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Michigan Small Business Development Center

The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers Michigan’s most comprehensive entrepreneur and small business development program. They provide counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses, and innovative technology companies, including technology counselors to provide more in-depth support and a roadmapping tool that helps clients evaluate the direction of their technology, departmentalize concepts, and chart strategic direction.

As an initiative of the Small Business Administration, the SBDC is a federal, state and local collaboration designed to develop entrepreneurial talent and support the start-up and growth of new ventures in Michigan.

The SBDC has 12 regional centers and over 30 locations throughout Michigan to serve entrepreneurs statewide, offering training workshops, one-on-one counseling and market research tools at no or low cost. State funded programs include delivering the Kauffman FastTrac series statewide and specialized technology road mapping and commercialization counselors with the expertise to assist in securing equity financing. The Guide to Starting a Small Business is also available for review.

Visit the SBDC website to contact an office in your region

Guide to Starting and Operating a Small Business

First Customer Program

First Customer Program

The First Customer Program, managed by the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy (IRLEE) assists companies with identifying first customers, obtaining introductions and closing deals. FCP is focused on start-up high tech companies that need both preparation for and introduction to first customers. While focusing on start-ups, FCP also assists established companies that are facing start-up challenges as they diversify into new markets. To learn more and review program details visit:

http://irlee.umich.edu/fcp/