Louisiana Small Business Development Center

What Louisiana Small Business Development Center does

Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) is a non-profit, government-funded business development program founded in 1983 and headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, with operations hosted by Louisiana State University. It delivers no-cost confidential business consulting and affordable training to entrepreneurs and small business owners through a statewide network of 10 regional centers co-located with Louisiana universities and colleges (LSU Alexandria, LSU, Southern University A&M, Southeastern Louisiana, UL Lafayette, McNeese State, ULM, Xavier, Southern Shreveport, Nicholls State), covering all 64 parishes of the state.

LSBDC's core service portfolio includes one-on-one business consulting, training workshops and seminars, DIY self-service guides, and specialized advisory in business planning, finance and capital access, marketing strategy, international trade, government contracting, disaster preparedness and business continuity, and cybersecurity. The organization does not operate a unified software platform — services are human-delivered by professional business consultants supported by workshops and downloadable resources. Distribution runs through in-person regional centers, online workshop registration, phone consultations, and a statewide partnership network that channels referrals from economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and lending institutions.

LSBDC is funded through an SBA cooperative agreement (38% federal share) with the remaining 62% contributed as non-federal matching funds from Louisiana Economic Development and the participating host universities. Total disclosed FY2024 program cost is $4,835,393. Cumulative impact metrics include $261.8M in facilitated capital infusion for client businesses, $147.6M in client sales increase, 55,000 clients served, 92,000 training attendees, 3,517.5 jobs created, and 630 business starts. Leadership is anchored by State Director Bryan Greenwood (10+ years with LSBDC) and Associate State Director Heidi Melancon (30+ years in management and entrepreneurial program development), supported by a decentralized roster of regional center directors and business consultants.

Name

Louisiana Small Business Development Center

Legal name

Louisiana Small Business Development Center

Website

https://louisianasbdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LSBDC is a Louisiana statewide non-profit network providing no-cost business consulting and affordable training workshops to entrepreneurs and small business owners through 10 university-hosted regional centers covering all 64 parishes, funded primarily through an SBA cooperative agreement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Business training workshops
• Government contracting assistance
• International trade advisory
• Disaster preparedness planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Monroe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Funding (SBA Cooperative Agreement): LSBDC receives federal funding through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Federal share represents 38% of total program cost.
2. State Funding (Louisiana Economic Development): State funding from Louisiana Economic Development represents a portion of non-federal share (62% of total program cost).
3. University/College Hosting Partnerships: Services delivered through partnerships with participating universities and community colleges that provide hosting, facilities, and staff support as part of non-federal share contribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LSBDC provides no-cost confidential one-on-one business consulting and affordable training workshops to entrepreneurs and small businesses across Louisiana. Services are delivered through a network of 10 regional centers hosted at Louisiana universities and cover business planning, finance and capital access, marketing strategy, international trade, government contracting, disaster preparedness, and cybersecurity, supplemented by online DIY guides.

Product overview

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) is a service-based organization offering a portfolio of no-cost and low-cost business assistance services, not a software product. The core offerings consist of confidential one-on-one business consulting, affordable training workshops, and DIY guides. These services are delivered through a network of 10 regional centers across Louisiana, hosted at various universities. The portfolio includes specialized services for business planning, finance and capital access, marketing strategy, international trade, disaster preparedness, cybersecurity, and government contracting. LSBDC does not offer a unified software platform but rather provides human-delivered consulting services complemented by self-service DIY guides and workshop-based training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Consultation Services No-cost confidential one-on-one business consulting provided by professional LSBDC consultants to help Louisiana entrepreneurs with business planning, strategic development, financial evaluation, and growth strategies.
• Training and Workshops Affordable seminars and informative workshops covering sales and market expansion, online and traditional marketing, accounting and finance, e-commerce, business and risk management, insurance coverage, and technology topics including AI tools.
• DIY Guides Do-it-yourself guides and resources entrepreneurs can access at their own pace to learn about business development, planning, and management.
• Business Planning Services Step-by-step approach to crafting business plans with growth potential, including human resources guidance, tax management, and business development strategic planning.
• Finance and Capital Services No-cost consulting and low-cost training to help businesses locate, prepare, and obtain financing, including banking and loan assistance to become bank-ready.
• Marketing Strategy Services Innovative marketing strategies to identify new customers, increase sales, and achieve marketing success, including strategic marketing research, market analysis, and digital marketing strategies.
• International Trade Assistance Export assistance through global consultants who help navigate international trade regulations and expand into new international markets, including STEP program participation.
• Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Services Business continuity, emergency preparedness, and disaster recovery planning services to help Louisiana businesses prepare for and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
• Cybersecurity Resources Cybersecurity planning and preparation resources, including best practices and training, to help small businesses ensure cybersecurity becomes an asset rather than a liability.
• Government Contracting Assistance Assistance with government contracting opportunities, procurement processes, and business certifications including 8(a), HUBZone, and veteran-owned business certifications, plus SAM registration and DBE pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• $261.8 million in capital infusion facilitated for clients
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louisiana State University (LSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the LSBDC State Office and the LSU regional center specializing in technology commercialization through LSU's Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization. Bryan Greenwood, State Director, is affiliated with LSU.
• U.S. Commercial Service (U.S. Department of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErin Butler serves as LSBDC Advisory Board member while Regional Director at U.S. Commercial Service New Orleans, part of the International Trade Administration. Helps U.S. companies sell products and services globally.
• Louisiana APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides specialized procurement technical assistance to Louisiana businesses seeking contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies. Available as a resource for LSBDC clients.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgram helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital, and business support services. Partner providing resources for LSBDC clients.
• National Association of Small Business Development CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association that LSBDC is a member of, providing peer network, best practices, and national advocacy for SBDCs.
• The Women's Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdvances and enhances business opportunities between corporations and women-owned businesses through certification program, education, and professional growth opportunities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: National U.S. nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free small business consulting, mentoring, and low-cost workshops — directly comparable to LSBDC's one-on-one consulting and training core offerings at a national scale.
• Texas Small Business Development Center Network: The Texas SBDC is the largest state-level SBDC peer to LSBDC, operating a multi-regional university-hosted network delivering no-cost consulting and training to entrepreneurs — matching LSBDC's operating model in a neighboring state.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC) Program — SBA: SBA-funded program of centers providing business training and mentoring specifically to women entrepreneurs — directly comparable in service model (no-cost consulting + workshops) and funding structure to LSBDC, but with a narrower audience.
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Centers: Federal program operating business centers that provide consulting, contracting assistance, and capital access to minority-owned firms — similar federally subsidized service structure with comparable consulting and training offerings.

Broad incumbents

• America's Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC): National association that represents the collective U.S. SBDC network — LSBDC is itself an ASBDC member. ASBDC operates the umbrella brand, national advocacy, and shared infrastructure for state-level SBDCs like LSBDC.
• Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency that provides the cooperative-agreement funding backbone for LSBDC and comparable state SBDCs nationwide; also offers its own SCORE, Women's Business Centers, and VBOC programs that overlap with LSBDC's service portfolio.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: National tuition-free small business education and capital-access program for entrepreneurs. LSBDC lists it as an existing partner resource; the program delivers comparable cohort-based training, mentoring, and capital access across multiple states.

Regional players

• LiftFund: Texas/Southeast-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, SBA 504 loans, and microloans — listed as an LSBDC resource partner and directly comparable in mission (capital access + business development support) for small businesses across the region.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Nonprofit small business lender and training provider for underserved entrepreneurs, including in Louisiana — closely parallel to LSBDC's affordable-training and capital-access offerings.

Others

• Louisiana Economic Development (LED): State-level economic development agency that is LSBDC's primary state funding partner and Advisory Board participant; an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct peer, but materially shapes LSBDC's service territory and funding base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lsbdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/lsbdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/louisiana-small-business-development-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Louisiana Small Business Development Center