Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
For 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network has accelerated Florida’s economy by providing vital support to the state’s small business community. As the state’s premier provider of entrepreneurial and business development services, the Florida SBDC Network provides entrepreneurs with professional business consulting at no cost, management training, and information necessary to grow and succeed in a complex and competitive global environment. Florida SBDC at Pinellas County proudly serves all incorporated municipalities and unincorporated Pinellas County.


Consulting Expertise
Consultant expertise is focused on areas vital to accelerating business growth, including:
- Strategic market research
- Market expansion and revenue growth
- Business and strategic plan development
- Access to capital and loan packing assistaance
- Financial analysis and assessment
- Accounting systems and financial literacy
- Feasibility analysis and start-up assistance

Workshops & Seminars
Florida SBDC at Pinellas County offers hundreds of training events, both in-person and online, each year. These training events provide current and practical information on business topics ranging from business basics to more advanced management skills. Our training goes in depth, ensuring that business owners and entrepreneurs are fully equipped with the insights they need to manage and grow a successful business.

Specialized Services
In addition to our core service offerings of consulting, training, and information, specialized services are available to qualifying Florida businesses looking to accelerate market growth:
- Growth acceleration
- International Trade
- Export Marketing Plan
- Government Contracting
- Business Continuation

Ready to Grow & Succeed?
Get started on your path to success by scheduling an appointment today.
Consultations are available at no charge to your business.

Connect with us.
Ready to grow your business? How can we help?
Contact: Kurt Forster, Senior Manager.
News & Success Stories

Permanent Jewelry Business Finds New Home in St. Petersburg
Entrepreneur Mariel McMurrey has successfully turned her passion for handmade jewelry and sustainability into a thriving small business: Sadie + Sky Permanent Jewelry. Knowing that her expertise in creating personalized pieces of jewelry wasn’t enough to launch a successful business, McMurrey reached out to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development for business startup assistance with consultant Debra Schweikowsky. Schweikowsky helped McMurrey through business startup basics, such as setting up an Employer Identification Number (EIN), understanding quarterly sales tax, and thinking about the future of the business.

Flavorful Puerto Rican Food Truck Gets its Start in St. Petersburg
Lynette Domenech and her husband are fulfilling their dreams of owning a business, the Loco Mofongo food truck, thanks to assistance from Debra Schweikowsky, business consultant with the the Florida SBDC at USF at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED). “She has helped me with financial information, with links and resources for permitting, licenses, all of the steps that I needed to follow to create my LLC and all of the business-related paperwork,” Domenech said.

Firefighting Alert System Makes Waves Across the United States
Blake Richardson and Elezar Tonev, owners of EaseAlert, reached out to the Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) for help in strategically growing their business. PTAC procurement specialist Yolanda Goodloe provided in-depth guidance on facilitating growth through government contracting.
The FSBDCN at Pinellas County Economic Development is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Institution. For disability accommodations please contact St. Petersburg College Security at (727) 791-2560 a minimum of five days in advance.
The FSBDCN at Pinellas County Economic Development is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners; hosted by the University of West Florida; and nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.
State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.001, Fla. Stat.]

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