Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas

What Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas does

The Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas is a publicly funded business advisory program that provides no-cost consulting, training, and resources to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across nine counties in northeastern Ohio. Established in 1983 and hosted by Kent State University at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia, the SBDC operates under cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development, and is co-located within the Tolloty Technology Incubator.

The SBDC delivers its services through one-on-one advising, monthly workshops, and educational events covering topics such as business planning, financial management, marketing, and access to capital. Its team of approximately 11 credentialed advisors, led by Director Holly Bolinger (MBA, CBA), supports clients across disciplines and coordinates a network of bank partnerships and the Stark Community Foundation-managed SBDC Entrepreneurial Scholarship. Service delivery has expanded to include virtual advising and outreach across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The business model is grant-funded rather than transactional: the SBDC generates no fee revenue from clients, instead sustaining operations through federal and state cooperative agreements and host-institution support. As part of the Ohio SBDC Network, the center leverages shared statewide infrastructure while maintaining a locally rooted advisory practice tailored to the rural and small-metro economies of its nine-county service area.

Name

Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas

Legal name

Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas

Website

https://sbdcksut.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas provides free business advising, training, and capital-access support to small businesses and entrepreneurs across nine counties in northeastern Ohio, funded by the SBA and Ohio Department of Development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development / Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Small business advising
• Business coaching services
• Entrepreneur education
• Startup support programs
• Business consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Funding: The SBDC Program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and also funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development. Services are provided at no cost to clients.
2. No-fee Consulting Services: All advising and support services are provided free of charge to small business clients. This is a publicly-funded economic development program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The SBDC at Kent State Tuscarawas provides confidential, no-fee business advising and coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners across a nine-county region in northeastern Ohio. Its core deliverable is one-on-one counseling supported by specialized modules in start-up services, accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, and subject-matter expert consultations, complemented by webinars, workshops, and an online business resources portal. All services are provided free of charge as the program is funded through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development.

Product overview

The Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas offers a comprehensive suite of advisory and support services designed to assist small businesses through all stages of development. The core offering is confidential, no-fee business advising and counseling utilizing a business coaching approach. This is supported by specialized service modules covering Business Start-Up, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Marketing/Sales, along with subject-matter expert consultations in manufacturing, banking, food service, exporting, and legal matters. The organization also provides SBDC Webinars and Workshops for entrepreneur education, maintains a Business Resources network connecting clients to partner organizations, and awards the SBDC Entrepreneurial Scholarship to students at regional higher education institutions. The SBDC serves a nine-county area in Ohio (Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne) and operates from the Tolloty Technology Incubator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Advising and Counseling Services Confidential, no-fee one-on-one advising using a business coaching approach to assess situations, identify needs, find options, and pinpoint solutions for entrepreneurs at all stages of business growth, from planning through launch and expansion.
• Business Start-Up Services Assistance for pre-venture entrepreneurs with registering with the Secretary of State, business plan development, feasibility analysis, licenses and permits, government regulations, and strategic planning.
• Accounting Services Counseling and support in taxes, sales tax, auditing, QuickBooks, and bookkeeping for small business clients.
• Finance Services Financial strategy, financial analysis, buying and selling a business, and access to capital guidance for small businesses.
• Human Resources Services SHRM-certified HR counseling including workplace training, corrective action, compensation plans, wage and hour guidance, personnel forms, HR retainer program, employee handbooks, policies and procedures, workplace investigations, performance management, and job descriptions.
• Marketing and Sales Services Marketing plan development, branding, positioning, website, social media, content development, lead generation, public relations, channel identification, B2B and B2C marketing, target marketing, trademarks, and technology guidance.
• Subject-Matter Expert Consultations No-cost consultations with industry experts in manufacturing, banking, food service, exporting, legal (patents and trademarks), product development, inventory, and cost control.
• SBDC Webinars and Workshops Virtual and in-person seminars covering resources for Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, legal issues, business planning process, and funding options for new ventures, including a monthly Virtual Small Business Orientation Workshop.
• Business Resources Network Networking opportunities and connections to specialized assistance partners including the Export Assistance Network, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, APEX Accelerator, and local economic development organizations.
• SBDC Entrepreneurial Scholarship Scholarship award for students at Kent State University at Stark, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, Malone University, University of Mount Union, and Walsh University pursuing degrees in entrepreneurial and business-related studies, managed and distributed by the Stark Community Foundation.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kent State University at TuscarawascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the SBDC, providing physical location (Tolloty Technology Incubator), administrative support, and academic credibility. The SBDC is an extension of the university's community outreach mission.
• Stark County Regional Planning CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government planning organization that collaborates with the SBDC on economic development initiatives in the service area.
• Kent State University East LiverpoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnother Kent State regional campus that works with the SBDC network on regional economic development initiatives.
• Tuscarawas County CommissionersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partners who support economic development initiatives in Tuscarawas County where the SBDC is headquartered.
• Coshocton Port AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development organization for Coshocton County that collaborates with the SBDC on regional development initiatives.
• Export Assistance Network (EAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio-based network providing export assistance services. SBDC refers clients for international trade support and exports counseling.
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. SBDC connects manufacturing clients to MEP resources.
• APEX AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly PTAC - assists businesses with government contracting opportunities, bid preparation, and contract navigation. SBDC refers clients for government contracting support.
• Eugene Tolloty Technology Center IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubator located within the Regional Technology Park that provides affordable start-up locations for new businesses. SBDC is located within this facility.
• Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development of Tuscarawas County. Over 45 years of operation, led by business leaders and county officials.
• Business and Community Services at Kent State University Tuscarawas (BCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides workforce development, career training, and community education programs. Collaborates with SBDC on serving the regional business community.
• Unified BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional bank partner that provides financial services to small businesses. Supports SBDC's access to capital mission.
• Consumers National BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional community bank serving small business clients. Financial institution partner supporting SBDC's small business financing services.
• The Commercial & Savings BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity bank partner providing banking services to small businesses in the SBDC service area.
• First Commonwealth BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional banking institution serving small business customers in northeastern Ohio.
• Main Street BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity bank focused on serving small businesses and local communities.
• Park National Bank - CoshoctonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional bank serving Coshocton County and surrounding areas, supporting small business financial services.
• The First National Bank of DennisonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity bank serving Tuscarawas County and the greater region with small business banking services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): Public-private network that supports small/mid-sized U.S. manufacturers — a formal referral partner of the SBDC. Comparable as a federally-backed, no-fee advising program for small businesses, but specialized in manufacturing rather than generalist.
• Women's Business Centers (SBA Program): SBA-funded centers providing business training and counseling specifically to women entrepreneurs. Operates under the same SBA funding umbrella and serves overlapping SMB customers, though narrower in target demographic.
• Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): SBA program offering business training, counseling, and resource referrals to veteran-owned small businesses. Similar SBA-affiliated structure and free advisory model, with a narrower veteran-focused segment.

Broad incumbents

• Ohio SBDC Network: Statewide SBDC network coordinated by the Ohio Department of Development — the immediate parent and funding channel for the subject center, with sister SBDCs at other Ohio universities (e.g., Cleveland State, Youngstown State) operating the same model in adjacent territories.
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Federal agency that funds the SBDC program and offers its own advising, lending, and contracting programs. Comparable as the umbrella organization and a broader small-business support provider rather than a direct head-to-head competitor.
• America's SBDC Network: National association representing all U.S. SBDCs and the parent organization of the subject company. Provides shared branding, content, and federal coordination; comparable as the broader network of which the subject center is one node.

Direct peers

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free, confidential business mentoring and advising to small businesses and entrepreneurs — directly comparable service model (no-fee coaching), similar target customers (SMBs/pre-venture), and analogous funding structure (SBA partnership, volunteer mentors).
• APEX Accelerator: SBA-affiliated program (formerly PTAC) providing no-cost government contracting assistance to small businesses — a named referral partner of the subject SBDC. Same funding lineage, same SMB target market, and overlapping service scope around federal contracting.
• SCORE Northeast Ohio: Regional SCORE chapter serving the same northeast Ohio geography with free small-business mentoring. Closest like-for-like regional competitor for advisory hours and workshop attendees in the SBDC's nine-county service area.
• Small Business Development Center at Cleveland State University: A sister Ohio SBDC hosted at Cleveland State University serving a neighboring northeast Ohio territory. Identical operating model (university-hosted, SBA/ODOD-funded, no-fee advising), making it the closest functional peer within the same statewide network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMR4AyezNN3qAsC72iCOaDw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SBDC.KentStateTuscarawas/?ref=settings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbdc_tuscarawas
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbdc_kentstatetuscarawas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas