programs. When starting, purchasing or expanding a business, funding is often a cornerstone of the business model.

How do we help?

• Knowledge and insight into both SBA and conventional financing
• Market research and industry intelligence reports
• Financial benchmark data so that an applicant’s financial forecast is realistic – and achievable
• Financial projections that answer every financial question a lender or investor is likely to ask
• Cash flow analysis to ensure that there is enough working capital or cash, the “life blood of a business”
• Referrals to active lenders in the small business community
• Referrals to the Kansas SBDC’s Capital Access Center for lending expertise, insights and analysis.

Today’s competitive environment requires small businesses to periodically revisit their marketing strategy in order to be successful. For Kansas SBDC business clients, we help simplify “all things marketing,” including creative ways to market your business and how to market on a limited budget. We make it manageable for businesses to evaluate their advertising, promotion, and sales efforts.

Read more on how your Kansas SBDC Business Advisor can help guide your marketing.

Sales is a process, moving your prospects along a customer journey from awareness to brand ambassador.

Read more about how your Kansas SBDC Business Advisor can help guide your Sales Process.

HR Consulting with our partners at SHRM

The majority of the Kansas SBDC’s consulting, in terms of Human Resources, is assisting with strategic planning and financial analysis to prepare for an expansion and new hires.  This may include hiring your first employee, expanding your current employee base or determining whether or not to bring a contractor on staff.   Additionally we provide assistance to business owners looking to move from the day-to-day operations into the strategic management of the business.

We also work closely with the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM).  From reviewing employee handbooks for completeness to assisting with developing employee onboarding/offboarding processes, their members can serve as mentors to assist with HR-related planning, concerns and resources. 

See SHRM Johnson County for local resources. 

Data and industry HR insights

An additional resource that we’ve come to rely on is O*NET Online, which is extraordinarily useful for creating job descriptions, including information on prevailing wages, related skills, tasks, activities, education/training, certifications and attributes.

Hiring JCCC students

Seeking to hire JCCC students for open positions or paid internships, or attend an employment fair? Our Joblinks page is the place to start! Click here to create an account and get started.

7.8 billion consumers await your products and services (the U.S. actually has a trade surplus in services – the rest of the world buys more of our services that we import.) 

Click HERE to learn how your Kansas SBDC International Trade Advisors can assist you in selling to the world.

While the Kansas SBDC has always helped entrepreneurs launch their new business ideas, the Kansas SBDC Tech Innovation Center specializes in helping advise & connect people who have innovative ideas to government or private entities that can use and/or fund those ideas. 

The resources below can help you develop a plan to protect your employees, lessen the financial impact of disasters, and re-open your business quickly to support economic recovery in your community.

If you need disaster assistance immediately, visit the SBA’s Disaster Assistance page.

View our EXIT/BUY/SELL page for more information!

We also offer the Value Opportunity Profile® (“VOP^®”). VOP is a private labeled, cloud-based business assessment and strategic value enhancement platform designed to strengthen companies, prepare them for growth, and maximize long-term value.

Your Data is Your Business
Cybercriminals want it, and they are getting it.  63% of small business owners report having been victims of a cyberattack.  Do not let your business be next! 

• North Star Toolkit for Small Businesses
  • America’s SBDC program North Star: Cyber and Data Protection Resources for Small Businesses has developed a toolkit for small businesses that cover a variety of topics and can help your small business navigate the sometimes overly complicated subject matter of cyber and data protection.  Check out the NO COST, downloadable materials below and read at your own pace.  For help navigating the materials, get in touch with our advisors to strengthen the digital resiliency of your business. 
    • Identifying my Critical Information/Data  
    • Cyber Resources for Securing my Data  
    • Cyber Do’s & Don’ts  
    • Ransomware
    • Cyber Policy Template  
• Assess Your Business Risk
  • The first step in improving the data security of your business is understanding the risk of an attack and where you can make improvements to safeguard your data and systems.  A cyber security risk assessment can identify where a business is vulnerable, and help you create a plan of action, which should include guidance on user training, securing email platforms, and protecting your business’ information systems and data.  For help navigating, get in touch with our advisors to strengthen the digital resiliency of your business.
    • Create a cybersecurity plan
    • Conduct a Cyber Resilience Review
    • Conduct vulnerability scans – CISA assessment services are available at no cost.
    • Manage information communication technology (ICT) SUPPLY CHAIN risk
    • Take advantage of free cyber security services and tools
    • Maintain DoD industry partner compliance (if applicable) – Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program

Excerpted from SBA.

Procurement Consulting with our partners at Kansas APEX Accelerator (formerly Kansas PTAC). 

The U.S. government is the world’s largest customer.  It buys all types of products and services and is required by law to provide opportunities for small businesses. 

• Kansas SBDC works hand in hand with Kansas APEX Accelerator (formerly Kansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center) to help businesses explore the government marketplace.  Through professional consulting and training, business owners learn how to assess and then pursue government contracting opportunities at the federal, state and local levels.  Kansas APEX Accelerator (formerly Kansas PTAC) can also assist with registrations and certifications (WOSB, EDWOSB, 8(a), HubZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, WBE, DBE, MBE, etc.), bid matching, procurement price history, technical specifications and standards and bid preparation assistance.