The Small Business Development Center Offers Free Resources in Your Language

By Melanie Slone

What can you do today if you are thinking of starting or growing a small business?

First, you must take that leap of faith. “Many aspiring entrepreneurs wait until everything is perfect before starting,” says Daisy Alonso, a bilingual (Spanish and English) program advisor at the San Diego Small Business Development Center (SBDC). There is a fear about obtaining certain documents or establishing a legal entity, or simply not knowing where to begin. Yet, “many individuals already have the skills, the experience, and the work ethic needed to start a business,” she says.

The SBDC, hosted by the MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, connects people with business resources for free. If you prefer a language other than English, the SBDC can help you, including in Spanish.

Cheryl Brown, the SBDC Center Director, explains that it is part of a nationwide program of about 1,000 centers. “We have online service centers with over 100 advisors that can supply support in 40 different areas in more than 20 different languages,” she says. “We’re professional advisors able to provide support to the small business community at no cost.”

The SBDC can help you start a small business, get a loan, promote an invention, plan marketing, sell a product or service to the government, and much more.

Facing Your Fears

“There’s always a fear of starting a business,” says Alonso. “We have a plethora of trainings available… maybe they want to go into government contracting, or they’re seeking more of a specialty like food business, the beverage industry.”

There are no checks of whether an individual is undocumented, and all information shared is confidential. The center can also help you with your ITIN if you don’t have a Social Security number. “Our community includes different nationalities, different races. Our mission is to support our entire community and everyone within that community regardless of their status,” says Alonso.

Brown notes that the easiest way to contact the SBDC is through the website. There, individuals can click on “get an advisor,” which is in both English and Spanish. They can schedule an appointment with an intake advisor who will help get them started.

“When a small business comes to us, they are now part of an ecosystem of 100 professional advisors, as well as our resource partners. If we don’t have the support in house to help them, we’re going to connect them.” says Brown.

Alonso notes that some community members have been misinformed about government-funded programs. “Unfortunately, a lot of companies are not legitimate but will charge you $125 to get your ITIN, which should be free, or charge $1500 for your articles of incorporation.” The SBDC can protect you, she says, and provide you with all the tools and resources available.

North San Diego Small Business Development Center (SBDC)