Students of the Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics are offering small-business consultation for North Bay firms in the spring of 2007.
Applications for the program must be received by Jan. 8.
Under the guidance of SSU faculty, business students meet with small-business owners in the North Bay to develop a scope of work and confer with proprietors on a weekly basis. Students participate in intensive real-life studies of active businesses, and take dynamic roles in shaping the future of an enterprise.
The program is open to four to six small businesses. To participate, business owners are asked to donate a $500 voluntary participation fee. These funds go towards student scholarships for the Entrepreneurial Excellence Course 4.0 scheduled for January 2007.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, the student consultants present a final analysis, including findings and proposals for future operations. These include performance audits, strategic and financial planning, market research, financial forecasting, personnel policies, and customer acquisition and retention programs.
SSU's student business consultation earned the "Small Business Consulting Case of the Year" award from the Small Business Institute Director's Association in 1996, 1998 and 2004.
Businesses that have employed this service this past year included Feed This Pet Foods, Kim Manley Herbals, the SSU Costume Shop, Rohnert Park Gymnastics, Montessori Services and The Housing Company. Other companies that have also employed SSU's business consultation services include Copperfield's Books, Mrs. Grossman's Paper Products and Oliver's Markets.
For more information, contact Armand Gilinsky, (707) 664-2709, or e-mail armand.gilinsky@sonoma.edu.
