USU Moab SBDC Offers No-Cost Advising, Workshops to Help Local Businesses

MOAB, Utah — Have a small business in or around Moab and need help? The Moab Small Business Development Center, located on the campus of Utah State University Moab, is encouraging local business owners and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the center’s free advising services and educational workshops.

The SBDC seeks to empower local entrepreneurs with trusted guidance, practical tools and meaningful connections that help turn ideas into sustainable, thriving businesses. The center seeks to support businesses at every stage of development and help them stay resilient and grow.

“Recently, we’ve been focused on practical support: one-on-one advising, business plan and financial projections, loan and grant readiness, marketing and online visibility, and help navigating licensing and planning steps,” said Todd Thompson, associate regional adviser for the Moab SBDC. “Everything we do is confidential, no-cost advising — so if you’re stuck on the next step, we can help you map it, find resources and move.”

The SBDC provides a wide range of services to help small business owners succeed, including comprehensive business planning, market research, financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis and financial projections. The center also hosts low-cost workshops focused on key business management topics for both established companies and startup ventures.

Events and partnerships are another important part of the SBDC’s efforts to support the regional economy. Thompson said recent events, including a collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, help connect entrepreneurs with valuable resources and industry expertise.

“Events like this directly support the SBDC’s mission to empower local entrepreneurs with trusted guidance, practical tools and meaningful connections that help turn ideas into sustainable, thriving businesses,” Thompson said. “By bringing experienced partners and subject-matter experts to our community, we help business owners better understand the resources available to them — whether they are starting a new venture or working to strengthen and scale an existing operation.”

Thompson said these events create access to timely education, funding pathways and relationship building opportunities.

Looking ahead, Thompson says the SBDC plans to expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs to connect with advisors and get practical help quickly. He promises that local businesses will see more topic-based workshops and deeper one-on-one advising around topics like funding readiness, marketing that drives sales, seasonal cash-flow planning, hiring, and long-term sustainability. He says the best time to start this advising is right now.

“The best way to get involved is simple: schedule a meeting with us early—before you’re in crisis—so we can help businesses build a plan, get their numbers in shape, and connect you to resources,” he said.

For more information on the SBDC and its workshops or to schedule an advising appointment, visit utahsbdc.org/locations/moab.

Located in the outdoor recreation paradise of Moab and boasting one of the greenest buildings on any USU campus, Utah State University Moab offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With programs such as Nursing, Elementary Education, Recreation Resource Management and Social Work, technical education in Health Professions, Automotive and Business, and degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, USU Moab offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at moab.usu.edu.