Small Business Development Center

CLIMB Center

Small Business Development Center

Business owner smiles while standing in the lobby of his business, with two men working behind counter in the background

Get in touch

phone 971-722-5080
envelope sbdc@pcc.edu
pencil alt Sign up for our newsletter
facebook Follow us on Facebook
book Complimentary Resources
info About the SBDC
dollar sign Registration & Payment Information

Build a Profitable and Rewarding Small Business

The Oregon Small Business Development Center at Portland Community College has helped thousands of business owners in the Portland, OR metro region over the last 35+ years. We combine one-on-one business advising with training programs taught by business experts, giving small business clients the resources they need to grow. We’ve celebrated many successes with clients at all stages of business development.

We encourage you to attend our no-cost Intro to SBDC orientation. At orientation, you will:

Identify where your business is on the small business growth curve
Discover education opportunities, advising services, and other resources available to you
Create a plan for action to guide your next steps in your business journey

Register for Orientation

River Wave Foods owner Rebecca Kawanami smiling with her tapenade product line.

Starting a New Business

Start your business on the right track, from refining your entrepreneurial idea to stabilizing your business for growth.

Celeste from women’s clothing retail store Radish Underground smiling in her shop

Managing Your Established Business

Keep your business growing by making the right decisions. Maintain your competitive edge through innovation.

Global Trade Center

Grow your business through exporting and importing.

Be prepared for the Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board exam, or the Certified Global Business Professionals exam.

Exam Prep

Get ready for the CCB and CGBP exams.

Marilyn Kember, owner at Kember’s Gluten Free, smiles while holding up two bags of her baked goods recipe mixes, one in each hand

Getting Your Recipe to Market

Turn your recipe into a commercial-ready food product.

SBDC Course Schedule

From the SBDC Blog

Advisor Spotlight: Leslie Hildula

Thu, 02 Aug 2018

Small business ownership runs in Leslie Hildula's family. Her parents and grandparents were entrepreneurs, so she's been around small business owners all of her life.

These days she is busy running the Restaurant and Retail programs for the PCC Small Business Development Center:

Here is her story. . .

SBDC - Expedite Your Business Growth Curve with an SBDC Orientation

Mon, 30 Jul 2018

Orientations offered by PCC’s Small Business Development Center (at no cost!) are a great way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help you turn your business idea into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

Business Profile: Coffee Time

Sun, 29 Jul 2018

There is little that is more "iconic Portland" than owning a coffee shop, but even with all of the competition, Susan Thomas is operating a successful business . . . with a little help from her friends at the PCC SBDC.

Business description: Coffee Shop
Business start-date: 1994 (Susan purchased the business in May 2014)

What inspired you to start your business? I’ve always enjoyed working hard and seeing a business grow and evolve. At the time I bought Coffee Time I had been managing for Starbucks and realized that as much as I enjoyed working for a great company, I would rather be putting that energy into building my own business. Coffee Time was only 2 blocks from my house and it was a shop that I had frequented for 2-3 years. I began dreaming of ways to keep its unique vibe but re-build it into something that could sustain Portland’s changing customer base. With the help of a great staff and business partner, we have been able to do that.