Get help from the ASBDC.
Running a business is a lot of work, and oftentimes entrepreneurs aren't as prepared as they could be for the task at hand. If you find yourself struggling to set up your business and get it off the crowd, take advantage of the help that's being provided to millions of small business across the country: the aid of the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) and its local Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).
With over 1,000 centers located across the country, it's likely you'll be able to find one nearby. Funded partly by the Small Business Administration, SBDCs are usually hosted by colleges, universities, and state economic development entities, which also put forth some money for funding the centers. In turn, the centers provide free consulting and low cost training to small business owners.
Employees at an SBDC can help you with everything from developing your mission statement to optimizing your web site. They know what the latest trends in business are, and how to use them to your advantage (think Twitter and Facebook.) If you just got some new software to automate your processes, or are just simply trying to figure out how you can automate, the SBDC can help.
Annual conferences are held yearly by the ASBDC to the end of sharing ideas and learning about new ways that small businesses can grow, be it through additional services or new products. These centers are motivated by the idea that small businesses are a crucial part of the American economy and that they should be helped to get off the ground and continue growing.
