Small Business Institute® (SBI)

A program connecting local small businesses to the resources and management expertise of UCF's College of Business Administration and the SBDC at UCF.

SBI® provides confidential and professional management assistance to small businesses through consulting projects performed by MBA students.

Strengthen Your Business
Central Florida business owners participating in the SBI® program receive management consulting services tailored to fit the needs of their business. Sample projects include:

• Advertising Strategy
• Business Plans
• Competitive Analysis
• Customer Surveys
• Feasibility Studies
• Financial Analysis
• Marketing Plans
• Market Research
• Strategic Plans

Now Accepting Client Companies for Spring 2010 - Limited Space Available

The SBDC at UCF is now accepting client application for the Spring 2010 semester. Interested small businesses interested in the SBI® program must meet the following criteria:

• $500k+ annual revenue
• 2 years operating experience
• Business located in Orange or Seminole Counties
• Client company must be willing to meet with student team at least 6 times during the semester

In order for SBI® clients to get the most from the program, they need to follow the following program guidelines:

• Be available to the student team at the times agreed upon
• Maintain weekly communication if needed with student team
• Make available to the student team records, files and financial statements agreed upon to successfully complete their project
• Use student team in the proper capacity as "consultants" and not as temporary help to do work normally performed by client employees
• Attend one exit interview meeting involving student team and the director to discuss the project results
• Sign a "client acknowledgment" form for the final report upon student team completion of the project
• Expect some follow-up research to determine quality and effectiveness of the program

Download SBI® client application.

A non-refundable administrative fee of $200 is due upon acceptance to the program. Please make checks payable to "University of Central Florida."

For more information or to apply, contact the SBDC at UCF at 407.420.4850 or email at sbdc@bus.ucf.edu.

"Thank you for allowing our company to participate in this year's small business development program. The students were enormously helpful and their advice and guidance has become an indispensable part of our company's plan for the future. It has been a true pleasure to work with them."

Rodrigo de la Mora
Director of Operations
Florida Institute of Interpretation and Translation

"Excellent. The team really put a lot of effort into understanding AcAe, their contribution made a difference. Young thoughts, enthusiasm and fresh approach."

Bill Basten
American Computer Aided Engineering