 You are here:
|
|
|
Business Counseling
Page Content
Our business counselors are predominately private sector trained and have extensive management and financial consulting backgrounds. Functional specialties include accounting, brand management, marketing, market research, finance, GIS, human resources and franchising. Specialized expertise includes technology, growth and manufacturing assistance. |
 Business Counseling/Coaching Our experienced counselors will confidentially discuss your business to assist you with the following services:
- Develop or refine your business plan
- Strategic financial management
- Business or marketing plan review
- Lead Business Assistance Teams, PEERSpectives CEO Roundtables and Strategic Needs Assessments
To qualify for our no charge counseling your business must:
- Be headquartered in Oakland County
- Be domestically owned and operated
- Be an existing business with less than 500 employees or starting a new business
- Meet the SBA's small business revenue size standards
- Have completed the MI-SBTDC "Request for Assistance" form and agreed to participate in surveys designed to measure the effectiveness of the Michigan SBTDC program
- Have a draft business plan or executive summary before meeting the counselor
If your business is located outside Oakland County, please check the MI-SBTDC website for a suitable location.
Advanced One-On-One Tools (Existing Businesses) These customized instruments are offered by certified consultants in concert with our MI-SBTDC partners. Examples of such tools include:
Strategic Needs Assessment offers a better understanding of a company's current condition; a comparison that shows how key people view opportunities and challenges; insights into the real issues facing the company and feedback to help the business owner and team concentrate on priorities and action strategies.
PEERSpectives CEO Roundtables - Eight to 12 qualified entrepreneurs collaborate on important business issues. Owners, CEOs and presidents share their management challenges and problem-solving ideas through confidential and structured roundtables. Peer groups discuss ways to overcome obstacles in growth areas such as finance, employee relations, legal compliance, marketing, and advertising. Facilitators are trained by the Ed Lowe Foundation, a non-profit operating foundation committed to providing assistance to business owners seeking rapid growth for their established businesses.
Business Assistance Teams (BATs) The BAT is a volunteer membership experienced in various fields who help existing businesses remedy issues or provide fresh ideas.
BATs involve coordinated visits to small business owners in Oakland County. Members are representatives of:
- Oakland County Business Consultants
- Banks
- Chambers of Commerce
- Cities
- Downtown Development Authorities
- Service Corp of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.)
BAT meeting formats range from town hall meetings to panel discussions and culminate in individual on-site visits. Follow up correspondence answers business owner questions and provides next steps. On-going access to all the volunteers is provided.
Business Plan Review Every successful business owner has a business plan. The most effective ones are organized, written and used throughout the life of the business.
Writing a Business Plan helps budding business owners create their own plan. Business Center staff review and suggest improvements to your plan. If interested, please submit a copy of your plan with a "Request for Business Plan Review". Allow at least 7 to 10 business days for the review and we will arrange a meeting.
Marketing Plan Review The Marketing Plan describes how the business should be marketed and the strategy and tools needed to grab a share of the target market.
Marketing Your Business describes the essentials of your marketing plan. Business Center staff review and suggest improvements to your plan. If interested, submit a copy of your plan along with a "Request for Marketing Plan Review". Allow at least 7 to 10 business days for the review and we will arrange a meeting. View in Web Browser /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/VisioWebAccess/VisioWebAccess.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType vdw 255 Compliance Details javascript:commonShowModalDialog('{SiteUrl}/_layouts/itemexpiration.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}', 'center:1;dialogHeight:500px;dialogWidth:500px;resizable:yes;status:no;location:no;menubar:no;help:no', function GotoPageAfterClose(pageid){if(pageid == 'hold') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/hold.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'audit') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/Reporting.aspx?Category=Auditing&backtype=item&ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'config') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/expirationconfig.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;}}, null); return false; 0x0 0x1 ContentType 0x01 898 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XsnLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 FileType xsn 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.2 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.3 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.4 255 View in Browser /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsx 255 View in Browser /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsm 255 View in Browser /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsb 255 View in Browser /StartABusiness/SBC/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType ods 255 |
|
|
|
|
|