What is the Business Clinic?
The Baldwin-Wallace College Business Clinic (BC) is a community outreach program for small business owners and new business entrepreneurs. The Clinic's primary goal is to coach our clients through the development of their business plan. We also offer other services for clients which include an in depth review of their existing business plan or a feasibility study for a start-up business idea. These programs are part of the Center For Innovation and Growth at Baldwin-Wallace College.
Who works with the clients?
Student consultants, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, are fully trained in all aspects of business plan development. Students are selected based on their educational background, their work, their communication skills, and their internship experience. They team with our Executive Volunteers (EV). These executives have run small and large organizations, have a passion for helping other business owners, and for economic development in Northern Ohio. While the business owner is expected to fully develop his or her business plan, the EV and student consultant offer significant information and experience to help the business owner throughout the planning process.
What is the Business Clinic Process?
A client contacts the BC to discuss their specific business needs. Services in the Clinic are customized and personal to each business owner’s needs. Once the need has been assessed, a student consultant and EV are assigned to the client. If a complete business plan is needed, the student consultant will then set up an initial meeting with the client and EV. The client will learn specific sections of the material for the business plan in each meeting and will prepare drafts of one or more sections for the next meeting. The student consultant and EV will review what has been written and give feedback during the beginning of the next session.
For the in depth reviews of complete business plans, a one time meeting is set up. Prior to the meeting the client submits their business plan to be reviewed by a student consultant and EV. During the meeting the student consultant and EV will give detailed feedback on the business plan, focusing on the completeness and clarity of the plan.
The feasibility study is a one time meeting, in which a student consultant guides the client through the assessment of the potential for their business idea.
What happens after the business owner assembles his or her plan?
After the completion of the business plan, our Executive Volunteers will carefully review it for completeness and clarity. The client, consultant and EV will then discuss the plan and provide the client with further materials, if required, to complete the business plan. Additionally, if a client needs to prepare an oral presentation of their plan for others, B-W students and faculty can assist in a trial presentation.
What other resources are part of the Clinic?
As a client of the BC, you have full access to the Ritter Library business reference material, including printed and electronic information and databases. Some of the on-line services are subscriptions based and not publicly available. In addition, the research librarians are available to assist you. You also have the potential to connect with other EV's and faculty.
What have our clients said about the BC?
- Bruce A. Sherman, Ph.D., President, B & D Specialty Concepts, Inc.
"As an exercise physiologist with minimal business experience I found writing a business plan to be more challenging than writing a doctoral dissertation. I truly appreciated how my Business Clinic team challenged me to think out of the box and out of my comfort zone and, in the process, gave me an MBA-like business education. Now I have a far-reaching, yet focused and directed, roadmap to success for my product and my company. "Thank you “Team.” I could not have done this without your help!"
- Mr. Claude Kennard, President, Metaloy
"Working with the Business Clinic stimulated my thinking, caused me to devote the resources and time and provided me the motivation to get it done. I'm very task oriented and without the BC, I never would have devoted the time to it."
A second quote reads, " In fact, you've got us this far, so I might as well let you take us over the top! I don't know if I stated this before, but we took the initial BP and built a formal funding solicitation document around it using the funding source (names deleted for confidentiality). We plan to break escrow this month and begin building the plant within the next few months. We will raise between $(confidential). This is an exciting time for Metaloy, but it all started at BW and your Business Clinic."
- Mr. Ron Makovich, President of Makovich & Pusti Architects, Inc.
“The Baldwin-Wallace College Business Clinic provoked a new thought process, depth, and clarity of the business we had not thought about before. The Business Plan Clinic provided vision for the future, and that’s what business is all about.”
- Dr. Willie S. Williams, President, Willie S. Williams, Inc.
"The sessions allow me to focus on the specific details of the business plan and how they relate to my future business. The discussions are providing me with information that will allow me to move from my current situation to my future vision."
- Ms. Ferne Zigler, President, Ferneway Company
"The structure and content of the BC has enabled me to think more clearly about how Ferneway Company will operate and grow for the future. The access to the Ritter Library is helping both my business plan development and my clients."
- Mr. Ike Brooks, Managing Director, The PARTNERSHIP
"The value I received from the Business Clinic was in the detailed discussions held that challenged my thinking, more then just the business plan outline, format and content."
- Ms. Erin Hantek, CFO, Paragon Data Systems
"My experience with the Business Clinic was quite educational and helpful. I believe it to be an excellent resource for those embarking on a new business venture....."
What does the service cost for a business plan and how many consulting sessions are included?
There is a nominal charge for the clinic and there is no set limit on the number of sessions a business owner can have. Our experience suggests that six to eight sessions are required to complete their plans.
Who do I call for more information?
To find out how the B-W Business Clinic can put you on the path to small business success, fill out the information below or contact Professor Phil Bessler at 440-826-2083. An informal, no obligation consultation with him can determine if the Clinic is right for you.
The Baldwin-Wallace College Business Clinic is part of B-W's Center For Innovation and Growth, which includes undergraduate and graduate courses and continuing education through seminar programs and other activities aimed at making your success happen.
The Business Clinic at Baldwin-Wallace College: Practical. Principled. Powerful.
275 Eastland Rd.