Counseling Services
Request counseling services online
The heart of the SBDC program is the one-on-one counseling provided to our clients and this interaction is personalized, enterprise-specific/client-directed support needed to start, expand or re-energize your business.
Eligibility and Requirements to Work with the Onondaga SBDC
Our services are available to start-up and existing businesses. To receive assistance from us, your business needs to be located in our service area of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, southern Oswego, western Madison or northern Cortland counties. Your business must also meet the federal guidelines defining a small business of having fewer than 500 employees and a maximum of $10 million in annual sales.
Thinking about starting a business?
We can help. We counsel entrepreneurs who are investigating the potential of owning their own business, acquiring an existing business or opening a franchise. If you are in the exploratory phase, you should attend one of our Start Up Sessions. They are designed for people who have never owned a business before. These seminars are regularly held on the OCC campus and Cortland BDC/IDA and provide you with the essential information you need for getting a business up and running. Once you’ve completed the Start Up Session, you can develop your business idea with one of our counselors.
Are you in business already?
Sign up to see a counselor. Fill out a online questionnaire. A counselor will be assigned to you and will typically contact you within a week.
Can I get financing through the SBDC?
We don’t provide financing. Our support is technical and educational in nature, designed to put you in a better position to secure private or public funding, if that’s your goal. Our counselors work with banks and other lenders regularly and are familiar with their requirements. We can bring this expertise to bear on your financing proposal.
The SBDC Counseling Process
Your SBDC counselor can assist you in a variety of ways and it’s up to you to determine how best to utilize this resource. Consider us to be part of your business team! The counselors at the SBDC can help with business and marketing plans, loan proposals, market research, financial analysis and projections and a variety of other technical matters.
How do the counseling sessions work?
At your initial meeting, you and your counselor will discuss your business objectives, set goals for your collaboration and assign tasks. Follow up visits can be scheduled to review work or discuss new issues. Phone calls or e-mail contacts may be sufficient in your follow up contacts.
When and where do I meet my counselor?
Most of your meetings will take place at our offices at OCC or at one of the Outreach Centers during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Office meetings allow us to maximize the counselor’s availability to all our clients. Counselors may be able to meet you at your place of business.
Is there a limit to how long I can keep seeing my counselor?
No. While we encourage you to set and achieve specific objectives, we realize that as your business changes so does your need for assistance. You may want to use our services again, as your business needs change..
Is there a cost associated with the counseling service?
No. Thanks to our funding partners, the US SBA, New York State, and our host institution, Onondaga Community College, we offer these services at no charge.
Is the information I share with my counselor about my business confidential?
Absolutely. Confidentiality is really the cornerstone of our counseling program. Without this guarantee, our clients would not feel free to share the critical information that enables us to offer relevant assistance.