Duquesne University Small Business Development Center

The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers no-cost, confidential consulting services and training workshops in southwestern Pennsylvania to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with the knowledge they need to start, grow, and prosper! To learn more about the Duquesne University SBDC, visit our website at sbdc.duq.edu #duqsbdc #launchinnovatethrive #sbdc #entrepreneur #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness

So, You Want to Start a Small Business? Are you dreaming of becoming your own boss? This special event on Thursday, September 19th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will showcase how the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Western PA District Office assist entrepreneurs helping turn ideas into businesses. Madelyn Duncan of Happy Tails: Pet Hotel and Daycare and SBDC client entrepreneur, will be sharing her story with attendees and available for questions and business advice. Also, microlenders will be on hand to meet attendees in-person. SBA Lender Relations Specialist Lynn Ann Vozniak will walk participants step-by-step through the process of communicating funding needs and introduce area Microloan lenders. “SBA Microloans are a great source for small-dollar financing” said SBA Western Pa District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt. “Microlenders provide up to $50,000 in capital and even more free assistance to borrowers. That really gives people the chance to open that small business and succeed.” Register today - https://lnkd.in/ghX7UWWN Speakers: Janet Heyl, Public Affairs Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration Richard A. Longo, Director - Duquesne University Small Business Development Center Madelyn Duncan - Happy Tails: Pet Hotel and Daycare Lynn Ann Vozniak, Lender Relations Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration Micorlenders in attendance: Pursuit and Bridgeway Capital #dusbdc #sbapittsburgh #microlending

The Duquesne University School of Business Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is thrilled to introduce our new Graduate Assistants - Raina, Alicia, Jeromy, and Hossein! They're joining our mission to empower small businesses and help make it possible for us to complete the work needed to help new and small business owners in our area. Welcome aboard! To meet our full staff please visit us at: www.sbdc.duq.edu/Staff #dusbdc #ThriveWithDuqSBDC #sbdc #graduateassistants

?? NEW EPISODE ALERT ?? Episode #4 of our video podcast, Bridges to Business, featuring Alison Treaster, Chief of Staff for velo.ai, is NOW LIVE! ?? Rich Longo, director of the Duquesne University SBDC, sits down with Alison to discuss the creation of Velo.AI, early prototypes, what the team is focusing on now, working with the DUQ SBDC, and much more! To watch the full episode, visit the links below! Watch/Listen on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/etwJ88Ru Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e9kQ2gb7 #PittsburghEntrepreneurs #BusinessPodcast #VideoPodcastSeries #SmallBizSupport #PittsburghBusiness #DUQSBDC

Opening a New Restaurant with Experience and Passion - latest Success Story from a Duquesne University SBDC client In August of 2018, Sohrab Bakhshi first came to the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with a vision. Having recently moved to the United States after serving as a subcontractor for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan, where he played a pivotal role in building infrastructure in his homeland, Sohrab was ready to channel his experience and passion into a new venture... Read about the success story here - https://lnkd.in/ewuwjbev Watch a short video about his success here - https://lnkd.in/edZQgC8F #dusbdc #successstory #ricenstewco

Labor & Employment e-Alert | FTC's Non-Compete Rule Permanently Invalidated Nationwide On August 20, Judge Ada Brown of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued an Opinion permanently invalidating the Federal Trade Commission's ("FTC" or "Commission") previously enacted Rule banning non-compete agreements, concluding that the Commission did not have the authority to enact such a sweeping regulation, and that the Rule was arbitrary and capricious. That Rule was set to take effect on September 4, and is now banned nationwide. Back in April, the Federal Trade Commission voted to finalize a Rule banning nearly all non-competition agreements in private, for-profit employment outside of select industries that are exempt from the FTC's authority. The Rule declared that it would be an unfair method of competition, and therefore a violation of federal law, for those covered employers to enter into a non-compete clause, attempt to enforce a non-compete clause, or represent that a worker is subject to a non-compete clause. The only exception was for non-competes entered into with "senior executives" prior to the effective date of the rule, non-competes entered into by the seller as part of a bona fide sale of a business, and situations where a party is already seeking to enforce a non-compete clause before the effective date of the Rule. Additionally, the Rule required covered employers to provide, by the effective date of the Rule, "clear and conspicuous notice" to all workers who were subject to an existing, non-exempt non-compete clause that their non-compete clause would not be, and could not legally be, enforced against them. The legal challenge which Judge Brown considered was initially brought by an accounting firm in Texas, Ryan LLC, and was later consolidated with a separate suit filed by the United States Chamber of Commerce and other entities. In the case, the plaintiff parties requested an injunction to halt the Rule. On July 3, Judge Brown agreed to preliminarily enjoin the Rule as to only the plaintiffs in that case, suggesting that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits, and pledging to issue a final, definitive ruling on the validity of the Rule before the end of August. It was unknown at the time whether any such ruling – even if it were to invalidate the Rule permanently – would again apply only to the parties in that lawsuit or would instead apply to all covered employers nationwide. In concluding that the Rule was legally impermissible under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), Judge Brown determined that the Commission’s authority in regulating unfair competition did not permit it to enact substantive rules like this one (as opposed to procedural ones) and that the lack of a statutory penalty for violating FTC rules reinforced that conclusion. #dusbdc #non-compete #laborlaw

DID YOU KNOW? The Federal Government has grant programs to jump start YOUR BUSINESS??? Contact us today to learn more! ?? #SmallBusiness #SBA #DuqSBDC #SmallBusinessTips #VideoTips #SBAGrants #SmallBusinessSuccess

So, You Want to Start a Small Business? Are you dreaming of becoming your own boss? This special event on Thursday, September 19th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will showcase how the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Western PA District Office assist entrepreneurs helping turn ideas into businesses. Also, microlenders will be on hand to meet attendees in-person. SBA Lender Relations Specialist Lynn Ann Vozniak will walk participants step-by-step through the process of communicating funding needs and introduce area Microloan lenders. “SBA Microloans are a great source for small-dollar financing” said SBA Western Pa District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt. “Microlenders provide up to $50,000 in capital and even more free assistance to borrowers. That really gives people the chance to open that small business and succeed.” Register today - https://lnkd.in/ghX7UWWN Speakers: Janet Heyl, Public Affairs Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration Richard A. Longo, Director - Duquesne University Small Business Development Center Lynn Ann Vozniak, Lender Relations Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration Micorlenders in attendance: Pursuit and Bridgeway Capital #dusbdc #sbapittsburgh #microlending

Sarah Matta is a business consultant with Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She will be discussing the ins and outs of buying a franchise. Learn about franchise ownership, its unique benefits, and the pros and cons of franchising, including franchisor support and national marketing strategies. With over a decade of experience, Sarah will share valuable insights into franchise business models, operational efficiency, and profitability strategies. Register today for expert guidance on successful franchise ownership - https://lnkd.in/gKjTfYMj #dusbdc #franchise

?? ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)?? Episode #3 of our video podcast, Bridges to Business, featuring Lindsey Parks, owner of Canonsburg Cake Company, is NOW LIVE! ?? Rich Longo, director of the Duquesne University SBDC, sits down with Lindsey to discuss the creation of her company, finding a brick & mortar location, business expansion, working with the DUQ SBDC, and much more! To watch the full episode, visit the links below! Watch/Listen on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/etr-qKVy Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTND3cUB #PittsburghEntrepreneurs #BusinessPodcast #VideoPodcastSeries #SmallBizSupport #PittsburghBusiness #DUQSBDC