UGA’S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
With 17 locations across the state of Georgia, the SBDC’s goal is to enhance the economic well-being of Georgians by providing a wide range of educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: HONEYSUCKLE GELATO
See how this trendy Atlanta based gelato business was able to expand their facilities, create new jobs, and plan for future growth with help from the University of Georgia SBDC and SBDC GrowSMART:
READY TO GET STARTED?
The SBDC has more 17 office across the state of Georgia. Ranging from Rome in Northwest Georgia to Valdosta in the southern most part of Georgia, you will always be able to find a SBDC office within a short drive from your business.
If you’re looking to speak to a consultant to help assist you in growing your business, click the button below to find a location and consultant near you.
Popular Courses
SBDC GROWSMART
Learn to analyze and manage your business like a seasoned CEO, create a framework to improve the performance of your business, and shape the success of your business for years to come. Work ON your business, not just IN your business!
DIGITAL MARKETING BOOTCAMP
Digital Marketing Bootcamp is an interactive workshop with multiple sessions where small business owners will learn how to apply effective tactics to build their digital brand, expand their market, and acquire new customers.
SBDC STARTSMART
Owning your own business is the American dream. Building it to withstand the test of time requires a unique set of tools. SBDC StartSmart™ provides the resources, support, and motivation to put your dream within reach.
EXPORTGA
Learn how to find profitable export markets, develop distribution channels, understand foreign and U.S. regulatory issues, pricing and costing company products, how to submit international quotations, process accounts receivable and recognize legal and cultural considerations.
CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: ROTORCORP
With the help of the UGA SBDC with financial assistance and education of an exporting tax-filing status, this aviation company was able to double their growth from 2016 to 2017 and now serves more than 1,000 customers in 45 countries:
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:
“It’s good to have a person like David [Lewis] who can advise us. Whenever we get a new idea for our business, we sit down and review different scenarios. He knows what works and what doesn’t work, and our results have been very positive.”
Suganda “Sugar” and Chandra Yadav,
Woodbine Grocery“Many people start out thinking ‘I’ve got a great business idea! I know how to bake a cake or create a website.’ But it’s not just that. How will you pay people? How do you manage your financing and relationships? How do you get people to find your website? That’s where the SBDC comes into play. They have a lot of experience. They’re like a coach in your corner."
Adam and Karen Sheperd,
Sheer Imagination“I found out about the SBDC after I went to a couple of different banks. They said ‘your numbers look good, but they could look a lot better, so go talk to these guys.’ I did and came back with the complete package."
Doug Turbush,
Seed Kitchen and Bar“I had no small business experience before. I am a speech pathologist and my husband is a marine engineer. We took the SBDC’s GrowSmart program, then started going to the SBDC’s free business consultations, and it was awesome. It still is!”
Samantha Meier,
Savannah Slow Ride“I thought I was doing great, having written a four-page business plan. But it was a joke. After [SBDC consultant] Carol [McDonell] finished advising me, I ended up with a 45-page plan.”
Amanda Rodriguez Crook,
Pawtropolis“People don’t understand how large this industry is. It will continue to grow as parking density and security needs increase. We expect the SBDC will continue to help us manage this dynamic change. They’ll help us focus on specific opportunities and maximize our presence in the marketplace.”
Lois and Mike Givens,
ITR“The SBDC’s exprienced, knowledeable team can talk the nitty-gritty of commercialization. They helped carry IS3D from idea to a produt for the marketplace.”
Dr. Tom Robertson,
Interactive Science in 3D (IS3D)“Janelle and I are both in our 20s and have had to learn a lot of lessons the hard way, which is expensive,” he continues. “The SBDC can help you refine your vi- sion and work to make it happen.”
Kyle and Janelle Wehner,
Dreaming Cow“Jeff [Sanford] provided an educational experience I will carry with me for years to come. If it had not been for his efforts in the classroom and the field, I would not be where I am today.”
Dr. Dan Carter, DVM,
Countryside Hospital for Animals“David [Dunn] is great,” says Hardy. I’ve already recommended him to several entrepreneurs, and he’s helped put together several of their plans. Everyone in that office is real helpful. And every time I’ve had a ground breaking or ribbon cutting, they come celebrate with us.”
Hugh Hardy Jr.,
Carroll’s Sausage & Meats“For me, it was not only beneficial, but vital to develop this relationship with Erica [Bracey] and the SBDC. I won’t go through this process again without her help in making sure I have everything in line.”
Leela Barney,
Morrow Clinic for Caduceus Occupational Medicine LLC“I was not originally approved on the financial data I had. The industry was unheard of and lenders said it wouldn’t work,” says Lebedin. “Darrel [Hulsey] developed the financial models and spreadsheets that banks were used to looking at. I fed him the information he needed, he entered it into his model, and we eventually found a bank that could provide us financial assistance.”
Jeff Lebedin,
Aqua Recycle“I will keep going back to Mark [Lupo] and the SBDC. The things he and the SBDC do help me dig deep roots. They’ve been really good to me.”
John Anker,
Ankerpak“We knew all we needed to know as domestic distributors, but we had no direct knowledge of the foreign customer,” says Nut Tree Pecan’s Francis “Putt” Wetherbee, who attended the Georgia SBDC’s ExportGA class and found “it was a great experience.”
Francis “Putt” Wetherbee,
Nut Tree Pecan, Inc.The SBDC helped me strengthen the business plan and put together the loan packet for the construction of our 9,500 square foot building designed just for children. We received an SBA loan and moved there in June of 2008.
Janie Davis,
Children Unique Christian Daycare Center, Inc.We believe in relationship building and smooth, steady progress,” says Hester. “From the moment we met Bob and Sharon, we were very impressed. They share our values, and the things we believe about business just lined up perfectly.
Mary Hester,
LAN SystemsOur Partners:
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.