SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to small businesses, making a variety of information and guidance available in easily accessible locations. The services they provide are often beyond the capacity of small businesses to purchase in the private sector. They include assisting small businesses with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering and technical problems and feasibility studies. Special SBDC programs and economic development activities include international trade assistance, technical assistance, procurement assistance, venture capital formation and rural development.

SBDCs now operate over 950 offices. There are currently 57 "lead" SBDCs, with at least one in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The lead organization coordinates program services offered to small businesses through a network of subcenters and satellite locations in each state. Subcenters are located at colleges, universities, community colleges, vocational schools, chambers of commerce and economic development corporations.

Each center has a director, staff members, volunteers and part-time personnel. Qualified individuals recruited from professional and trade associations, the legal and banking community, academia, chambers of commerce and SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) are among those who donate their services.

SBDCs also use paid consultants, consulting engineers and testing laboratories from the private sector to help clients who need specialized expertise.

Assistance is provided to both current or potential small business owners. They also provide assistance to small businesses applying for Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grants from federal agencies.

Eligibility Assistance from an SBDC is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business for the first time or improving or expanding an existing small business, who cannot afford the services of a private consultant.

The program is administered at the federal level by the SBA. Each SBDC organizational plan was approved by the state's governor. Federal funds are awarded to a state university or economic development agency—called the "lead center." Other "subcenters" are established through subcontracts with other state universities, colleges, community colleges and chambers of commerce. Federal funds are matched at the state level, and many states do even more.

All small businesses, from retail stores to high tech manufacturers, require assistance in marketing, management, finance and other basic business disciplines. The SBDC program has developed the capacity to deliver these essential services as well as services that support efforts in technology transfer, international trade, and other efforts.

The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) links each of the nation's SBDC programs into a national network. Since SBDCs are engaged in business development, not business recruitment, they cooperate in ways that other state economic development agencies do not.