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Local office offers courses, counseling for business owners

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

The new UW-Whitewater satellite office in downtown Janesville.

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Ronald "Bud" Gayhart

JANESVILLE — Whether you’re just starting out or you’re struggling to stay afloat, owning a small business is no easy ride.

But there’s help available through the Small Business Development Center at UW-Whitewater, which in October opened a satellite office at 14 S. Jackson St., Janesville.

“We’re here to help you navigate that maze,” said Ronald Gayhart, center director.

SBDC consultants focus on growth and innovation for existing small businesses and training and resources that entrepreneurs need to start new businesses.

For the most part, the consulting and training services are free and offered under a mandate from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The local SBDC office provides programs, courses and opportunities to displaced autoworkers that will make them more marketable and to small business owners to help them weather looming economic challenges, Gayhart said.

These services include:

-- “The First Steps,” a 22-hour seminar on starting a business. Prospective business owners learn about the feasibility of business ideas, the basics of starting a business—including an introduction to creating a business plan—and the resources available to them.

The seminar currently is offered at the Rock County Job Center on the first Tuesday of each month. Cost is $25 per person or $40 for two people.

-- “The Opportunity to Profit,” a course in the fundamentals of running a business and the process of writing a business plan. Prospective business owners learn how to target their market, analyze their competitors and develop realistic financial projections. The course includes one-on-one sessions with SBDC business advisors.

The course is offered based on demand. Cost is $1,000, but participants who complete a business plan are eligible to receive a Wisconsin Department of Commerce scholarship that covers 75 percent of the cost.

-- Consulting in a variety of areas including marketing, accounting, human resources and innovation.

Gayhart said often the key for small business owners is knowing what services are available to them.

“There’s an endless supply of free resources out there—local, state and national,” he said. “We’ll get you connected to those.”