TRANSFORMING IDEAS INTO BUSINESSES

Moore School-supported SC Small Business Development Centers guide entrepreneurs to start their own ventures

The “Great Resignation” trends happening across the U.S. during and just after the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged driven individuals to risk quitting their day jobs to pursue their true passions. This mass quitting of workers — and the subsequent labor market shortage — led to an increase in new smaller, locally owned businesses in some areas.

In South Carolina, plenty of budding entrepreneurs tried launching their own small businesses. Thankfully some of them had a robust support system through the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC).

The centers, located around the state serving all 46 South Carolina counties, assist entrepreneurs at every stage from just starting out to already established entities. Their no-fee consulting services provided by 50 staff members include: free, confidential consulting on financing, marketing, employee management, importing and exporting, technology, market expansion, bookkeeping, manufacturing, government procurement and new productdevelopment opportunities. They also offer programs for veterans and minority-owned businesses.

By The Numbers

2022

4,700 TOTAL entrepreneurs served, with underserved populations being a focus

2,455 JOBS created and retained by small businesses with SC SBDC assistance

$128.7 MILLION in capital formation obtained by small businesses with SC SBDC assistance

206 NEW BUSINESSES established with SC SBDC assistance

$61 MILLION in government contracts won with SC SBDC assistance

In The Past Decade

406 MOORE SCHOOL international business students have worked over the past 10 years on class projects as consultants for SC SBDC

85 SC SBDC clients served by IB students