Frequently Asked Questions
What Does it Cost to be a TriTech Client?
It is free. Services are no charge since TriTech is funded by the Small Business
Administration (SBA) and various state and local community funds.
If it's free, what caliber of consulting will I receive?
Very high! Many of our consultants have their own, profitable consulting practice. Each consultant
is screened extensively. Each consultant has to have a qualifying background and active involvement
in the business and funding communities and show the skills and abilities to move businesses
towards profitability.
How long does it take to start with TriTech services?
After you submit an application to qualify, someone will contact you within two days to let you know
if you have been approved. Upon approval, a consultant is assigned and you will deal directly with
the consultant regarding scheduling.
How many hours of consulting can I get?
TriTech services are in high demand. To meet this demand, we allow 20 hours per client on average.
The time is usually used in one or two hour sessions throughout the course of a few months.
I want someone who understands my business; do your consultants specialize in specific industries?
TriTech Consultants understand the funding landscape. They come from a variety of backgrounds with
various experiences in the business community. Even though your consultant may not come from your
industry they do understand how to prepare you for the funding process.
Can TriTech help me with my business plan?
Our consultants will review, critique and advise you on how to improve a business plan draft, however we
do not work to develop the plan in detail. The business plan is the business owner's responsibility.
Can TriTech find investors?
TriTech cannot guarantee your business will be funded by an investor. Less than one in ten start-up companies
are funded by Angel investors each year. TriTech will make considerable efforts to help you prepare your
business to appeal to investors but more importantly to help your business grow (even if that means doing
it without investors).
Angel and Venture Capital Investing - Is Equity investing right for my business?
There are 5 types of equity investors. Friends & Family; Angel; Venture Capitalist; Corporate Venture
Capitalist; and Private Equity Funds. You need to know how much capital you need. If you want to keep
full ownership equity capital is not for you.
Business Loans - I'm interested in an SBA loan; what do I do?
Prepare your business plan and familiarize yourself with the SBA's business loan programs to see which
is a viable option. There are several programs including the 7(a) Loan Program, the Certified Development
Company or 504 Loan Program, the MicroLoan Program and the Small Business Investment Program.
You can find out more about these programs from the SBA.
For a great guide on Getting Approved, check out the latest edition of the SBA Rresource Guide
Once on the home page, click on your region. (For the California-Santa Ana region link, be sure to check out
pages 23 through 31 and the Quick Reference available on page 32.)
How do I get a business loan?
The kind of financing most entrepreneurs seek through commercial lenders is debt financing, and most banks
provide debt financing for existing and some start-up businesses. Banks vary substantially in their lending
practices. While one bank may decline your loan application, another may be willing to take a higher risk or
be interested in lending to small businesses. It is advisable to understand a bank's lending guidelines
before applying for a loan.
Small Business Administration (SBA) and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - How
does the SBA define small businesses? Does my company qualify?
The Small Business Act states that a small business is "one that is independently owned and operated and
which is not dominant in its field of operation." The law also states that in determining what constitutes
a small business, the definition will vary from industry to industry to reflect industry differences
accurately and each has specific Size Regulations. You can view these definitions and regulations at
SBA.gov
Is the SBDC the same as the SBA?
No and the services provided are vastly different. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was established
in 1953 as an independent agency of the Federal Government in order to help people get in business,
stay in business and grow. The Small Business Development Center Program receives funding from the SBA
to assist small business through no-cost business consulting and low-cost training and was started in 1980
under the Carter administration to help and grow the economy one small business at a time.
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