Services

The Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Summit Medina Business Alliance offers a broad range of consulting services for small businesses in Summit and Medina Counties. Our staff consists of experienced and certified consultants and professional volunteers that offer assistance for a broad range of business activities.

If you are in the process of starting up a business, click here for a description of our services for assisting your business start-up.

For existing businesses we offer the following consulting services free-of-charge:

Strategic Planning

The OSBDC will help you evaluate the external factors effecting your business and industry, assess your firm's internal strengths and weaknesses, and perform an evaluation of your competitive environment. We will assist you in creating meaningful Vision and Mission Statements for your company as well as your company objectives. Overall strategies for achieving these objectives will be developed that are used to guide your firm's operations. Our strategic planning process is specifically geared towards helping small businesses understand where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there as effectively as possible.

Business Management

An OSBDC Business Advisor will assist you in setting a course of action for your business by helping you create or update your current business plan objectives and financial goals. Step-by-step guidelines for successfully implementing a business management program starting with an overview with a qualified analyst.

Marketing and Sales

OSBDC Business Advisors and volunteers can assist you identifying and entering new markets, or increase your market share in competitive markets. Our services include market research and customer identification, developing market segmentation and positioning strategies, as well as assistance with developing marketing plans including distribution, promotion, and pricing strategies.

Merchandising

OSBDC Business Advisors can show you how to attract new customers and increase point of purchase sales through seasonal displays, project floor plan inventory capacity, locate vendors and negotiate purchase contracts, and establish the most profitable pricing policy, and optimize your mix and turnover of inventory.

Financial Analysis

OSBDC Business Advisors will review loan and other financing options for your company, including SBA funding programs and economic development financing programs, and how you may qualify for them. The OSBDC will help you set financial goals, manage working capital, validate your pricing, and estimate your production demands to meet your goals.


Product Development and Technology Commercialization

An OSBDC Business Advisor will review all aspects of your product/technology including design features, producibility, marketing the product, and financial estimates.

Operations, Manufacturing, and Engineering

The OSBDC can help you improve the efficiency of your current operations, or help you prepare for new opportunities. OSBDC Business Advisors and volunteers can perform assessments of your current operations, introduce you to advanced operational concepts such as Lean Enterprise, and assist you in implementing quality systems such as ISO-9000.

Market Expansion: Export and Procurement

The OSBDC has linkages to the State of Ohio's International Trade Assistance Centers (ITAC) and the United States Export Assistance Center (USEAC), both of whom can assist you with your foreign trade needs.

Franchising

Volunteers and an OSBDC Business Advisor can assist in the review of the franchise projections of sales and customer levels. Assistance is also available for evaluating the location of the franchise in terms of demographics, and selecting funding options.

Human Resources

OSBDC Business Advisors and volunteers offer assistance in Human Resource planning, job analysis, performance, compensation, incentives, and managing labor relations. Our Business Training Institute offers employee training and development opportunities, and the OSBDC can assist you in developing training plans and finding training resources that best meet your needs.