| |
Q. |
What is the SBC (Small Business Center)? |
| |
A. |
The Small Business Center located at the Western Wake Campus of Wake Tech is one of 58 Small Business Centers located on campus at all community colleges in North Carolina. The mission is to support development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses. The SBC is a community based provider of training, counseling, and resource information. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Where is the Small Business Center located? |
| |
A. |
The Director of the SBC is located in the Western Wake Tech Campus at 3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518. Telephone 919-335-1007. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Where are the SBC seminars and programs held? |
| |
A. |
Seminars and programs are held at the Western Wake Campus (3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary) on Tuesday evenings at 6:45pm and at the Northern Wake Tech Campus on Thursday evenings at 6:45pm (US 401 N, 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC). |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What is the mission and vision of the SBC? |
| |
A. |
Our objective is to increase the success rate and the number of viable small businesses in NC. We do this by providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Is the counseling provided confidential? |
| |
A. |
The SBC offers free, confidential counseling services. The client is requested to complete a counseling request form. Counseling is available is available on a as-needed basis, free, and acts as a sounding board for ideas, concerns, and issues that you have about your business. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What is the cost of counseling services? |
| |
A. |
Free. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What is the cost of the seminars and other programs available through the SBC? |
| |
A. |
Many seminars are free. There are some programs delivered that have a nominal fee. International programs involving travel to foreign countries will have registration fees that cover the cost of the trip. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What type of seminars and programs are delivered by the SBC? |
| |
A. |
There are a variety of programs including:
- How to start a business
- How to write a business plan
- How to finance a new business or expand an existing business
- Marketing
- Record Keeping and taxes
- International import and export training
- Doing business with the government
- Doing business with the military
|
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Are there opportunities to travel overseas to learn how to export my products? |
| |
A. |
Yes. The SBC partners with other resource providers to deliver export ready training programs on location around the world. Countries including China, Canada, Mexico and Germany have been traveled to in the past few years. The SBC will travel to Mexico for the DR-CAFTA 2009 program traveling to Honduras and El Salvador in March, 2009 and will travel to Futurallia2009 in Doha, Qatar in May 2009. Contact Ken Dillo 919-335-1007 for more information. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What resources are available? |
| |
A. |
There are a number of business books, periodicals, etc. available in the Wake Tech library located in the SBC location at Western Wake Campus for individuals to check out through the library system. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
How can the SBC help me? |
| |
A. |
Core services include business plan seminars, workshops, free confidential counseling, access to resources through the library, and special programs that focus on specific topics such as sales taxes. The SBC can put you in touch with business and community leaders, as well as local, state and federal agencies who share the goal of making your business a success. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
What federal, state and local resources are available for assistance? |
| |
A. |
Resources include:
- NC Dept of Commerce International Trade Division
- NC Dept of Agriculture & Consumer services
- U. S. Dept of Commerce Export Assistance Center
- N.C. World Trade Association
- N.C. State Ports Authority
|
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Will the SBC write a business plan for me? |
| |
A. |
No. The SBC provides seminars, training, a CD “An interactive Guide: Starting a Small Business in North Carolina”, a template on building a business plan, and other resources to assist you in writing your business plan. |
| |
|
[ top ] |
| |
Q. |
Does the SBC provide financial resources to the small business owner or startup? |
| |
A. |
No. The SBC will assist in building a business plan and point the client to banks, SBA, Self Help Credit Union, or other resources for funding. |
| |
|
[ top ] |