Small Business Help

The Small Business Development Centers of Ohio Network serves Ohio's entrepreneurs through a unified network of counseling centers throughout the state.

1st Stop Business Connection 
The 1^st Stop Business Connection provides start-up kits to potential entrepreneurs on-line and through U.S. mail. Each kit is tailored to the type of business being started and also contains the information and forms common to most start-up businesses. The center staff has researched, written and updated more than 270 different checklist for specific types of businesses.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Provides existing and potential entrepreneurs with assistance on topics such as starting a business, managing a business, marketing plans, financials and human resources. Business consulting is free, confidential and one-on-one. Training is also provided for free or at little cost. For more information, contact your local center.

International Trade Assistance Centers (ITAC)The International Trade Assistance Centers (ITAC) serve as the first point of contact for new-to-export businesses, as well as those businesses expanding into new areas. Services include export readiness assessment, international marketing plans, market research, export compliance education, and access to export financing. Business consulting is free, confidential and one-on-one. Training is also provided for free or at little cost. For more information, contact your local center.

Manufacturing and Technology Small Business Development Centers (MTSBDC)
Ohio Manufacturing and Technology SBDCs (MTSBDCs) serve as the initial point of contact for information, resources, referrals, and counseling for small manufacturing businesses and defense-dependent industries, as well as commercialization assistance to Ohio’s technology-based small businesses. MTSBDCs also coordinate the Ohio SBDC’s participation in the Third Frontier Internship Program. Business consulting is free, confidential and one-on-one. Training is also provided for free or at little cost. For more information, contact your local center.

Latino Small Business Development Center (Latino SBDC)/
Centro Latino para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa
Centro Empresarial Latino (CEL)
The Ohio Small Business Development Centers have partnered with the Latino Community Association of Ohio, a community organization, to create the Ohio Latino Small Business Development Center to provide business management services, education and training to Spanish speaking entrepreneurs in Ohio. The Ohio Latino SBDC will provide three basic services: consulting, educational programs, and information, along with specialized services to build Latino small firms’ capacity to compete effectively in domestic and international markets.

Los Centros de Desarrollo del Pequeña Empresa de Ohio se han asociado con la Asociación de la Comunidad Latina de Ohio, una organización sin ánimo de lucro de la comunidad latina, para crear el Centro Latino para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa para proporcionar servicios de dirección de empresa, educación y formación profesional a empresarios de habla española en Ohio. El Centro Latino para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa (CEL) proporciona tres servicios básicos – consultaría, programas educativos e información empresarial – así como servicios profesionales para crear empresas latinas con capacidad de competir eficientemente en el mercado doméstico e internacional.

Third Frontier Internship Program
The Third Frontier Internship Program links Ohio students with internships at Ohio's businesses. The Third Frontier Internship Program's goal is to connect talented young students with hands-on learning experiences that can lead to permanent full time-employment in Ohio after graduation. The program will reimburse businesses up to 50 percent of the intern's wage, or no more than $3,000 for a 12-month period.

Global Ohio
Ohio’s ITACs also offer assistance through Global Ohio. Global Ohio is a full-service online resource for locating and understanding export and import information, including current policy and regulations, training, professional services and support, trade mission preparation, international market research, international trade business plans, sample trade documents, and export readiness assessment tools.

Integrated Quality Assessment^©
Integrated Quality Assessment^© (IQa) is targeted to any type of business or organization that has at least three employees, has been in business at least two years, and is committed to becoming a success. The assessment is conducted by objective SBDC advisors and provides a systematic, holistic review of the company, focuses on improvements needed for long-term growth, provides leads to potential unexplored areas of business practices, and helps the company develop and use systems—not just intuition.