Client Rights & Responsibilities

What you can expect from us:

  1. Equality in access to services regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or disability.
  2. Professional counseling services provided at no charge.
  3. Privacy regarding information shared with the SV SBDC: No information provided by you will be used to the commercial or other advantage of any staff member, consultant, or other resource of the SV SBDC or to the advantage of any third party.
  4. Confidentiality of your client status with SV SBDC: No public use of your name, address or business identity will be made without your express prior approval. (SV SBDC is required to provide limited information with respect to your client status to the U.S. Small Business Administration.)
  5. Reasonable fee for training programs, special services, and publications.
  6. Your acceptance of management and technical assistance from SV SBDC means that you agree to waive all claims against SV SBDC and its staff or any other resources employed by or used in connection with these services.

What we expect from you:

  1. Prepare for meetings by completing requested forms, bringing materials that will assist the counselors in serving your needs, and providing requested financial and business data.
  2. Submit a Request for Counseling and Pre-Counseling Questionnaire prior to your first appointment.
  3. Punctual attendance to all scheduled appointments, or give 24 hour notice if you need to cancel or reschedule.
  4. Complete periodic session evaluations and an annual Economic Impact Assessment.

SV SBDC Pre-Counseling Questionnaire

The following information will enable us to serve you more effectively and comply with the terms of our funding agencies. Please answer all questions; use as much room as needed. The more complete your answers, the better we can assist you. All SBDC client information is always held in strict confidence.

Name: / Date of Appointment:
Phone Number: / Email:
  1. Describe your business or business idea (i.e., major products/services sold or to be sold).
  1. Who are/will be your customers? (i.e., age, gender, income, etc).
  1. Who are/will be your competitors? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
  1. How is/will your business be better than you competition?
  1. What experience or skills do you have related to your existing or planned business?
  1. The SBDC can provide counseling in a variety of areas. In order for the counselor to best be prepared for your appointment, identify your top concern to discuss at the first appointment. (Other areas may be addressed in the future.)

Start-Up/Business Acquisition

(Business Planning, Financial Planning, Sources of Capital, Home-Based Business, Franchising, Legal Assistance, Licensing and Registration, etc.)

Accounting

(Taxes, Record Keeping, Job Costing Systems, Invoices Accounts Payable, etc.)

Finance

(Cash Flow Projections, Financial Statement Analysis,Business Valuation, Business Expansion, etc.)

Marketing and Sales

(Marketing Plan, Market Analysis/Feasibility Study, Advertising and Promotion, Pricing Strategy, Site Location, etc.)

Operations Management

(Inventory Management, Quality Management, Purchasing, Logistics and Transportation, Facilities Management, Distribution, etc.)

Human Resources Management

(Recruitment, Training, Compensation, Legal Guidelines, Employee Manuals/Procedures, Worker Safety, etc.)

Other(Please specify)

For Start-Up Businesses:

  1. Date you attended Start Smart:
  1. Why have you decided to go into business?
  1. If you need help financing the business, what is your estimate of the amount needed?
  1. What equity/assets/collateral can you commit to the start-up of the business?

Thank you.

Please mail or send this document as an attachment, along with your Request for Counseling Form, to the SV SBDC office: MSC 5502, Harrisonburg VA 22807 or .

Pleasealso attach relevant documents that will help us serve your needs. These might include financial statements (actual or pro-forma), completed or draft business plans, resumes of yourself and partners/officers, previous studies of your business or venture, literature, diagrams, photos, etc.

Contact your Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center office at or
540-568-3227 if you have any questions.