by KIM HILSENBECK
Opening, and more importantly, maintaining, a new business offers pitfalls and challenges to entrepreneurs. The technical aspects of business ownership can cause stress and confusion.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Texas State University specializes in business advising and training. The center, which has locations in San Marcos, Austin and Round Rock, covers the 12-county area in Central Texas.
Professional staff at the Texas State University SBDC have expertise as business advisors, trainers and researchers.
The center’s director, Joe Harper, took the reins a year ago, bringing with him previous SBDC leadership experience. Harper is also a successful entrepreneur and a professor of entrepreneurship classes at the university level.
He said the Texas State SBDC offers learning and advising sessions geared toward individuals and/or small businesses looking to launch or expand.
The SBDC qualifies a business or individual by looking at equity, credit scores and a business concept, to determine if a business plan is feasible.
Depending on what his team finds, he may have to tell a prospective client that an idea is not ready or the market may not be ready for the idea.
According to Harper, people come into the SBDC with expectations, but they may not understand what services they can find at the center.
The SBDC provides comprehensive, confidential business counseling services at no or low cost through funding by the U. S. Small Business Administration and Texas State University, as well as donations from banks, chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations.
To reach the SBDC at Texas State University, contact the office at (512)610-0996.
