Napa Valley College Small Business Development Center will often have someone call in a panic crying “help, I think I started a business,” or “my business is out of control, what do I do?”

Believe me, this is not uncommon. Your SBDC may not have all the answers for you, but we are here as a resource for business start-up and business growth needs.

Here are a few resources we have available for you to get your business, up and running on track, or back on track:

 • Take advantage of our free and confidential counseling

Whether you have a question on licensing requirements, the most effective way to market your services, or how to develop a profit and loss statement for a loan application our NVC business advisors are available to meet with you and it won’t cost you a penny.

Recently, NVC SBDC became one of the first SBDC Centers statewide to obtain National ASBDC Business Advising Certification.

What does this mean? This means our NVC business advisors Charlie Monahan, Jerry Ann Jinnett, Carolynne Gamble, Sandy Stelter, Ray Kimball, Teri Johnson, Valerie Bible, and director Beth Pratt has passed the highest level of business advising for the SBA.

In order to pass the certification our advisors needed to demonstrate experience in business counseling in their areas; knowledge of the vision and mission of the SBDC program; understanding of the organization’s commitment to high professional standards and ethical behavior and responsibility; understanding of case management; knowledge of communication and coaching skills; and understanding of documentation requirements. Not only that, our business advisor’s want to work with you and want you to succeed.

 • Take your business to the next level (Nxlevel)

Some of our best success stories come from local business owners who have participated in the NxleveL Entrepreneurial Training Program.

Through a comprehensive 10-week, 40-hour course, NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training offers a program that helps small business owners and managers support, grow or launch their companies.

Whether experienced or new, participants develop a written business plan to improve operations, guide future growth, obtain financing or launch their start-up. This is the 10th year we have supported the Nxlevel Training Program, and we see the positive results it has had for our local businesses.

Napa will host a free NxleveL orientation, scheduled on Sept. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. at the NVC Small Business Development Center.

• Discover a new technology to enhance your business

This September we are offering several opportunities for business owners to brush up on technology. Business advisor Carolynne Gamble will be presenting a workshop, “Marketing on the Web,” on Sept. 9. The training will cover step-by-step Web strategies to maximize your marketing efforts. On Sept. 17, the Napa Chamber of Commerce Business Builders Committee presents this month’s Wake Up Your Business Wednesday Breakfast entitled “Leveraging Technology to Reach Your 3 Rs.” The morning event which starts at 7:30 am will cover how you can use the Internet to effectively research, reach and retain your customers.

To find out more about these and other SBDC services we welcome you to call 253-3210.