| Financial advisors often find themselves consulting | | | | finds new customer segments. |
| to successful entrepreneurs about how to | | | | Investors and inventors find value in a flooring |
| continue to grow their assets after the business | | | | company start-up. |
| has been sold or taken over through a carefully | | | | An environmental product company breaks past |
| planned succession strategy. But developing a | | | | the $15 million mark with a new product. |
| small business (defined here as having less than | | | | An ornithology hobby becomes a successful |
| $50 million in annual revenues) is not so | | | | business venture. |
| simple.After the initial burst of business success | | | | An outdoor equipment manufacturer finds a |
| and survival in the first three years, many small | | | | potential acquisition. |
| businesses encounter struggles that can leave | | | | Customer purchase decisions and perceptions are |
| them feeling isolated. What can assist a 30-year | | | | revealed to a manufacturer. |
| old consulting firm whose personal presence and | | | | An automotive aftermarket tool gains distribution |
| paper products face a changing world of | | | | outlets across the U.S. |
| electronic presence and high travel costs by | | | | A "hot" tool is offered to the propane and |
| helping them with development of electronic | | | | plumbing industries.Part of the success of these |
| products? What can encourage a small playground | | | | entrepreneurs and a couple of hundred thousand |
| equipment manufacturer to move from $1 million | | | | others is due to the one-on-one relationship of |
| to $2 then $5 million in annual revenues by helping | | | | these advisors with their entrepreneurial clients. |
| her with facility expansion issues? What can help a | | | | Developing business plans, wading through loan |
| successful cookie baker beat the competition | | | | applications, securing critical market research, |
| through strategic partners, cause marketing and | | | | exploring product design options, identifying a |
| high tech kitchen equipment?Small Business | | | | lasting competitive edge---these are typical of the |
| Development Centers can.According to the Small | | | | services that SBDC's can provide to the |
| Business Administration these SBDC's gave | | | | entrepreneur.These services are nothing to be |
| face-to-face help to more than 247,000 clients | | | | sneezed at. In another state, South Carolina, the |
| last year. A treasury of business answers lies | | | | economic impact on the state's economy in 2005 |
| waiting and ready to assist at 1,100 top colleges | | | | alone was $86 million, resulting in a return on |
| and universities across the United States, | | | | investment of $121.11 for every dollar of state |
| according to the SBA. These centers are funded | | | | funding, according to Regional Director Jill |
| by a combination of federal, state and local | | | | Burroughs as quoted in the Greenville News. |
| government monies as well as with private sector | | | | Further explaining the power of the program, |
| dollars.Here are just few examples from the | | | | Burroughs said that breaks down to $45.7 million |
| State of Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin | | | | in capital formation, 1038 jobs created, nearly $25 |
| at Whitewater hosts a Small Business | | | | million in wages paid, $869,000 in additional sales |
| Development Center at Its email is This center is | | | | taxes and $15 million in contracts awarded to 381 |
| also affiliated with the Wisconsin Innovation | | | | businesses.SBDC's are located in all 50 states, the |
| Service Center, that "takes pride in an extremely | | | | District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa |
| high rate of client satisfaction...nearly 75% of | | | | and the US Virgin Islands. If you conservatively |
| clients have been referred by former clients and | | | | cut the impact of South Carolina in half and |
| professionals. The Wisconsin Innovation Service | | | | multiplied by the 50 states, you would have a $2.1 |
| Center charges an "affordable fee" to provide | | | | BILLION impact.This is a powerful treasury of real |
| companies with enough information for improved | | | | riches that spills over to the rest of the economy |
| product and market development decisions.A few | | | | from the struggles of entrepreneurs who refused |
| diverse examples of this university-related | | | | to let their dreams be defeated by the obstacles |
| treasury of successes include these:A local | | | | they encountered. They got help.By Simone J. |
| gardener gained international attention for a unique | | | | Nathan, author of "Going for Gold After 50: An |
| gardening tool. | | | | Illustrated Guide to High Probability Investing," and |
| An innovative drywall finishing product offers | | | | Managing Partner of GA50, Inc., founded to |
| significant benefits over competition. | | | | increase savings sensibility and add quality to |
| A new product helps a honey producer grow. | | | | longevity. |
| A business in the electrical equipment industry | | | | |