Natural Entrepreneur: Professional Management Counseling to Help Your Business

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Business Resource Corner

This is the first of a series of profiles by Liz Ward of NH SBDC, for the Natural Entrepreneur of NH, we're calling the Business Resource Corner, which features non-profit and government programs that benefit small businesses.

Professional Management Counseling to Help Your Business

The NH Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

-- by Elizabeth Ward, NH SBDC

Organization: New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC). Mary Collins, State Director.

Mission: The mission of the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) is to contribute to New Hampshire’s economic vitality by providing its small businesses and communities with the tools and personal guidance needed to reach their goals.

Services: The NH SBDC provides one-on-one counseling services and educational programs in six regional centers and nine satellite locations. Certified business counselors advise companies on issues pertaining to business and strategic planning, financing, marketing, product development, operations, and personnel. Services are free. The NH SBDC also offers a full range of business seminars and workshops around the State.

Specialty programs include environmental compliance, manufacturing assistance, technology development, and economic development.

The NH SBDC has been an outreach program of the UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics since 1984, and is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the NH Department of Resources & Economic Development, the University System of New Hampshire, and the private sector. Fully accredited in 2002, the NH SBDC is part of a national program with 64 SBDCs throughout the U.S. and territories.

Client Example: Peter & Leslie Van Berkum, owners of Van Berkum Nurseries in Deerfield, contacted the SBDC concerning the personnel structure of their 15-year-old wholesale business. With 25 employees and several departments, management tasks needed to be appropriately delegated. Seacoast Regional Manager Warren Daniel, an experienced business owner, met with Peter and his management staff to discuss operations and employee roles. Mr. Daniel helped them define an overall organizational structure and specific job descriptions. A follow-up visit several months later found sales up and improved employee morale and productivity. Counseling is continuing today with Mr. Daniel assisting the Van Berkums as they embark on a business expansion plan.

Impact & Results: In 2003, the NH SBDC counseled 1175 businesses in 215 communities. These companies accessed over $19 million in financing. Over six hundred jobs were created or retained, and over one hundred new businesses were created. 2500 attendees benefited from over 100 NH SBDC seminars in 2003.

Contact Information: To locate the NH SBDC office nearest you, or obtain a calendar of events, call 862-2200 or visit the NH SBDC website, www.nhsbdc.org.

Upcoming Events

Feb 21 (8-9:30a): NH Forum on the Future, NHHTC, CR Sparks, Bedford, NH

March 1 (6:30-8:30p): Women's Business Center and MicroCredit-NH Networking Event, Bank of America, Portsmouth, NH

March 6 (10a-noon): Growth Capital Resources in New Hampshire, City of Nashua, Office of Economic Development, Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH

March 8: (12pm -1pm) Break the Rules and Close More Sales, Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester, NH

March 16: Peak Pitch (pitch your plan to invstors on the chairlift), Mt. Sunapee, NH ($)

March 22: Breaking Trends in Web Develoment, UVCIA, Hanover, NH ($)

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