The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free consulting and training to help existing and new businesses. Assists new businesses in identifying funding options and developing a business plan. Assists existing businesses with expansion plans.

The US Small Business Administration funds SBDCs for all counties in the USA. In many places they are hosted by academic institutions, but in the Northern Sierra region the SBDC is hosted by the Sierra Business Council.

Free one-on-one consulting topics include:

• ​Strategic planning
• Cash flow management
• Feasibility
• Social media
• Site selection
• Marketing
• Operations
• Human resources
• Other specialty programs for small businesses and startups in the service area