Saint Francis University

The Small Business Development Center at Saint Francis University has helped businesses in the Southern Alleghenies region start, grow and prosper for over twenty-five years. The Saint Francis University SBDC is one of 18 Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers.

Our team of professional consultants works confidentially with entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties to help their businesses maintain a competitive edge.

Whatever your challenge, an SBDC consultant is ready to meet with you, one-on-one, to help you launch your business, discuss your existing business plan, or help you develop the strategies you need to meet your goals.

Our consulting services are offered free of charge and your information is always confidential. We can offer a consultant who is uniquely qualified to help you create an effective strategy. Our consultants have expertise in:

SBDC Success Story:
Wholesome Living Marketplace, Inc.

Alicia Leydig has owned and operated a massage therapy business in Bedford for the past 10 years. During this time, she has encountered many individuals that were interested in purchasing organic food and beverage products as well as other organic items. She also was interested in organic goods and products and decided that now would be a good time to open such a store in Bedford. She owned property in Bedford Borough next door to her massage therapy business. This is where she wanted to construct a building to house the store. She decided to start working on informal market research and a business plan. Many of her massage customers as well as other individual in Bedford County were writing her letters of support for the project. She wanted to make certain that when she approached her lender for financing that she was prepared.

On May 4, 2007, the SBDC met with Ms. Leydig at the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce to discuss her idea. At this time, she had already conducted preliminary market research and had several potential customers write letters of support. The SBDC explained to Ms. Leydig what information we would need in order to assist her in completing the business plan and projected financial statements. The SBDC also explained that a market research report (WISE) could be generated on the industry that would provide specific market information as well as financial ratios. This information would be used to supplement information in the business plan and financial projections. The goal was to show the lender the owner’s business background and experience, the market for the business’s products and the ability to service the debt.

The SBDC assisted Ms. Leydig in preparing a business plan, three year projected income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flow and a detailed narrative explaining how she arrived at the projected figures. As part of our consulting with her, we suggested she also look at the option of leasing space as opposed to constructing a new building. She would be able to reduce the start up costs by more than 50% by leasing. She eventually found a suitable place to house the business that was available for lease. This benefited not only the bank, but it made Ms. Leydig feel better about incurring that amount of debt. Upon her initial presentation to the bank, they felt that it would be beneficial to contact the Progress Fund about their interest in the project.

On April 25, 2008, Ms. Leydig informed me that the financing for the project was approved.  The business is now open and has created four part-time jobs. She said the local community has been very supportive of the business.