About the Small Business Institute < Small Bus. Institute® < Entrepreneurship < Centers

About the Small Business Institute

Purpose

The University of Cincinnati SBI program operates a field case study program that provides no-cost counseling to area businesses.

The focus of the CoB field case study program is twofold:

To provide a meaningful learning experience for CoB students interested in small business, entrepreneurship, and corporate ventures.
To provide personalized, confidential management counseling to Greater Cincinnati businesses participating in the experience.

Outcomes

Under the guidance of Institute faculty, teams of graduate-level or senior undergraduate-level CoB students meet with business owners/managers over the 10-week academic term. During this consulting phase, students record a history of the firm, identify goals and objectives, and discuss strategies to achieve these goals. At the end of the term, the student team presents to the owner/manager a comprehensive business report or business plan, depending on which is more appropriate.

Sample field projects include assistance with:

industry and competitive analysis
preparing business plans
developing marketing strategies
training employees

Surveys of past Cincinnati business participants have measured the direct outcomes of SBI assistance:

81% of respondents made changes in their operations
43% changed planning or strategy
33% made changes in their advertising/promotion and organization of their business

Caveat

The SBI program is not:

A cure-all. There are no magic formulas to insure success. Business participants must work with the students to achieve positive results.
A source of free salespeople, stock clerks, bookkeepers, or number-crunchers. The students are advisors, consultants, and/or counselors.
A co-op program nor or an internship. Students are not placed with the participating organization on a full-time basis; the students work with the organization for one to two hours per week.
A loan collector nor a spy for the IRS. Client confidentiality is carefully observed.

To Apply

Organizations that wish to participate in the CoB field case study program must submit a Request for Counseling application.