Learning for the Life of Your Business with the Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison
The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Madison provides no-cost consulting and non-credit courses to help businesses from startup through growth. The nationwide SBDCs were established by the Small Business Administration in 1980 with legislation written by WI Senator Gaylord Nelson. We offer affordable training opportunities as you start, manage, and grow your business and no-cost small business consulting by appointment. View the Business Consulting and Classes & Training pages to learn more.
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Whether you are thinking about your business idea with First Steps to Starting a Business, brushing up your skills with Introduction to or Intermediate Financial Management, needing a sounding board when you’re stuck on an important decision, or growing your teams’ leadership skills, we have classes and consulting support across the board.
In our training courses, START classes support you during the earliest stages of starting a business, from ideation to business basics and creating a feasible business plan.
MANAGE classes help you navigate the changes that arise when you begin to operationalize your work, generally within years 1-4 of operating. These classes include topics like financial management, marketing, and human resources.
GROW classes help your aspiring and emerging leaders build practical skills to support your team. Whether you are hiring your own employees or transitioning to a leadership role in a larger organization, these classes help you build your leadership toolbox.
The SBDC at UW-Madison Helps you START, MANAGE & GROW Your Business!
Starting a New Business?
START classes focus on helping you through the earliest stages of starting a business, from early ideation to business basics and creating a feasible business plan.
Operationalizing Your Business?
MANAGE classes help you navigate the changes that arise when you begin to operationalize, generally within years 1-4 of starting. Topics include financial management, marketing, and HR.
Building Leadership?
Whether you are hiring your own team or transitioning to a leadership role, GROW classes help aspiring and emerging leaders build practical skills for success.
In 2023, our team
...worked directly with 444 consulting clients over 2,513 hours
...helped clients obtain over $11.9 million in capital
...helped 26 new businesses start
...supported 2,619 jobs in Wisconsin
...hosted 36 training events
How can we help you grow?
Success Stories
[My consultant] Amy has been amazing. [When I was building our space], she helped me get insight into the banker’s mind. I made the phone calls, but she was there as a sounding board and my cheerleader... On one phone call, I said, it’s been so hard, I literally just need to plan the next seven days, and she helped me set an achievable goal when I couldn’t see the end in sight.
- Brittany Ballweg, Dolphin Swim Academy
Partner Programs
The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in the University of Wisconsin System.
It is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.