Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Duman Entrepreneurship Center
We know that by helping small businesses launch, expand and improve their profitability, we’re also helping them create jobs in the Chicago area. And that helps everyone. That’s why we offer support and educational training programs for all entrepreneurs, including veterans, ex-offenders and even home-based businesses.
BUSINESS PLAN WORKSHOPS/COMPETITION
The Chicago City Treasurer’s Office and the IL SBDC/Duman Entrepreneurship Center are sponsoring a business plan competition. As part of the competition, we are providing free workshops to business plan competition entrants. Workshops will provide entrants with insight and guidance from professionals who have extensive experience in writing business plans.
Additional competition information.
Additional workshop information.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Who we help
Our clients are adults in the Chicago area who are starting up a new business or expanding their existing one.
We specialize in making low cost business loans to eligible small businesses in the Chicago area that cannot access loan funds through traditional lending channels.
Eligibility requirements will apply.
How we help
We provide one-on-one business advice at no charge for existing and start-up small businesses. We offer entrepreneurial training, business assistance, mentoring and access to capital.
In these programs, you will receive an overview of what it takes to plan and start a small business. We use the award-winning Core Four® Business Training Curriculum, which includes Success Planning, Market Planning, Financial Planning and Operations Planning. You’ll also learn how to sell to customers and manage employees and your day-to-day business finances to position your business for success.
Contact us
To meet with a Duman Center advisor, click here for the Request for Consultation/Illinois Small Business Development Center form. Please fill out this form and bring to your first appointment. Please answer the questions the best you can. There are some questions which you might not know the answer to or some that are not relevant - you can leave them blank.
While there are many business plan templates available, these are the two we use most often. We encourage you to look at these and use them to guide you as you prepare your written business plan.
Click here for the Business Plan Template – Narrative
Click here for the Business Plan Template – Cash Flow
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call (312) 673-3429 or email sbdcdumancenter@jvschicago.org.
Reasonable accommondations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Call 312-673-3429 or email sbdcdumancenter@jvschicago.org for information.
Business Loan Information & Application
The Duman Entrepreneurship Center Loan Fund makes loans to businesses who can demonstrate that the loan will help grow the business. A written business plan including a cash flow (by month for a minimum of 12 months) is required. The owners must personally guarantee the loan and the owners credit history will be reviewed. To begin the process, please complete our loan application.
If you have questions about eligibility or any aspect of the loan process or need technical assistance, please call (312) 673-3429 or email sbdcdumancenter@jvschicago.org.
Funders
