According to the November 2010 issue of Ingram’s magazine, the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Wichita State University counseled more businesses in 2009 than 17 other SBDCs in Kansas and Missouri.

Wichita State's SBDC helped 669 businesses last year, nine more businesses than the second highest SBDC, St. Louis Empowerment Zone. Wichita State's SBDC counseled 551 businesses in 2008.

The information was provided by small business development centers through questionnaires and interviews with personnel.

“Our numbers are high because people clearly benefit from our services,” said Marcia Stevens, regional director of the SBDC at Wichita State. “Last year, our clients started 67 new businesses, created 444 new full- and part-time jobs, retained 760 full- and part-time jobs, and generated more than $17.9 million in new sales.

“We had a fantastic year. We receive an ever-increasing number of referrals from satisfied clients, lenders, economic development directors and others who want entrepreneurs to take advantage of our services.”

Wichita State’s SBDC provides free consultations to existing small businesses and to individuals interested in starting a business in a 23-county region of south-central and north-central Kansas. They also offer a variety of workshops and conferences.

One-on-one counseling is provided at no cost. Counseling is available in such areas as business plan development, financial analysis, marketing, human resources, strategic planning, operational issues, market research, advertising strategies, sales techniques, selling to the government and inventor assistance.

Free or low-cost seminars are offered on topics ranging from “How to Write a Business Plan” to “Low and No Cost Marketing” to Beginning and Intermediate QuickBooks. Workshop registration is available online at http://www.wichita.edu/ksbdc.

More information about Ingram’s is available at www.ingramsonline.com.