CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Want to start your own business? We can help! CSU Bakersfield SBDC offers FREE one-on-one consulting. Our offices are located Downtown at 17th and H Street.

Our experienced team will guide you through the ins and outs of starting your business, planning, funding, marketing, and more! Our SBDC helps stimulate economic growth by helping small businesses succeed. We provide knowledge and support throughout a vast array of expertise including business planning, loan packaging, social media marketing, e-commerce, media buying, public relations, insurance, food services, intellectual property, human resources, and more.

Not sure how to start a new business? We can help. The Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield offers FREE ...
05/29/2026

Not sure how to start a new business? We can help. The Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield offers FREE one-on-one advising. Our experienced team will guide you step-by-step through the process of how to start your business, planning, funding, marketing, and more. Learn how we can help YOU today! https://csubsbdc.com/sign-up/

Want to know how to use AI to help your small business? On this week’s FREE Webinar Wednesday, learn how to use the AI a...
05/20/2026

Want to know how to use AI to help your small business? On this week’s FREE Webinar Wednesday, learn how to use the AI assistant Claude to evaluate your Google Business Profile, generate ideas for posts, make recommendations for improvements and more. Join us Wednesday, May 20 from 12-1PM. https://bit.ly/WW380-FB

“Owning a successful business takes hard work, determination, and a tolerance for risk. It also takes a sense of optimis...
05/15/2026

“Owning a successful business takes hard work, determination, and a tolerance for risk. It also takes a sense of optimism,” writes SBDC director Kelly Bearden in this Community Voices article that first published in the Opinion Section of The Bakersfield Californian newspaper on May 9, 2026. https://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community-voices/community-voices-national-small-business-week-growing-small-businesses-power-our-economy/article_980dabe8-3e07-449f-8e1d-3705471961a9.html

If you own a business, you will exit it someday — whether you plan to or not. Most small business owners have 80–90% of ...
05/14/2026

If you own a business, you will exit it someday — whether you plan to or not. Most small business owners have 80–90% of their personal wealth tied up in their business, yet most have no exit plan. That means when life forces a sale — through death, disability, divorce, distress, or disagreement — they're completely unprepared.

In our latest Webinar Wednesday blog post, SBDC Director Kelly Bearden and Certified Exit Planning Advisor Michael Balstad of Bizleavable, LLC break down the 6 steps to selling your business the right way:
✅ Prepare your business for sale
✅ Market your business confidentially
✅ Negotiate all deal points — not just price
✅ Complete due diligence on both sides
✅ Execute legal documents
✅ Transfer ownership smoothly

Plus: learn what SDE vs. EBITDA means for your business value, the Five D's of forced exit, and how an existing SBA EIDL loan could create a no-money-down purchase opportunity for a buyer.

Whether you're planning to sell in 2 years or 20, this is worth reading now.

👉 Read the full post: https://csubsbdc.com/news-or-announcement/how-to-sell-your-business-6-steps-every-owner-needs-to-know/

Our advisors can help you build your exit strategy — for free. Sign up at https://csubsbdc.com/sign-up/

Learn what the SBA has available for your small business right now — including new loan programs, manufacturing support,...
05/05/2026

Learn what the SBA has available for your small business right now — including new loan programs, manufacturing support, and resources to help you start, grow, or scale up — when Dawn Golik, District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration Fresno District, joins SBDC Director Kelly Bearden on this week's FREE Webinar Wednesday May 6 12-1 p.m. https://bit.ly/WW379-FB

SBDC director Kelly Bearden does a deep dive into six alternative funding options for small business owners who may not ...
04/28/2026

SBDC director Kelly Bearden does a deep dive into six alternative funding options for small business owners who may not qualify for traditional financing avenues on this week’s FREE Webinar Wednesday. Jim Thomsen also stops in to talk about an AI project and the Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit. Join us April 29 from 12-1 p.m. https://bit.ly/WW378-FB

Joseph Arriola, senior fiscal policy analyst for the County of Kern who is leading the county’s Opportunity Zones projec...
04/22/2026

Joseph Arriola, senior fiscal policy analyst for the County of Kern who is leading the county’s Opportunity Zones project talks about key tax incentives and benefits for private investors when he joins SBDC Director Kelly Bearden on this week’s FREE Webinar Wednesday, April 22 from 12-1 p.m. https://bit.ly/WW377-FB

Are tariffs hitting your bottom line? Worried about what rising fuel costs mean for your business?You're not alone — and...
04/16/2026

Are tariffs hitting your bottom line? Worried about what rising fuel costs mean for your business?
You're not alone — and we've got answers. 💡
In our latest blog post, SBDC Director Kelly Bearden and CSUB Economist Dr. Mark Evans break down 4 things every small business owner in Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties needs to know RIGHT NOW:
✅ You may be owed a tariff refund — but the 180-day deadline is real
✅ What rising oil prices mean for your operating costs
✅ How Central California financing trends compare to the nation
✅ Why rising inflation + rising unemployment = time to act
This is the economic briefing your business needs. Free, local, and straight to the point.
👉 Read the full post: https://csubsbdc.com/news-or-announcement/tariffs-oil-prices-your-small-business-what-you-need-to-know-right-now/
And if you want personalized help — our advisors are always free. Sign up at csubsbdc.com/sign-up/

Learn 10 ideas for growth small business owners may be missing out on in 2026 with SBDC director Kelly Bearden on this w...
03/31/2026

Learn 10 ideas for growth small business owners may be missing out on in 2026 with SBDC director Kelly Bearden on this week’s free webinar. Topics will include strategic financial management beyond "just doing the books," leveraging technology and automation, pricing power, strategic partnerships and cross-promotion, and more. Join us for Webinar Wednesday, April 1 from 12-1 p.m. https://bit.ly/WW376-FB

Tariffs. Oil prices. Economic uncertainty. What does it all mean for YOUR small business? CSUB SBDC Director Kelly Beard...
03/26/2026

Tariffs. Oil prices. Economic uncertainty. What does it all mean for YOUR small business? CSUB SBDC Director Kelly Bearden and Economist Dr. Mark Evans cut through the noise in our latest Webinar Wednesday — with a focused, data-driven briefing on what's really happening in the economy — and what small business owners can do to maximize a potential tariff refund BEFORE the 180-day deadline to file.
📊 Real data. Local relevance. Free advice.
▶️ Watch now: https://youtu.be/eJyYsL-x-Hc
💼 Need one-on-one help? Free advising is available at https://csubsbdc.com/

Address

1631 17th Street Suite 200
Bakersfield, CA
93301

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+16616542856

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