Maricopa Small Business Development Center

What Maricopa Small Business Development Center does

Maricopa Small Business Development Center (Maricopa SBDC) is a nonprofit business advisory organization headquartered at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, operating as a regional host within the federally chartered America's SBDC network. Founded in 1980 as part of the national SBDC program, the organization provides no-cost one-on-one business counseling, at-cost training workshops, and access to business research tools for small business owners and entrepreneurs across Maricopa County. Service delivery is conducted through nine physical locations embedded at community college campuses and chamber of commerce sites in Phoenix, Chandler, Avondale, Glendale, Mesa, and Peoria, supplemented by virtual counseling via Zoom and phone.

The organization's service portfolio spans Business Advising, Business Tools & Research, Business Funding Team (including SBA loan guidance), Government Procurement via AZPTAC partnership, International Trade, and a specialized Technology Based Companies program that supports technology commercialization, SBIR/STTR proposal preparation, and early-stage capital access. Certified business analysts, many of whom are themselves former small business operators, deliver the core advising, supported by a content library that includes the business model canvas, growth wheel, advanced financial analysis tools, and the Data Assured Cyber Workbook.

Maricopa SBDC is funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges, which serves as its institutional host. The organization does not generate commercial revenue from clients; instead, it operates as a publicly funded intermediary that funnels SBA and community college resources into small business support. Reported 2019 client outcomes included $13M in sales growth, $16M in revenue growth, 75+ new businesses started, and 175+ new jobs created within Maricopa County, with national SBDC network results that year reaching 99,194 jobs created and $7B in sales growth across the U.S.

Name

Maricopa Small Business Development Center

Legal name

Maricopa Small Business Development Center

Website

https://maricopa-sbdc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maricopa Small Business Development Center is a nonprofit, SBA-funded business advisory organization in Phoenix that provides free one-on-one counseling, training, and funding access to small business owners and entrepreneurs across Maricopa County through nine community college-based locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Consulting

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Administrative and Support Services (561)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Business advisory services
• Entrepreneurship training
• Capital access support
• Trade and procurement assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. SBA Cooperative Agreement Funding: Program funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the Maricopa Community Colleges. Services are provided free of charge to small business clients.
2. Community College Partnership: Partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges provides institutional funding and operational support for SBDC services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Maricopa Small Business Development Center provides no-cost, one-on-one business counseling, training, and resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Maricopa County, Arizona. Services cover business planning, accessing capital, marketing, regulatory compliance, government procurement, international trade, and technology commercialization, delivered by certified professional business strategists through nine physical locations and virtual channels.

Product overview

The Maricopa Small Business Development Center operates as a single-site service organization providing no-cost business counseling and low-cost training to Arizona small business owners. Rather than a platform with modules, the organization offers a portfolio of distinct service lines including Business Advising, Business Tools & Research, Business Funding Team, Government Procurement, International Trade Services, and a specialized Technology Based Companies Program. These services are delivered through one-on-one counseling, group training workshops, and online resources including recorded webinars. The organization is part of the national SBDC network and the Arizona SBDC Network (AZSBDC), partially funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AERO B2B Marketplace: A business-to-business marketplace program offered through the SBDC network for Arizona businesses.

Products and services

• Business Advising/Counseling
• Business Tools & Research
• Business Funding Team
• Government Procurement
• International Trade Services
• Technology Based Companies Program
• Training & Workshops
• Grant Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• SBDC clients experience 17.7% annual sales growth, 4.5 times more than national average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative Agreement partnership with the SBA providing primary funding and national network access. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
• Maricopa Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership providing operational support and hosting SBDC offices at community college campuses throughout Maricopa County.
• GateWay Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain office location for Maricopa SBDC headquarters.
• Chandler Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership location providing SBDC services to Chandler business community.
• Chandler-Gilbert Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSun Lakes Center location providing SBDC services.
• Estrella Mountain Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthwest Skillcenter location providing SBDC services to Avondale and surrounding areas.
• Glendale Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocation providing SBDC services to Glendale business community.
• Mesa Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocation providing SBDC services to Mesa business community.
• Paradise Valley Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocation providing SBDC services to North Phoenix business community.
• South Mountain Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Entrepreneurship Center location providing SBDC services.
• City of PeoriacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCity partnership providing SBDC services to Peoria business community.
• Arizona SBDC Network (AZSBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of SBDCs that Maricopa SBDC is part of, providing coordinated small business development services across Arizona.
• AERO B2B MarketplaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAERO (Arizona Regional Economic Development) B2B Marketplace partner for small business growth ecosystem.
• AZPTAC (Arizona Procurement Technical Assistance Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZSBDC works with PTAC to provide Government Contracting Specialists that provide comprehensive services to position businesses as successful government contractors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Veteran's Business Outreach Center (VBOC): SBA-funded program providing business development services specifically to veteran entrepreneurs, including training and consulting. Comparable in funding model and mission, but narrower focus on the veteran segment.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC): SBA-funded network of centers offering business training and counseling specifically to women entrepreneurs. Comparable free-counseling model but with a narrower client segment than Maricopa SBDC.

Direct peers

• America's SBDC: National association representing all 1,000+ SBDCs across the U.S., including Maricopa SBDC. Parent-level counterpart governing network standards, data collection, and federal positioning.
• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free small business mentoring, workshops, and resources funded in partnership with the SBA. Closest direct peer to Maricopa SBDC in mission, funding model, and free service delivery to U.S. small businesses.
• SCORE Phoenix District: Local SCORE chapter offering free mentoring and workshops to Phoenix-area small businesses. Most direct in-market competitor for free small business advisory services within Maricopa County.
• Arizona Small Business Development Center Network (AZSBDC): Statewide SBDC network of which Maricopa SBDC is a member, coordinating other Arizona SBDCs to deliver the same SBA-funded counseling and training across the state. Directly comparable in programs, funding, and client base.

Regional players

• Chandler Chamber of Commerce: Local Chandler-area business organization that hosts a Maricopa SBDC office and offers its own networking, advocacy, and business-resource services to small businesses in the same geography.
• City of Peoria Economic Development Department: Municipal economic development arm in Peoria that partnered with Maricopa SBDC and offers complementary business retention, attraction, and licensing services to local small businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Resource Partners Network: Umbrella SBA program that also funds SCORE, WBCs, and VBOCs. Acts as the broader incumbent ecosystem that Maricopa SBDC operates within, with overlapping services but broader funding scope.

Others

• Maricopa Community Colleges Corporate College: Institutional parent of Maricopa SBDC and operator of the multiple community-college sites that host it. Adjacent enabling partner providing workforce training, continuing education, and small-business-targeted non-credit programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MaricopaCCSBDC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuGOIlBQasqR1l71DyxK_xA
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaricopaSBDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maricopa-sbdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Maricopa Small Business Development Center