Appointment Expectations
Please review the information below prior to scheduling an appointment
As an SBA and State of Illinois grant-funded organization providing no-cost services, we are required to have our new clients complete a registration process. After completing the registration form using the button under the New Clients Section below, you will receive an email from sbdc@svcc.edu with our Calendly Booking link within 1 business day to schedule your initial appointment. Please be advised that we are continuing to offer virtual appointments only at this present time for initial consultations.
Not-for-Profits: Please note that due to our grant agreement with the SBA and Illinois, we are only able to provide advising assistance related to for-profit ventures only. Not-for-profits are encouraged to seek advising assistance from SCORE, a similar program to the SBDC geared towards non-profits.
Individuals and businesses outside of Northwest Illinois: For businesses that will be operating outside of the Northwest Illinois Region, we encourage to find the nearest SBDC to your location. Our service area for advising includes Lee County, Whiteside County, Ogle County, Carroll County, Jo Daviess County, and Stephenson County. We will transfer your client file to the closest SBDC if you are outside of our service area.
Still have some questions before registering? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
As an Illinois SBDC client, you can expect:
Advising from an experienced business analyst
Help in developing a clear plan for accomplishing your goals
Objective and constructive feedback about your progress toward your goals
Courteous and equitable treatment from all Illinois Small Business Development Center personnel
Complete confidentiality regarding every aspect of the information we discuss with you
Follow-up contact from SBDC personnel regarding your business’s economic impact.
As an Illinois SBDC client, we expect you to:
Communicate honestly and directly about all aspects of your business
Be respectful and positive with your advisor
Follow through on the work you and your business analyst agree is necessary to accomplish your goals
Be open-minded about alternatives your business analyst suggests
Provide a minimum of 24 hours notice if you are unable to keep any appointments with SBDC personnel. Due to the increasing demand for our services and personnel limitations, clients that frequently no-show or cancel appointments may not be offered an opportunity to reschedule and will be determined at the advisor(s) discretion.
Assist us in the future by providing honest feedback about the quality of service you received from us, by responding to periodic surveys
Respond to requests for information from SBDC personnel regarding your business’s economic impact
Book Appointment
Due to the high demand for our services, we typically schedule meetings approximately 1 to 2 weeks out.
New Clients
**Check your email inbox or spam folder approximately 1 business day after completing your initial registration.**
In order to request an appointment, please register for a new account on our eCenter page and complete your client registration form by clicking the button at the bottom of this section. The link that opens will ask you general information about you, personal contact information, your business (if applicable), and what types of services that you are seeking for our advising assistance. Once submitted, you will receive an email from sbdc@svcc.edu within 1 business day with an emailed link for you to schedule an appointment on our online booking platform, Calendly, at a date, time, advisor preference, and virtual meeting preference for your initial consultation. Please be sure to check your inbox and/or spam folder. If you need further scheduling assistance, the email will also contain our direct contact information.
Returning Clients
**Schedule directly with an Advisor (if you have completed your client registration recently or in the past)**
Please click our Advisor scheduling page, Calendly, using the button below to schedule a follow up meeting with an advisor. Please note you must already be registered as an Illinois SBDC Client to request a meeting on this page. If you just completed your client application, you may also use the link below to schedule your initial appointment.
If you have not registered as an Illinois SBDC client at any point in the past, it will result in the immediate cancellation of your meeting.