03 Feb WSB’s Small Business Development Center Offers Trusted, Transformational Support
The UW–Madison Small Business Development Center, led by Michelle Somes-Booher, provides free, localized support to start and grow Wisconsin businesses.
There’s nearly a thousand small business development centers across the country, but ask anyone who has worked with the one at UW–Madison, and they’ll tell you that it’s something truly special.
Located within the Wisconsin School of Business, the UW–Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no-cost consulting and dozens of noncredit courses to help businesses launch, expand, and thrive. With support from a small but mighty team of consultants and outreach specialists, small businesses can get advice on topics from financial planning to team building, and everything in between.
“It’s really the Wisconsin Idea in action,” says center director Michelle Somes-Booher. “No matter your connection to the university, we can help you. We can educate you. We can review your business plan. We can do all kinds of things for you that won’t cost you anything.”
The SBDC consults with around 500 clients a year—plus an additional 200 or so who call with one-off questions—and no two look the same.
“Every business that starts is a small business,” says Somes-Booher. “We’ve had clients in construction, software development, manufacturing, educational services, and many more industries. We like to say that we’re here to provide high-level help to get you going—then point you in the right direction for more industry-specific assistance.”