Owning a small business can be a difficult task for anyone to handle.
Not only do you have to worry about the economic aspects of a business, such as whether or not you are actually targeting the right customers with the right prices, but you also have to take into consideration worker’s compensation and insurance cost.
That list of worries only doubles for those who are interested in starting up their own business.
Well, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center is here to help, offering training and counseling to small businesses free of charge. According to the LSBDC, last year alone the greater New Orleans branch of the center created nearly two new jobs everyday for their clients, while also leading to almost $1.5 million in new sales for those same clients. In addition, the center helps open three new businesses every month.
“Any small business owner can take advantage of the free services,” Carmen Sunda, center director of the GNOR, said. “Currently, we have expanded capacity and would be able to assess and assist small businesses in St. Charles Parish fairly quickly.”
The training varies depending on the type of business, but includes seminars that go over how to start a business and a 25-hour course on entrepreneurship. There is also a four-hour session on Quick Books and two-day training on Stephen Covery’s 7 Effective Habits, which teaches people how to attain their goals.
“Most of the classes are small, so interaction with the trainer is very valuable,” Sunda said. “This enables every attendee to have all questions addressed completely and the training can often be tailored to the individual businesses attending.”
The training sessions also have plenty of handouts and nearly all the trainers are LSBDC consultants.
In addition to business training, LSBDC also offers counseling services, which depend on the needs of the business owner. The LSBDC has professionals in a variety of industries and skills. Some examples of what they offer include loan packaging, operational strategies, employee management, marketing and sales.
“Many times, clients need assistance with specific issues, such as cash flow and identifying the best financing resource,” Sunda said. “Sometimes, the issues are more general, such as how to operate more efficiently or the best expansion strategies.”
All the consulting services are free and some projects that require expertise outside of the LSBDC, such as an e-commerce website, can usually be funded with another program that the LSBDC has. In this instance, the client would just provide a co-pay.
And whether you currently have a business or are looking to start up a new one, the process to move you in the right direction is basically the same.
“Each client receives a complete assessment to determine priorities and the next action steps in order for the client to achieve their business goals,” Sunda said. “We find that start-up businesses can vary from a first time business owner to a serial entrepreneur. Start-up businesses may spend more time, initially, in training and existing businesses are usually seeking ways to improve their business.”
While the LSBDC offers opportunities for learning, actually implementing the center’s suggestions will be up to the business owner.
“While there are some services outside our scope of work- for instance the LSBDC is not your sales team or monthly bookkeeper, we can make referrals for these services,” Sunda said. “Sometimes a business owner cannot be helped as they do not like the truth, or they may have asked for something we cannot provide or does not exist, such as a grant.
“However, our professional sales team can handle just about any issue that a business owner can come up with.”
Any Louisiana small business is eligible for this program, as well as anyone wanting to start a business. Small businesses make up about 90 percent of the businesses in Louisiana.
Sunda says she is excited to bring the program to St. Charles Parish.
“The parishes just beyond New Orleans are a growing and vibrant part of the entire recovery of New Orleans and the state,” she said. “It is critical that the parishes just beyond New Orleans are healthy, stable and prosperous.”
For more information, or to obtain services, business owners can call 504-831-3730.
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