Small Business Development Center at USF
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Helping Small Businesses Start Grow and Succeed
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What We Do For Your Business...



marketing
Business Plans & Start Ups
business basics, start-up assistance, business plans
marketing
Marketing
& Sales
sales, marketing plans, revenue generation, internet strategies
web marketing
Web Marketing Strategies
Search Engine Optimization, Website Planning & Development
marketing
Government Contracting
government contracts, women & minority certifications, PTAC
accounting
Accounting & Taxes
business accounting, budgets, tax planning, filing taxes
marketing
Finance, Loans, Insurance
SBA loans, financial metrics, loan types & capabilities, insurance
marketing
International Business
international trade, international relations & competition, exporting
marketing
Operations Management
management & human resources, business process performance
disaster
Disaster Relief & Planning
disaster recovery, business continuity, risk, compliance, legal
Upcoming Training

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SBDC Success Stories and Testimonials

Featured-SignoRama_SBDC-Success-Story

New Franchise in Wesley Chapel Creates 4 New Jobs

The desire to own a small business runs in Beatriz Cardona’s veins.  Originally from Venezuela, she comes from a family of entrepreneurs and followed that passion by earning a bachelor’s in entrepreneurship and business management. Beatriz and her husband, Roberto, are now living their dreams operating a 1400 sq. foot Sign-a-Rama franchise. the solution »

USF SBDC Highly Recommend The SBDC is a tremendous resource for small and medium size businesses in the Tampa area. Their business advisors are experts in the respective fields and provide free consultation to business owners. Highly recommend ! Also, their seminar and training programs are top notch. Brian French CEO, FloridaWebsiteMarketing.com
— Brian French CEO, Tampa area




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Latest Small Business Development Center Information


Maintaining Customer Service Under New Ownership

The maintenance light in my car came on about two weeks ago.  As usual, it took me a while to find time to get to my mechanic to get my oil changed, so I ignored it for a bit.  But I happened to be driving down Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa last Wednesday, and was very close to his shop, so I decided to drop in and see if he could squeeze me into his schedule.

I’ve been taking my cars to the same mechanic since 1985.  At first, Jim worked for a small shop that had been highly recommended.  So after a few years, when the two owners decided to close their shop, Jim chose to start his small business.  full story »


The Big Start-Up Business Mistake!

You’ve probably heard the alarming statistics saying that start-ups have failure rates of 80 percent and higher. While this statistic may be inflated, the truth is that many start-up companies do indeed fail. After working with hundreds of start-ups as a business consultant, I have identified the number one mistake causing most start-ups to founder is in the way they order the execution of the start-up process. Allow me to explain. When planning a start-up, burgeoning entrepreneurs usually think about the three main functional areas of a business in the following order: operations, finance and marketing. full story »

smallCoastBrothers

Transition from Fortune 500 to Florida Mid-Size

Transitioning from a multinational Fortune 500 company, to a Florida mid-size business is filled with challenges. When Steve Collins purchased Coast Brothers from the original owners in 2010, he took over the 13,000 square foot warehouse and its 10 employees and 8 account managers in Pinellas County. Keeping with the business’ all in the family tradition Stephen’s son, Patrick, joined the company. Now, Coast Brothers, which was established in 1988, is a multi-million dollar leading wholesale distributor providing over 1,000 items for the hospitality, healthcare, government, and commercial cleaning industry. full story »

Industry Highlights
small sbdc finance fair 2013

2013 SBDC Finance Fair August 22 and 23, 2013.

Cut through the clutter and confusion, and meet with a variety of lenders to explore options to finance and grow your business.  If you need to add equipment, supplies, payroll or insurance, this is the perfect opportunity to build effective relationships with lenders while learning about the borrowing process, programs and resources available for small businesses. details »

Small Business Development Center at The University of South Florida

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USF © 2010 Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida
Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the USF Small Business Development Center offers one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible locations.