Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center

What Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center does

The Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a federally and state-funded nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost business advisory services to small businesses in Solano and Napa counties in Northern California. The center operates under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is part of the Northern California SBDC Network headquartered at Cal Poly Humboldt's Sponsored Programs Foundation. Its core service is one-on-one confidential advising delivered by over 30 expert Business Advisors covering topics including business planning, finance, marketing, HR, government contracting, and restaurant operations, supplemented by structured training programs (NxLevel, Solano Success Accelerator, BizRx Assessment, Business Roundtables) and access-to-capital support via the Solano Biz-Grow Loan Program ($25,000-$125,000) and various grant programs including the ARPA-funded Napa Leaf Blower Rebate.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: it reaches clients through its Fairfield office, in-person and online workshops (including Spanish-language offerings), an email newsletter (SBDCIntel), organic social (Facebook, Instagram), and referral partnerships with local chambers of commerce, the Workforce Development Board of Solano County, NorCal PTAC, and Arts Council Napa Valley. The center does not operate a proprietary technology platform — service delivery is human-advisor based. Its revenue model consists entirely of government grants and cooperative agreements (SBA, California GO-Biz, California Office of the Small Business Advocate), with services provided at no cost or very low cost to SMB clients. The Solano-Napa SBDC is not equity-financed and operates as a public-purpose entity under the Northern California SBDC Network governance structure.

Name

Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center

Legal name

Northern California Small Business Development Centers

Website

https://solanonapasbdc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Solano-Napa SBDC is a nonprofit, government-funded business advisory center providing free one-on-one advising, training programs, and loan/grant access to small businesses across Solano and Napa counties in Northern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Small business advising
• Business training programs
• Entrepreneur development services
• Government contracting assistance
• Small business loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Cooperative Agreements: As a nonprofit Small Business Development Center, the Solano-Napa SBDC operates as part of the Northern California SBDC network funded through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration and grants from the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Services are provided at no cost or very low cost to small businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Solano-Napa SBDC is a nonprofit business advisory center that provides no-cost one-on-one business advising delivered by more than 30 expert Business Advisors, supplemented by online and in-person workshops, structured training programs (NxLevel and Solano Success Accelerator), a BizRx diagnostic assessment, and specialized support for restaurants and government contractors. It also administers the Solano Biz-Grow Loan Program ($25,000–$125,000 over 5 years) and operates the Napa Leaf Blower Rebate Program for qualifying City of Napa landscape businesses.

Product overview

Solano-Napa SBDC is a service organization offering a unified portfolio of no-cost and low-cost business support programs. The core offerings include expert one-on-one business advising (with over 30 advisors), structured training programs (NxLevel, Solano Success Accelerator), specialized restaurant support (NorCal Restaurant Program), and government contracting assistance through PTAC partnerships. Funding support is available through the Solano Biz-Grow Loan Program ($25,000-$125,000) and various grant programs. The organization also provides diagnostic tools like the Biz Rx Assessment for business health evaluation, and peer learning through business roundtables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expert Business Advising No-cost, confidential one-on-one business advising with more than 30 expert Business Advisors covering business growth, transitions, buying a business, finance and accounting, loans and funding, human resources, and marketing and sales. Delivered in person and virtually in English and Spanish.
• Training and Education Workshops Scheduled online and in-person workshops and events that help small business owners plan, launch, and grow their businesses, available in English and Spanish through the public workshop calendar.
• BizRx Assessment A no-cost small-business health exam used to diagnose operational issues and recommend next steps for small business owners.
• Solano Biz-Grow Loan Program Low-interest loan program offering $25,000 to $125,000 with 5-year repayment terms, available exclusively to Solano County businesses and administered in partnership with local lenders.
• NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program An 11-week entrepreneur training program in which participants develop a comprehensive business plan, used by aspiring and existing small business owners in the Solano-Napa region.
• Solano Success Accelerator A six-week accelerator program that helps business owners dive into business operations and develop growth plans, available to small businesses in the Solano-Napa region.
• NorCal Restaurant Program Specialized advising program for restaurant and food businesses within the Northern California SBDC network, supporting food-specific regulations, pivots, and access to grants and loans.
• Government Contracting Assistance (PTAC) Government contracting counseling delivered in partnership with the NorCal Procurement Technical Assistance Center (NorCal PTAC), including bid matching, training, and resources for small businesses pursuing government contracts.
• Business Roundtables Peer group sessions where business owners share challenges and best practices, providing ongoing peer learning and accountability for small businesses.
• Napa Leaf Blower Rebate Program ARPA-funded rebate program providing up to $1,000 toward the purchase of commercial-grade battery-powered leaf blowers for City of Napa landscape and gardening businesses holding a valid City of Napa business license.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 expert Business Advisors available at no cost to small business clients

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as the headquarters for the Northern California SBDC network. Administers the statewide SBDC partnership program nationally accredited by Association of America's SBDCs. Provides administrative infrastructure and grant management for the network.
• Workforce Development Board of Solano CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing employment-related services for job seekers and businesses in Solano County. Co-administers the Rebuild Solano's Small Businesses Grant program with the SBDC. Hosts the SBDC office. Co-funded the SBDC through grants and workforce programs.
• NorCal PTAC (Northern California Procurement Technical Assistance Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit program helping businesses sell products and services to government agencies. Provides one-on-one counseling, custom bid matching, training, resources, and networking opportunities in partnership with the SBDC for clients seeking government contracts.
• Arts Council Napa ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing grant support to arts and creative businesses in Napa Valley, including SBDC client Guild Napa.
• Downtown Association (Napa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business association in Napa that provided advisory support to SBDC client Napa Valley Bistro for parklet development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/solanonapasbdc
• Instagraminstagram.com/solanonapasbdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solano-napa-small-business-development-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center