Together in Support of Business

By Rod Davis, CEO BBB Serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean

The Better Business Bureau and SBDC (Small Business Development Corporation) recently signed an agreement to partner in support of entrepreneurs and small businesses.  Our local BBB has been working with our local SBDC to bring education and assistance to our local community and we are currently developing additional initiatives. 

SBDC is one of the best kept secrets for helping new businesses develop and implement effective strategies.  For more than 40 years, The Florida SBDC Network has accelerated Florida’s economy by providing vital support to the state’s small business community. As the state’s premier provider of entrepreneurial and business development services, The Florida SBDC Network provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with professional business consulting at no cost, management training and information necessary to grow and succeed in a complex and competitive global environment. Consultant expertise is focused on areas vital to accelerating business growth, including:

•       Strategic market research
•       Market expansion and revenue growth
•       Business and strategic plan development
•       Access to capital and loan packaging assistance
•       Financial analysis and assessment
•       Accounting systems and financial literacy
•       Feasibility analysis and start-up assistance Specialized Services

In addition to their core service offerings of consulting, training, and business information and research, specialized services are available to qualifying Florida businesses looking to accelerate market growth:

•       Growth Acceleration provides in-depth business assessments and strategic planning for SMEs to develop sustainable growth strategies
•       Capital Access assists emerging and growing businesses in locating, assessing, and securing capital for growth and development
•       International Trade provides strategic research and market planning to help export ready new-to-market, new-to-export businesses expand globally
•       Export Marketing Plan assists qualified Florida-based, “new-to-export” manufacturers and professional service providers with overseas growth strategies through the development of customized export marketing plans
•       Government Contracting assists established businesses expand by reaching new markets through federal, state, and local government contracting
•       Business Continuation aids businesses in the development of emergency preparedness and recovery plans for natural and/or man-made disasters (i.e. hurricanes, cyberattacks)

For more information about the SBDC office serving Broward and Palm Beach Counties go to:  sbdc.fau.edu

BBB complements the offerings by SBDC with training, information, and resources to help businesses:

•       Create and implement effective customer service strategies
•       Tools and information to manage customer relationships
•     Resources to develop a positive brand (online and offline)
•       Information and programs to assist in marketing to new and existing customers
•       Access to information to help create compliance privacy policies
•       Upon successful vetting by BBB, the ability to become a BBB Accredited Business and use of the BBB logo to identify your business as a trusted partner for consumers
•       Networking and partnership opportunities with other like-minded businesses

BBB provides information on our website to help businesses.  Proceed to bbb.org/all/business-resources to find:

BBB Trust Hub (bbb.org/all/trust-hub): The BBB Trust Hub shares research and ideas to help businesses build trust with customers and evaluate your business to identify areas working well and those in need of improvement. 

BBB Tips: (bbb.org/all/your-business-hq):  The BBB Tips site provides general business how to articles and industry specific information to help keep business leaders informed about what other businesses are finding helpful and how to avoid potential negatives. 

BBB Industry Hub: (bbb.org/all/industry-hub):  The BBB research team conducts in depth studies into industries to identify the challenges and best practices that create customer loyalty and dissatisfaction.  Current studies include the roofing, landscaping, florist, moving, travel, hotel and accommodations, tax prep, restaurant, hvac, plumbing and home building industries. 

Together, BBB and SBDC are here to support emerging businesses to be successful and built on best practices and a commitment to ethics.