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Client Onboarding Process

1. Application is reviewed by staff
   • After submitting your application, the registration information is routed to the San Diego and Imperial SBDC Lead Center for review.
2. Receive a client intake request meeting email
   • Once your application is reviewed, you will receive an email requesting a 30 minute client intake meeting.
3. Client intake meeting with the San Diego and Imperial SBDC staff
   • This is an introduction meeting to the San Diego and Imperial SBDC network services and resources. They will verify company information and route you to the best SBDC network suited for your industry and needs.
4. Introduction to your SBDC center
   • You will receive an email introduction to your assigned SBDC network. You will be contacted by them. If your center is the Brink SBDC, a meeting will be scheduled to see how we can best fit your needs.
5. Introduction to your Brink SBDC advisor and or resources
   • Based on your business status and needs, we will either assign an advisor to you or give you resources to help your business.

Consulting Meetings

1. The consultant meets with the client to go over the client's goals.
2. The consultant meets with the client to go over the clients' goals.
3. The client and the consultant develop a Scope of Work (SoW) that moves the client toward his/her goal.
4. The consultant shares resources, their network, and uses a variety of tools and strategies to help the client achieve the SoW project.
   • The consultant does not do the work for the client. The consultant's role is to help the client learn and apply what they learn, which may include a variety of practical tools, tips, strategies, and other resources.
5. At the end of the SoW, the client and consultant assess the accomplishment(s) and decide whether to start a new SoW.

What is Asked From the Clients

1. Clients are asked to report milestones they achieve.
   • Examples include new business starts, increase in jobs, capital infusion, and to share how the SBDC's consultant's and other SBDC resources were helpful in attaining those milestones.
2. Clients are also asked for permission to share their successes.
   • On occasion, the Brink will ask for permission to share their successes. No information about the business will be shared unless the client first signs a publicity release waiver.

The Brink is part of the Small Business Development Center system; a national program that serves small businesses (for profit enterprises with fewer than 500 employees). The Brink SBDC is a specialty center focused on innovation, one of only a handful of its kind in the country. The SBDC is a partnership with the University of San Diego and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Brink SBDC at USD provides world-class training and one-to-one consulting to business clients running or starting growth-oriented, innovation-based companies, resulting in economic growth and prosperity for the region while attaining the penta-bottom line (profit, people, planet, peace, prosperity).