Business Development Advisors
Business Development Advisors is a privately held economic development and market intelligence consulting firm serving local, state, and federal economic development organizations, foundations, and private-sector clients with strategic planning, incentive program design, fiscal impact analysis, and competitive research, delivered through project-based consulting engagements led by founder Ellen Harpel, Ph.D.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Business Development Advisors does
Business Development Advisors (BDA) is a privately held economic development and market intelligence consulting firm founded in 1999 by Ellen Harpel, Ph.D., and headquartered in the Washington DC metropolitan area, with a secondary office in Sacramento, California. The firm serves local, state, and national economic development organizations, government agencies, foundations, and private-sector decision-makers, with a roster of 50-plus named clients including the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, US Economic Development Administration, and Business Oregon. Service lines fall into four areas: economic development consulting (strategic planning, CEDS, business development, workforce analysis, international projects), market intelligence (company profiles, industry analyses, location profiles, market entry strategies), economic research (fiscal/economic impact analyses, gig work and remote work policy research, services research), and Smart Incentives — a sister initiative that packages the firm's proprietary Smart Incentives 4x4 framework for incentive program design, management, and evaluation.
BDA's underlying technology consists of analytical methodologies, data-driven research frameworks, and economic modeling rather than proprietary software platforms; all four core offerings are delivered as human-authored consulting engagements. The firm supplements internal capacity through an established network of partner firms — EntreWorks Consulting, TIP Strategies, CREC, PFM Group, SRI International Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy, George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis, BirchGrove Consulting, The Roosevelt Group, and Chmura Economics — enabling it to staff larger multi-disciplinary engagements without commensurate headcount expansion.
The business model is classic professional services: revenue is generated through custom project-based consulting engagements, multi-year contracts, and billed research deliverables, with all pricing quote-driven and tailored to scope. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed through direct relationships with economic development leaders, professional networks, RFP-driven procurement, conference participation (IEDC, RESER), and a content marketing function centered on the BDA website, the Smart Incentives blog, and a Twitter presence. Distribution is direct (no resellers or intermediaries), with delivery spanning the United States and selected international markets in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Business Development Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Business Development Advisors
- Legal name
- Business Development Advisors LLC
- Website
- https://businessdevelopmentadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Business Development Advisors is a privately held economic development and market intelligence consulting firm serving local, state, and federal economic development organizations, foundations, and private-sector clients with strategic planning, incentive program design, fiscal impact analysis, and competitive research, delivered through project-based consulting engagements led by founder Ellen Harpel, Ph.D.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Business Development Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)
Keywords
Where Business Development Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Business Development Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Economic Development Consulting Services: BDA provides consulting services to economic development organizations, government agencies, and businesses seeking insight into growth drivers, data-driven policies, and business intelligence. Revenue is generated through professional service engagements including strategic planning, policy consulting, and research projects.
- Market Intelligence Reports: BDA creates custom confidential reports for decision-makers evaluating competitors, partners, and customers. Reports cover industries, market trends, individual companies, and locations for business development and market entry strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Business Development Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business Development Advisors (BDA) is an economic development and market intelligence consulting firm that works with economic development leaders at local, state, and national levels. The firm provides strategic planning, policy consulting, competitive intelligence, economic impact analyses, and incentive program design/evaluation services, delivered through custom professional consulting engagements.
Product overview
Business Development Advisors offers a portfolio of economic development consulting services organized around four core offerings: Economic Development Consulting Services (strategic planning, business development, workforce analysis, incentives, and international projects), Market Intelligence Services (competitive intelligence including company profiles, industry analyses, location profiles, and market entry strategies), Economic Research (policy research, fiscal and economic impact analyses, and services research), and Smart Incentives (a dedicated sub-brand focused on incentive program design, management frameworks, and evaluation). These services are delivered as consulting engagements rather than a unified software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Incentives: A sister initiative that helps communities make sound decisions throughout the economic development incentives process. Works with economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies to implement incentive programs that are both effective and responsible.
Products and services
- Economic Development Consulting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed economic development strategic plans for multiple states and counties
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Business Development Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Business Development Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Business Development Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Smart IncentivescoreSmart Incentives is a sister initiative also founded by Ellen Harpel, BDA's president. It helps communities make sound decisions throughout the economic development incentives process. Smart Incentives works with economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies to implement effective and responsible incentive programs using the Smart Incentives 4x4 framework.
- EntreWorks ConsultingminorCollaborated on multiple projects including Rapides Foundation Economic Development Initiative Evaluation and Somerset County Economic Diversification Strategy.
- TIP StrategiesminorPartnered on Montgomery County Comprehensive Economic Strategy and North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority CEDS.
- CREC (Center for Regional Economic Competiveness)minorCollaborated on US EDA Policy Academy project, El Paso incentive assessment, Arizona workforce training plan, and Pew Charitable Trusts Business Incentive Initiative.
- PFM GroupminorPartnered on Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission reports (2020-2024), New York State Tax Incentive Economic Impact analysis, and Vermont workforce incentives study.
- SRI International Center for Innovation Strategy and PolicyminorCollaborated on State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Data Science Innovation Center study.
- Center for Regional Analysis (CRA), George Mason UniversityminorLong-standing partner on fiscal and economic impact analyses including Virginia DoD Procurement Economic Impact Evaluation Model and uranium operations economic effects studies.
- BirchGrove ConsultingminorPartnered on Montgomery County Federal Government Contract Spending Analysis and Projection.
- The Roosevelt GroupminorCollaborated on Louisiana Statewide Military Economic Impact Analysis (2013).
- Chmura EconomicsminorPartnered on Virginia Department of Defense Procurement Economic Impact Evaluation Model.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Business Development Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TIP Strategies: Economic development consulting firm providing strategic planning, target industry analysis, and location advisory services to EDOs — directly overlapping with BDA's core service lines and a documented partner on Montgomery County and NJTPA projects.
- Fourth Economy: Economic and community development consulting firm providing strategic planning, market intelligence, and benchmarking — directly comparable in customer segment (EDOs, foundations) and methodology to BDA.
- Avalanche Consulting: Economic development strategy and target industry consulting firm serving EDOs and regional economic entities — directly comparable in service offerings and customer profile to BDA.
- Camoin Associates: Economic development consulting firm specializing in impact analysis, target industry studies, and strategic planning for EDOs — closely comparable in service mix, client base, and analytical methodology to BDA.
- ESI (Econsult Solutions): Economic consulting firm providing economic impact analysis, real estate market studies, and fiscal analysis to public and private clients — closely comparable to BDA's fiscal/economic impact services and government client base.
- AngelouEconomics: Economic development consultancy offering target industry analysis, workforce studies, and strategic plans to cities, regions, and states — directly comparable in scale, services, and customer segment to BDA.
- EntreWorks Consulting: Economic development and entrepreneurship consulting firm serving foundations, EDOs, and rural communities — directly comparable to BDA's strategy and program evaluation practice and a documented co-project partner.
- Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC): Nonprofit economic development research and consulting organization focused on benchmarking, incentives evaluation, and workforce analysis — directly comparable to BDA and a recurring partner on US EDA Policy Academy and Pew projects.
Broad incumbents
- McKinsey Public Sector Practice: Global management consulting firm with a public-sector and economic development practice serving state and federal agencies; broader portfolio but directly overlapping with BDA on place-based economic strategy engagements.
- Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program: Major policy research organization producing influential economic development research and policy recommendations; while not a paid consultant, it shapes the EDO agenda and competes for the same foundation and government policy advisory dollars BDA pursues.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Business Development Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceBusiness Development Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Business Development Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Business Development Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Business Development Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Business Development Advisors
What does Business Development Advisors do?
Business Development Advisors (BDA) is an economic development and market intelligence consulting firm that works with economic development leaders at local, state, and national levels. The firm provides strategic planning, policy consulting, competitive intelligence, economic impact analyses, and incentive program design/evaluation services, delivered through custom professional consulting engagements.
Is Business Development Advisors a public or private company?
Business Development Advisors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Business Development Advisors founded?
Business Development Advisors was founded in 1999. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Business Development Advisors based?
Business Development Advisors is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Business Development Advisors make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Economic Development Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are market Intelligence Reports.
Who are Business Development Advisors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TIP Strategies, Fourth Economy, Avalanche Consulting, Camoin Associates, ESI (Econsult Solutions), AngelouEconomics, EntreWorks Consulting and Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC). Broad incumbents are McKinsey Public Sector Practice and Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program.
Does Business Development Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Business Development Advisors.
What industry is Business Development Advisors in?
Business Development Advisors's product category is Economic Development Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADABAF, Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.