Free advising. Every state.
What is SBDC, and why use one with PlanMason?
Small Business Development Center. Free, federally-funded business advising in 950+ offices nationwide.
PlanMason builds the plan. Your SBDC advisor walks it through the final read.
Federally-funded business advisors. 950+ offices. Every state.
SBDC stands for Small Business Development Center. It is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, state governments, and host universities. Together, they fund and staff offices in every state, U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia.
Each office runs a team of full-time, paid business advisors. Most have backgrounds in banking, accounting, operations, or industry-specific consulting. They review business plans, coach loan applications, run financial projection sessions, and offer ongoing advising as your business grows.
The advising is free at the point of use. The cost is covered by the SBA partnership, which is why SBDC exists in the first place: lowering the entry barrier to capital so more small businesses get funded.
Free 1-on-1 advising for any stage of business.
From the first time you write down what you sell to the year you cross your first million, SBDC offices have advisors who have seen it before.
Business plan review
Advisors read your draft, flag the thin spots, and coach you on the language lenders expect to see in each section.
Loan application coaching
SBA 7(a), 504, conventional, microloans. Advisors know which products fit which businesses and which banks in your area actually approve them.
Financial projections review
Three-year proforma walked through line by line. Advisors push back on assumptions that will not survive an underwriter read.
Marketing and operations strategy
Customer acquisition costs, pricing, channel mix. Advisors with industry background help you connect the plan to the day-to-day operating model.
Existing-business growth advising
Expansion, second-location decisions, equipment purchases, capital structure. Not just for startups; SBDC serves businesses at every stage.
Direct lender relationships
Many SBDC offices have warm introductions to local SBA-preferred lenders. A referral from your advisor lands differently than a cold application.
Two reads land more deals than one.
No plan is fund-ready after one read. Not from us. Not from anyone. The numbers can be airtight and the narrative can still drift. The narrative can sing and the numbers can still hide a thin spot. A second pair of eyes catches what the first pair missed.
That second read is what SBDC advisors do for a living. They have seen thousands of plans across hundreds of industries. They know which paragraphs lenders skim and which ones they linger on. They know which projections raise eyebrows and which ones get a nod.
PlanMason builds the plan. Your SBDC advisor walks it through the final read. You walk into the bank with both behind you.
Many SBDC offices also have direct, named relationships with local SBA-preferred lenders. A plan that arrives with an SBDC referral lands on a different desk than one that arrives cold. The advising is free; the introductions are warm; the read is rigorous. There is no reason not to use it.
Free advising near you, in any state.
The official locator is run by America's SBDC, the national association. Enter your ZIP code and you will be matched to your nearest office.
americassbdc.org · opens in a new tab
What founders ask about SBDC.
Is SBDC really free?
Yes. SBDC is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration through state and university partnerships. Advising is free for founders at any stage, from idea to existing-business growth.
Do I have to use SBDC to use PlanMason?
No. PlanMason builds a complete lender-grade plan on its own. We recommend walking your plan through your SBDC advisor before submission because two reads land more deals than one, but it is not required.
Can my SBDC advisor submit my loan application for me?
No. SBDC advisors review and coach. You submit the application to the lender. Many SBDC offices have direct relationships with local SBA-preferred lenders and can refer you, but the submission and the deal are yours.
What is the difference between SBDC and SCORE?
SBDC offices have full-time professional staff funded by the SBA and state universities. SCORE is a national network of volunteer mentors, many of them retired executives. Both are valuable. SBDC tends to offer deeper financial and loan-application coaching; SCORE offers broader industry mentorship. PlanMason works with both.
How do I find my local SBDC?
Use the official America's SBDC locator at americassbdc.org. Enter your ZIP code and you will be matched to your nearest office. Every state, every U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia is covered.
Build the plan. Then walk it through.
Start the coached interview free. Generate the lender-grade packet for $49. Take it to your SBDC advisor before you submit.