Oklahoma SBDC celebrates client win during challenging year.

There’s no doubt that the past year has been challenging for the toughest of business leaders. Yet, America’s Small Business Development Centers rose to the occasion during a time of unprecedented obstacles by serving more than half a million small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Fiscal Year 2020. On March 17, the Oklahoma SBDC, along with state networks across the country, celebrated SBDC Day.

From the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the staff of the Oklahoma SBDC were on the job. Providing no-cost, personalized business consulting and webinar training, Oklahoma SBDC advisors helped Oklahoma’s small businesses — and the communities they serve — adapt and survive.

Jessica Branton, of Rattan, was gearing up to start a medical practice in February 2020. She attended an Oklahoma SBDC Entrepreneur 101 Workshop in Wilburton. After meeting business advisor, Dana Hugle, Branton signed up to get personalized business advising to help her with her startup.

Hugle helped Branton find an attorney with healthcare experience and to reformat her space to meet state requirements. Hugle also helped her explore medical software and billing procedures. She helped Branton obtain funding, hire her first employee and develop a realistic plan for her grand opening. With Hugle’s help, Branton opened MVP Medical Clinic in August. During her first week in operation, Branton was already growing faster than she anticipated.

On top of normal startup challenges, Branton faced extra obstacles due to the COVID-19 shutdown. She struggled to find suppliers and had delays in credentialing. In addition, she had to address people being nervous about going to a medical clinic during a virus outbreak. Branton said Hugle was a great resource to talk through issues and concerns, and made her feel like she wasn’t alone in her venture.

Building a successful business during the pandemic gave Branton an unstoppable outlook. “Since I started in 2020, I feel like I can push through anything,” Branton said. “I’m working to be more aggressive in outside-the-box thinking with marketing. I continue to work with my Oklahoma SBDC advisor on ways to reach people and to stay on top of trends and opportunities.

“I would tell other entrepreneurs not to give up,” Branton added. “Keep pushing through and when things don’t work out exactly the way you had planned, be patient and know that better things are ahead if you put it in God’s hands.”

If you’re an Oklahoman with an idea for a startup or an existing business that you’d like to grow, the Oklahoma SBDC can assist with confidential, high quality, no cost entrepreneurial and small business management advising in areas such as funding, marketing, business operations and more.

The Oklahoma SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, State of Oklahoma and other public partners, with Southeastern Oklahoma State University serving as the network’s headquarters. The Oklahoma SBDC has offices spread across the state of Oklahoma. For more information or to register for business advisement, visit www.OKSBDC.org.