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 and most services are free.

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 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 strategies

MO SBTDC specialists can assist you in developing a marketing plan. We will help you tap resources that can provide customer lists, site analysis, sales territory management and demographic and competitor information to assist you in selling to local, state, national and international markets.

Financial analysis

Careful financial analysis is the first step in planning your company's future. MO SBTDC counselors are qualified to help you take financial inventory and assist you in determining your company's growth potential and capital needs. We can help you explore financing options and provide assistance in developing financial plans for banks or investors.

• fisCAL is one tool SBTDC specialists can utilize. Careful financial analysis is the first step in planning your business's future. Give your business a financial check-up using the SBTDC's full line of financial analysis products. [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

MO PTAC's mission is to assist businesses in winning government contracts. MO PTAC counselors help businesses, including small, disadvantaged and women-owned firms, in obtaining federal, state and local government awards for products and services. The services provided by MO PTAC include bid matching, assistance with bid preparation, providing government specifications and standards and assistance with electronic commerce.

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

The MO SBTDC program includes regional service centers, satellite centers, University of Missouri Extension centers and a centralized administrative office. The centers are a statewide network and are located primarily on college and university campuses that host and support the program.

For more information on the counseling tools and training available to you, contact a service center near you.

Sign up for services online