Small Business:

Development Centers Meet Counseling Needs of Most Clients

RCED-90-38BR: Published: Nov 22, 1989. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 1989.

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program, focusing on: (1) client satisfaction with centers' and subcenters' assistance; (2) program funding sources; (3) program services; (4) client characteristics; (5) staff characteristics; and (6) effectiveness of on-site program reviews.

GAO found that: (1) over two-thirds of 997 clients responding to a questionnaire about SBDC assistance were satisfied with the counseling they received; (2) dissatisfied clients reported that they were not assisted quickly or that they did not receive useful assistance; (3) federal funding for SBDC increased from $360,000 for 9 centers in 1977 to $45 million for 53 centers in 1989, with 28 of those centers reaching their maximum federal funding limit; (4) SBA is investigating the feasibility of using a multiyear grant approval process to reduce centers' annual administrative burden associated with applying for funds; (5) centers and subcenters provided a variety of services to clients, typically emphasized counseling, and coordinated their activities with other organizations and programs; (6) clients receiving SBDC counseling were most frequently male, white, and 31 to 40 years old, had some college experience or a college degree, and were in or planned to be in retail or service sectors; (7) although few clients sought assistance in obtaining government contracts, minorities constituted one-third of clients receiving such assistance; (8) centers employed an average of 20 professional and support staff, while subcenters averaged 5; (9) directors were most often male, white, and 31 to 50 years old, and had a professional or graduate degree and several years of business experience; and (10) SBA and center directors reported that on-site reviews of centers provided SBA with program data not otherwise available and encouraged a forum for the exchange of ideas.

Apr 7, 2014

Mar 28, 2014

Feb 25, 2014

Feb 13, 2014

Jan 16, 2014

Jan 6, 2014

Dec 18, 2013

Dec 11, 2013

Nov 26, 2013

Looking for more? Browse all our products here