Small Business Blog

Yashanda Bennett first came to the Temple SBDC in February 2020.  She had started her business, Prolific Designs 3, the year prior, becoming an official LLC in 2019. What began as a small event décor company has grown into a full-service lifestyle brand.  Bennett knew she wanted to grow her small décor company and came […]

Our team gathered together with SBDCs from around the state for the PASBDC Awards Dinner in Kutztown, where our center was recognized for its hard work over the past year. We took home seven awards showcasing our dedication to helping the entrepreneurs and small businesses in our community start, grow, and prosper. The center was […]

When Nelson Warley and Ben Knepler founded True Places, a new brand of products and accessories for the modern outdoors, they anticipated a wide range of challenges involved with getting a consumer business off the ground. However, they didn’t build a global pandemic into their business plan. SBDC consultant John Ondik has helped True Places […]

Last month, Temple SBDC joined in the nationwide celebration of SBDC Day! We visited some of our partners across Philadelphia, Eastern Montgomery, and Lower Bucks counties to remind them of our services and introduce them to our new decentralized work plan! The pandemic has proven how important it is to be flexible, and we’re taking […]

You’ve come up with a great business idea. But now you have to talk about it. Many entrepreneurs find it challenging to explain their business in a concise and engaging way. Having a business “elevator pitch” is essential to your success. Whether you’re explaining your business to family and friends, potential partners, or investors, having […]

Tianyi Chen and Tara Kao bonded over their mutual love of boba tea. So, when a boba tea shop went up for sale in November 2020, they decided to take the plunge and purchase the shop. Woosa Bubble Tea is a Philadelphia boba tea shop serving high-quality boba tea drinks and tasty snacks. Each cup […]

Lisa is the Senior Financial Analyst for the Small Business Development Center. She handles the daily management of federally funded grants, budget tracking and reconciliations, financial reporting, and enforcing University and SBDC financial policies. Before she joined our team, she was the associate director of Graduate Student Events and Operations for the Fox Graduate Division, […]

In the fall of 2015, James Latta was sitting on the train heading into Philadelphia. He had launched The Jasmine Effect, a platform designed to make the process of transitioning overseas a safer, easier, and more cost-effective proposition, the year prior. Latta was heading to the city to take a business class at the SBDC. […]

Check out this sneak peek of the SBDC 2021 Annual Report. More to come next week!

Show love to your favorite person this Valentine’s Day and support small businesses in the process. You can get a thoughtful and quality gift right in your neighborhood. Skip the superstore and opt for something a little more personal and a lot better for your community. Here are some small business gift ideas to get […]

Mike Purcell founded All Canines, a full-service dog training and boarding business based in Roxborough, Philadelphia in 2020, after unexpected success with a small side gig occasionally walking neighborhood dogs. Purcell had no intentions of leaving his data analyst position with the Department of Defense to run a dog training business full-time. Local families and […]

John Ondik is a senior business consultant and instructor here at the Temple SBDC.  He is also the owner of the Ondik Group, a management consulting firm that has been advising businesses and government on strategy and operations since 2003. He was the former co-owner and CEO of Pathway Technologies, an engineering services firm in […]

There are 4.5 billion social media users. If your small business isn’t appearing on social, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with your customers. Social media lets you build virtual networks and communities. It allows businesses to reach customers in authentic ways. And since its users are primarily young, educated, and wealthy, […]

The New Year is right around the corner! If you’re anything like our team, you’re probably ready to say good riddance to 2021 and hello to the New Year! If you haven’t already, now’s the time to set your resolutions. If you’re a small business owner, consider setting a few business-related resolutions for 2022. These […]

Two start-ups selected for small business incubator after pitch contest among energy entrepreneurs Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced that ATP-PA, LLC and Metal Light have been selected to join The Energy Innovation Lab, a small business incubator designed to empower energy entrepreneurs whose product or service ideas […]