Helping Small Businesses At Any Stage
JESSICA HORTON | Kansas SBDC Regional Director | Washburn University
The Washburn University Small Business Development Center is Topeka’s local resource for free small business consulting services across a 12-county region. In partnership with the United States Small Business Administration and higher learning institutions throughout Kansas, the Kansas SBDC was incorporated in 1983.
It has been the SBDC’s goal for more than 40 years to provide entrepreneurs with free and confidential business advice that supports their goals. Whether we’re helping a start-up client write a business plan or an established business prepare to sell after years of family ownership, we support small businesses at any stage of operation. Experienced advisors have expertise in areas such as marketing, agritourism, continuity planning, market research, government contracts and valuation.
We like to consider ourselves the front door that connects Kansas small businesses and entrepreneurs with local, regional and statewide resources that equip them for a stronger future.
Washburn University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides consulting and resources for small businesses across a 12-county region, from Shawnee to Washington.
Business needs have changed over the last 40 years, and the SBDC has adapted training, technical assistance and network connections to align with the current business climate.
In 2024, the statewide team launched an AI intersection group to develop training policies and guidelines to safely incorporate AI software into our network as advisors, as well as identify subject thought leaders and train small businesses on potential efficiencies with new programs.
As marketing design and content development software have become more accessible for untrained graphic designers, we have educated our clients on the value of leveraging technology to create brand identities and strategies for themselves.
As boomers retire and begin selling small businesses across the nation, we’re prepared to support a new crop of entrepreneurs who enter ownership through acquisition.
There is no expiration date on the relationship between clients and the SBDC. You can come to see us as a pre-venture client, come back when you are ready to hire your first full-time employee and then follow up years later when you prepare to sell your business. As challenges and business requirements shift, we see patterns that help us advise entrepreneurs in every phase of business.
We work closely with economic development partners, entrepreneurial service organizations (ESOs), state and local government agencies and private sector partners like banks, attorneys and insurance companies to assist clients in building teams of appropriate service providers.
We aspire to guide clients through complicated issues by providing context and focused connections for streamlined support of business needs.
SBDC’s relationship with Washburn University allows for unique collaboration opportunities with students at the Brenneman School of Business. Each semester, students support local businesses with extensive research and development projects across multiple disciplines. This year we have a class of businesses students working to transform a novel idea into a consulting business that could help other organizations replicate services in an efficient way.
There are opportunities to involve the business school, law school and nursing program on campus for integrated thought leadership with various perspectives.
Washburn’s partnership and commitment to small businesses in the region extends way beyond Shawnee County, serving a 12-county region across the state.
