Entrepreneur Assistance

The Iowa State University Small Business Development Center has been serving central Iowa counties since 1982.  The ISU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a partnership between the ISU SBDC and the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.  The ISU SBDC provides free and low-cost counseling and training to Iowa's entrepreneurs from 13 regional offices throughout the state.  The ISU SBDC is located at the ISU Research Park and serves entrepreneurs in the following counties: Story, Boone, Marshall, Hardin, and Hamilton. The ISU SBDC also provides assistance to technology based companies on a statewide basis.  The SBDC center is located at:

2501 North Loop Drive, Building 1, Suite 1615, Ames, IA 50010-8283
Office 515.296.7828  Fax 515.296.6714
Mike Upah, Director or Judi Eyles, Assistant Director, Programs

Smart Start Workshop
If you are planning to start a business, you'll find the Center's Smart Start Workshop to be a useful first step. The workshop is offered twice monthly on Tuesday evenings. Contact the Center to register for the class.  The Iowa Business Network is a free online business resource tool to help you plan, start, and manage your small business.

Owning a small business calls for vision, determination and all the sound expertise you can find. The SBDC can guide you down the road to success with (business plan outline sample-100KB file, cash flow sample-460KB file & commercial lending guide-3MB file):

  • One-on-one counseling by qualified professionals
  • A variety of learning opportunities, including workshops, classes, on-line assistance and publications and other resources
  • Connections to other service providers, federal, state and local resources, sources of capital and similar assistance for small businesses

Hints and Tips for Entrepreneurs and Investors: Self-Teaching Tool Kits for Entrepreneurial Assist

 

Specific Advice for Entrepreneurs: Assessing Markets and Products, Developing a Business Plan, Employment Resources, Financing Your Business, Managing Intellectual Property, Running Your Business, Running Your Business: Help and Assistance, Structuring the Legal Form of Your Business, Training & Education for Entrepreneurs & Investors