Service List

At the Center we assist MBEs to secure financing in accordance with their needs, i.e. lines of credit, term loans, and accounts-receivable financing.

We also help MBE contractors build bonding capacity and obtain surety bonds.

The assistance may include preparing the package, identifying sources and application assistance for:

· Lines of Credit & Loans

· Lines of Credit

· Short term and long term business loans

· Loans for fixed assets (commercial real estate and equipment)

· SBA guarantee loans 7(a)

· SBA 504 loans for commercial real estate and equipment

Surety Bonds

· Surety Bond from private surety bond producers (Bid, Performance & Payment)

Accounts receivable financing

· Accounts receivable financing or Factoring

Access to Capital

At NorCal MBEC we assist MBEs to identify public and private sector sales and contracting opportunities, helping entrepreneurs to network, identify and receive notifications on upcoming contracts in the Private and Public sectors (Federal, State and Local Government).

Certifications & Schedules

We assist MBEs to identify which certification is beneficial for their company and help qualified companies apply for the following:

Federal

· SBA 8(a) - Small Business Agency

· Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) - California Unified Certification Program, Department of Transportation

· GSA Schedules

State of California

· Small Business (SB) / Disable Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) - Department of General Services

· Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) / Women Business Enterprise (WBE) - California Department of Transportation

· Minority (MBE) / Woman Owned Business (WMBE) - California Public Utility Commission, Clearinghouse

Private

· Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council

Networking and Contracting Opportunities

· We manage three mayor procurement outreach channels to communicate opportunities to Minority Owned Businesses

Procurement Assistance & Certifications

The mission of the consulting services is to help Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) owners improve the functionality of their business and take advantage of the opportunities that exist within the current market.

The process starts with a free client assessment where our experienced consultants will diagnose the condition of the client company and identify strong points, problems and areas where improvements can be made. Areas of assessment and assistance range from strategy, planning, operations, marketing and finance.

Furthermore our Contract Assistance Program can help MBE clients to locate prospective contracts that coincide with business size and services provided and capitalize on existing market opportunities. We use our connections with the public and private sectors, our reputation, and our existing clients to help new members solve service problems, network, and win both government and private contracts.

Our Financial Consultants can also help MBEs to evaluate how much and what kind of funding will be most beneficial depending on business needs and activities. We assist MBEs to find the sources of funding and with package preparation.

Management & Strategy

Our consulting services aim to improve existing business operations via assistance with:

· Organizational Management

· Strategic Definition and Planning

· Capital Expenditure Prioritization and Benchmarking

· Setting Goals

· Business Plan Benchmarking and Mid-course Alterations

 

Marketing & Access to Markets

Helping owners to grow their businesses and their bottom line.

Our consultants can help you develop a strong marketing strategy broaden your probability of success in both the private and public sector. We can help clients to:

· Understand your target market

· Understand your customers’ needs

· Customize your Business Plan

· Evaluate new markets and identify growth opportunities

· Improve sales channels and sales management processes

· Develop effective customer-segmentation, -service and -retention strategies

· Measure the profitability of different customer segments and markets, and enhance productivity

Finance  

Control your costs and use finance to control your business and plan for tomorrow

We assist you to ensure that your finances are providing the adequate back office support so that the business will be able to effectively manage its performance. We help you to reduce the costs and improve the efficiency of the finance function with assistance in

· Budgeting and forecasting

· Establish the real profit or losses contribution by line of product or services.

· Prepare cash flow forecasts

· Calculate the necessary level of funding and identify the proper financial institution.

· Preparation of a loan package

· Establishing the adequate level of control mechanisms.

Technical Assistance

Northern California Minority Business Enterprise Center