Small Business - it is the backbone of the American economy. Over 90% of the businesses in the United States are classified as small business. From the part-time home based business to the manufacturer employing hundreds, small business is the strength of America. We exist to help you be successful with your business.

The Weber State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves the four county area of Weber, Davis, Morgan and Box Elder. Whether you are just looking to start your business or whether you have been in business for years and are looking to grow, we are here to help. As a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Utah State Governor's Office of Economic Development, we are eager to help your business succeed. The SBDC is a part of the community outreach provided by the University. We serve the community. You do not have to be a student and you do not have to enroll in for-credit classes. Please contact us if you have questions about start-up, financing, planning, marketing, management or other topics. We will discuss your needs and give you direction. We cannot replace professionals such as an attorney or CPA, but we can help you define your needs and coach you through the steps.

Have a business you are looking to start, but just don't quite know the steps to take? We can help. Our free, two-hour Start Smart class discusses the basics of starting a business. We provide a packet with lots of information and we discuss the basics of preparing a business plan and finding financing. After taking the Start Smart class, you can come in for one-on-one counseling to identify the most likely financing options, and to get help with writing a business plan and preparing financial forecasts for the lender. Look at a sample business plan here (PDF file) and sample financial forecasts can be found here.

One of the most challenging aspects of business success is identifing your target market (customer) and developing a marketing strategy which will reach them in the most effective way. Our Market Smart class discusses the basics on marketing. Again, it is free and only two hours long. Whether you take the class in order to develop a strategy for your new business or as a refresher to help you expand you current business on, it is well worth you time. Afterwards, you can schedule an appointment to discuss a marketing strategy with our business consultants.

Most people start a business with excellent skills, but understanding of the accounting side of the business is not always a strength. Our Money Smart class acquaints you with some of the rules of bookkeeping, reviews the financial statements, and discusses some of the ratios that help you understand the health of your business. This is the third of our free, two-hour classes that will you to understand and grow your business.

Preparing a business plan is one of the most important steps you can take. It is an excellent tool to help guide your business and it is required if you are looking for financing. Through one-on-one consultation, we can coach you through the process, helping you to critique your plans for marketing and management of the business and preparing those important proforma financial statements that will show whether the business has a chance to be profitable. For an even more educational experience, look into taking our Biz Smart.