MO SBTDC business counseling services...

SBTDCs help both established businesses and those that are just beginning. The only requirement is that you have a strong desire to help yourself and contribute to the stability of Missouri's economy. Sign up for services online

Individualized consultation

MO SBTDC business specialists use their expertise to help Missouri businesses with critical business development issues. Guidance addressing topics such as management, marketing and strategic planning is available. They also can provide capitalization information for new and existing businesses. All counseling is confidential; most services are available at no charge (subsidized by our funding partners).

Performance excellence

For long-term success, a company must continuously assess its operations to ensure it can remain competitive in the face of changing market trends. The MO SBTDC can provide business assessments that highlight opportunities for improvement. Additional assistance can provide a plan of action to incorporate suggestions into the company's daily operation.

Two tools available for MO SBTDC specialists to use to help guide business success are:

• The Strategic Management Assessment Review Tool (SMART)
  - a holistic view of your company's operations[more]
• Balanced Scorecards for Small Businesses
  
  "The SBTDC seemed truly interested in helping us analyze our situation, develop a clear understanding of it and create a plan of action that put us on the path to improvement."
  - Scott Earls
  The Vacation Channel
  Branson
  - The benefits of a Balanced Scorecard have been well documented in large corporations such as Mobil Oil, GE, Motorola and many more. Though corporate America has embraced scorecards, small businesses have been slow to use this management tool. Barriers that kept small businesses from enjoying the benefits of a scorecard have been removed. SBTDCs have helped many businesses create a Balanced Scorecard. This service is now available to your company.[more]

Marketing

Are your sales growing at the rate you want? Is the competition getting tougher? Do you know where to findmore customers? We have the resources to provide:

• Help in developing a marketing plan
• Customer demographics, traffic counts site analysis
• Competitor information
• International information
• Assistance with government contracting
• Social media

Financial analysis

Do you know what lenders are looking for? Are you ready to present to potential investors? Do you use financial information to manage your business? Assistance from the SBTDC can help you:

• Compare your financial performance to your industry
• Understand key financial data to help you manage and understand your:
  financial statements
  breakeven point
  inventory
  liquidity and cash requirements
• Manage assets and maximize your return on investment
• Prepare presentations to lenders or investors

A new tool available for MO SBTDC specialists to use to help guide business success is:

• ProfitCents
  - a web-based financial analysis software suite that turns complex financial data into a report written in plain language, with charts and graphs whose meaning you can grasp in a glance. The report is a snapshot of exactly how well you're doing, how well you will be doing and how your financial situation compares to similar businesses.[more]

Technology access

The MO SBTDCs are focused on strengthening the technological competitiveness of Missouri's businesses. Designed to improve the participation of small technology firms in the innovation and commercialization of new technology, the MO SBTDC program encourages and enhances technology research and development, technology transfer and technology deployment.

Our technology specialists can help you assess the commercial viability of your intellectual property whether it originated from a business, university or federal laboratory. We can assist with manufacturing technology and processes, patents and trademarks and presentations to investors.

One of the primary services of the MO SBTDC is our SBIR/STTR assistance (formerly MoFAST). Staff can assist companies with commercialization planning, agency evaluating and networking, proposal preparation, post-award planning and marketing and financial assistance.

To learn more about the technology assistance available to businesses, visit the MoFAST section of MissouriBusiness.net.

Training and education

The MO SBTDC offers educational sessions on a wide variety of topics. Topics include business management, marketing, financial analysis, strategic planning, human resources and many other timely topics of concern to business owners. Visit our seminars and training section for a list of courses and the training calendar for a schedule of events.

Selling to the government

The MO SBTDC works in cooperation with the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC).

MO PTAC: Procurement Assistance

Services include:

• Assistance in winning government contracts
• Bid matching and preparation
• 8a Certifications
• CCR and ORCA registration
• Access to price history information

Partnerships

To offer you the most comprehensive service available, the MO SBTDC interacts with a variety of local, state and federal entities, including financial institutions; trade associations; chambers of commerce; regional planning commissions; and other state and federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

How to get help

Experts are located statewide providing help through:

• Professional business analysis
• Business consultations
• Educational training seminars

Our offices are located on the campus of most public universities, many county extension offies and other convenient locations. For the office nearest you, see the listing of offices.