Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) in Maryland are committed to assisting entrepreneurs with all of their business needs, whether they are looking for start-up assistance, financing or seeking to expand, the SBDC has the resources to assist. In addition, there is an SBDC Business Counselor available at no cost in every county. SBDC assists existing and prospective business owners in three basic ways:

Training - Regular SmartStart seminars, as well as periodic special-interest programs, and participation in educational programs presented by other business support agencies and non-profits.
Counseling - Free one-on-one counseling on a variety of business topics.
Maximization of Resources - Providing information about and access to specialize assistance and resources from other local business support providers.

Please register with SBDC by taking our SmartStart Self Assessment Test .

Contact

Bryan Laing – Frederick County SBDC Counselor
blaing@carrollcc.edu

Diane McFarland – Training and Marketing Lead Center Region
dianemcf@umd.edu

Training

To view upcoming class schedules offered in Frederick County, please click here.

Counseling

Counseling is available at no cost in the following areas, and more, at Frederick County's SBDC:

Business Plan Development
Business Structuring
Market Planning and Research
Marketing Strategies
Financial Projections
Debt and Equity Financing

Management Techniques
International Trade
Cashflow Management
Government Procurement
Contact information for starting a small business
Licensing Information for Home-Based Businesses

Getting Started with SBDC

Prospective SBDC clients should register with Maryland's central SBDC office before attending a training program or meeting with an SBDC counselor.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Matrix of Loan Guaranty Programs

For a quick reference of the SBA's loan guaranty programs, please click here.