Florida SBDC Network
The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide, publicly-funded non-profit delivering no-cost business consulting, training, and research to Florida small businesses and startups through 9 university-hosted regional offices covering all 67 counties, funded primarily by federal and state appropriations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersPensacola, Florida, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Florida SBDC Network does
The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide, state-designated non-profit small business assistance program operating as the principal provider of business assistance in Florida under Florida Statute § 288.001 and nationally accredited by the Association of America's SBDCs. Founded in 1976 and headquartered at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, the network delivers no-cost confidential consulting, affordable training, and market research to existing small businesses, startups, government contractors, exporters, manufacturers, and disaster-affected businesses across all 67 Florida counties. Services are accessed through nine regional university-hosted offices (UWF, FAMU, UNF, UCF, USF, FGCU, IRSC, FAU, FIU), an online Request for Consulting (eRFC) intake form, live workshops, webinars, on-demand videos, and the annual Small Business Success Summit. In 2025 the network served 15,439 clients and delivered 112,158 consulting hours, with reported client outcomes including $534.7M in capital secured, $711.5M in government contracts won, 18,334 jobs impacted, $3.4B+ in client sales impact, and 1,111 new businesses created.
The network's core technology consists of the Bizaster bilingual (English/Spanish) mobile disaster assistance app on iOS and Android, the proprietary State of Small Business research dashboard, the eRFC consulting intake platform, and the Turbo-Charge Any Team™ assessment methodology. Supporting products include the Export Marketing Plan service (delivered with the U.S. Commercial Service and SelectFlorida), the Manufacturing & Onshoring Resource Hub (in partnership with FloridaMakes), the Florida APEX Accelerator-aligned government contracting offering, and Mobile Assistance Center RVs deployed into disaster-affected communities. In 2025-2026 the network has emphasized manufacturing/onshoring, disaster preparedness, and international trade verticals, alongside a 50th anniversary brand campaign celebrating five decades of operation.
The business model is a publicly-funded hybrid: federal (39% SBA) and state/non-federal (61%) appropriations totaling roughly $21.4M annually underwrite free core consulting, while earned revenue comes from nominal training fees, $50-per-person Turbo-Charge assessments, $500 net-cost Export Marketing Plans, and the $350 Small Business Success Summit registration. Distribution is multi-channel: regional offices for in-person consulting, university referral pipelines, SBA/lender/economic development referral networks, and digital channels (website, social, on-demand video). Customer segments are horizontally diversified across SMBs and startups, with no client concentration risk.
Florida SBDC Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Florida SBDC Network
- Legal name
- Florida SBDC Network
- Website
- https://floridasbdc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide, publicly-funded non-profit delivering no-cost business consulting, training, and research to Florida small businesses and startups through 9 university-hosted regional offices covering all 67 counties, funded primarily by federal and state appropriations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Florida SBDC Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
Keywords
Where Florida SBDC Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pensacola, Florida
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Florida SBDC Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Federal SBA Funding: The network receives federal funding through the Small Business Development Center Program. Federal share is 39% ($8,393,834) of the total program cost of $21,448,684. The network also receives State Trade Expansion Program funding with federal share of 75% ($225,000).
- State of Florida Funding: State funding combined with non-federal share (61%) matching funds totaling $13,054,850 for the SBDC Program. State funding is provided through the Department of Commerce and other state partners.
- Training Fees: The network charges nominal fees for some training events. Live workshops, webinars, and on-demand training are provided at affordable rates. Consulting services remain free to clients.
- Export Marketing Plan Services: Export Marketing Plan service costs $5,000, with qualifying companies eligible for $4,500 scholarship and $2,500 STEP Grant, making the net cost $500 to the client.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | No-cost confidential business consulting |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Turbo-Charge Any Team Assessment - $50 per person |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Export Marketing Plan - $500 net cost |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training events with nominal fees |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Small Business Success Summit registration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Florida SBDC Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Florida SBDC Network provides no-cost, confidential business consulting, affordable training (live workshops, webinars, on-demand videos), and data-backed market research to Florida's small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Services are delivered through 9 regional offices hosted at Florida universities, covering all 67 counties and supporting business planning, financial analysis, marketing, capital access, international trade, government contracting, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness.
Product overview
The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide small business assistance program — not a single software product but a platform of interconnected services delivered through 9 regional university-hosted offices. The core offering consists of three main service lines: (1) no-cost confidential Consulting Services covering business planning, financial analysis, marketing, capital access, international trade, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness; (2) Training including live workshops, webinars, on-demand videos, and the annual Small Business Success Summit; and (3) Research providing market data and the State of Small Business Dashboard. Supporting offerings include the Export Marketing Plan service, Turbo-Charge Any Team™ assessment tool, the Bizaster disaster preparedness mobile app, and the Manufacturing & Onshoring Resource Hub. Services are accessed via an online Request for Consulting (eRFC) intake form and the regional office network covering all 67 Florida counties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Consulting Services Confidential, no-cost professional business consulting delivered by certified consultants to help emerging and growing businesses design growth strategies and make better decisions across business planning, financial analysis, marketing, capital access, international trade, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness.
- Training Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- In 2025: 15,439 clients served, 112,158 consulting hours, $534.7M capital secured, $711.5M government contracts, 18,334 jobs impacted, $3.4B+ sales increased, 1,111 new businesses created
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Florida SBDC Network
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Florida SBDC Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Florida SBDC Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- University of West Florida (UWF)coreUWF serves as the network's designated lead host institution and headquarters location. The State Office is located at UWF in Pensacola. UWF Professor Allan Cowart founded the original Resource Center for Small Business Services in 1972, which evolved into the statewide network.
- Florida A&M University (FAMU)coreFlorida SBDC at FAMU serves 8 counties in North Florida (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla). Regional Director Keith Bowers leads the team.
- University of North Florida (UNF)coreFlorida SBDC at UNF serves 19 counties in Northeast Florida. The center assists businesses with consulting, training, and research services including government contracting support.
- University of Central Florida (UCF)coreFlorida SBDC at UCF serves 8 counties in Central Florida including the Orlando metro area. The center offers Executive Roundtable and CEO XChange peer insight programs.
- University of South Florida (USF)coreFlorida SBDC at USF serves 10 counties in the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida. Known for supporting startups and tech businesses including Cope Notes and J.T.D. Enterprises.
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)coreFlorida SBDC at FGCU serves 5 counties in Southwest Florida (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee).
- Indian River State College (IRSC)coreFlorida SBDC at IRSC serves 4 counties on Florida's Treasure Coast (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie). Regional Director Tom Kindred leads the center.
- Florida Atlantic University (FAU)coreFlorida SBDC at FAU serves Palm Beach and Broward counties in Southeast Florida, the state's most populous region.
- Florida International University (FIU)coreFlorida SBDC at FIU serves Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Known for international trade expertise and government contracting support including assistance through the Florida APEX Accelerator.
- Florida APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC)coreHelps small businesses navigate government contracting. The Florida APEX Accelerator at FIU, working with SBDC consultants like Luis Batista, helps businesses obtain certifications and secure government contracts.
- Enterprise FloridamajorState's economic development organization partnered with SBDC on Export Marketing Plans. Helped J.T.D. Enterprises secure Mexican trade mission appointments through Gold Key grant.
- U.S. Commercial ServicemajorFederal trade promotion agency partnered with SBDC for Export Marketing Plan services. International Trade Specialists work with U.S. Commercial Service to provide market entry support in Mexico City and other locations.
- SelectFloridamajorFlorida's official international commerce organization partnered with SBDC for Export Marketing Plan services, providing export readiness assessments and market analysis.
- FloridaMakesmajorOfficial representative of the MEP National Network in Florida. FloridaMakes helps manufacturing companies expand market opportunities, adopt best practices, and access state-of-the-art technologies, complementing SBDC services.
- FloridaCommercemajorThe state's principal economic development agency assists the Governor in advancing Florida's economy and administers programs supporting small business development.
- CareerSource FloridaminorStatewide workforce policy and investment board connecting businesses with talent and training needed to succeed and grow.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Florida SBDC Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- America's SBDC: America's SBDC is the national association representing all U.S. SBDC networks and accrediting programs; it is the broader incumbent overseeing Florida SBDC's accreditation and federal funding framework.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal agency that funds and oversees the SBDC program (39% federal share of Florida's $21.4M budget), operates district offices providing direct advising, and runs adjacent programs like WBCs and VBOCs — a broader incumbent in the same small-business-assistance space.
Direct peers
- SCORE: SCORE is the SBA's volunteer mentor network providing free business mentoring, training, and resources to U.S. small businesses — directly comparable to Florida SBDC's confidential consulting and training model, though delivered by retired executives rather than paid consultants.
- California SBDC: The California SBDC is the statewide network of regional SBDC centers hosted at California universities, mirroring Florida's structure of university-embedded offices delivering no-cost consulting and training to in-state small businesses.
- New York SBDC: The New York SBDC is a statewide network of 22+ regional centers providing no-cost business consulting and training funded through the SBA — a near-identical operational model to the Florida SBDC Network.
- Maryland SBDC: The Maryland SBDC, hosted by the University of Maryland, is another state-level SBDC network providing no-cost consulting, training, and research services to in-state small businesses — directly comparable to the Florida SBDC Network model.
- Texas SBDC Network: The Texas SBDC is the largest state SBDC network, hosted across Texas universities, providing the same no-cost consulting, training, and capital-access services to Texas small businesses — directly comparable in scale, structure, and federal-state funding model.
Emerging players
- Women's Business Centers (WBC): WBCs are SBA-funded centers delivering business training, mentoring, and consulting tailored to women entrepreneurs — directly comparable in mission and funding model though narrower in client focus.
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): VBOCs are SBA-funded resource partners offering business training, consulting, and resource access to veteran entrepreneurs — a smaller, segment-focused parallel to the Florida SBDC's services.
Regional players
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): BDC is Canada's government-backed development finance institution providing advisory services, capital, and consulting to Canadian entrepreneurs — a regional equivalent of the U.S. SBDC program, though BDC also lends capital directly unlike the Florida SBDC.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Florida SBDC Network social profiles
Digital presenceFlorida SBDC Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Florida SBDC Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Florida SBDC Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Florida SBDC Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Florida SBDC Network 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 Florida SBDC Network
What does Florida SBDC Network do?
The Florida SBDC Network provides no-cost, confidential business consulting, affordable training (live workshops, webinars, on-demand videos), and data-backed market research to Florida's small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Services are delivered through 9 regional offices hosted at Florida universities, covering all 67 counties and supporting business planning, financial analysis, marketing, capital access, international trade, government contracting, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness.
Is Florida SBDC Network a public or private company?
Florida SBDC Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Florida SBDC Network founded?
Florida SBDC Network was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Florida SBDC Network based?
Florida SBDC Network is headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, United States, in the North America region.
How does Florida SBDC Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Federal SBA Funding is the primary driver. The others are state of Florida Funding, training Fees and export Marketing Plan Services.
Who are Florida SBDC Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are America's SBDC and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Direct peers are SCORE, California SBDC, New York SBDC, Maryland SBDC and Texas SBDC Network. Emerging players are Women's Business Centers (WBC) and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Florida SBDC Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Florida SBDC Network.
What industry is Florida SBDC Network in?
Florida SBDC Network's product category is Small Business Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.