The Long Beach Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosted by Long Beach City College (LBCC) as part of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network. It serves small businesses and entrepreneurs across Long Beach and the Gateway Cities, delivering no-cost business advising, low-cost training, and practical support—from startups to growing operations. It’s fundamentally funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, offering non-discriminatory, confidential assistance to help businesses start, scale, and succeed.
Key Details at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Address | 4900 E. Conant Street, Building O2, Suite 108, Long Beach, CA 90808 |
| Contact | Phone: (562) 938-5100 Fax: (562) 938-5030 Email: (via LBCC directory: bpollak@lbcc.edu) |
| Website | longbeachsbdc.org |
| Hours | By appointment. (Calls and online contact encouraged.) |
| Core Services | One-on-one business advising (no cost), low-cost training workshops, startup planning, financial packaging, marketing support, growth strategies, SEO, web development, rebranding, export assistance. |
| Workshops | Free webinars and conferences on financial modeling, marketing essentials, business planning, entity selection, sales strategies, and government contracting. |
| Transit Access | Near Downtown Long Beach Station (Metro A Line) and Long Beach Transit bus network; regionally well connected. |
| Parent Organization | Long Beach City College & SBA’s LA Regional SBDC Network |
Google Maps Location
Reviews & Community Feedback
- Yelp Review Summary: Described as a “nonprofit educational service center… offers no-cost business advising and low-cost training.”
- Facebook Sentiment: High approval with 100% recommend rate across five reviews.
- Employee Insight (Glassdoor): A Long Beach-based international business consultant reports:
“Helping out Small Business with all aspects of their business—at no charge!”
These highlight strong reputation and meaningful service delivery in the community.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No-Cost, High-Value Advising: Personalized one-on-one consulting without charge, accessible to startups and growing businesses.
- Affordable, Real-World Training: Offers workshops including financial planning, marketing, sales, and digital growth—all designed to boost business competency.
- Strong Local Transit Access: Accessible via Metro A Line and Long Beach Transit buses—facilitating attendance from across the city.
- Highly Rated by Clients: Social feedback is consistently positive, with clients endorsing the support and professionalism of staff.
Cons
- Appointment-Based Access: Services are not walk-in; scheduling is mandatory, which may delay access for some.
- Limited Public Reviews: While all feedback is positive, the volume of customer reviews is small, making it harder to assess broader client satisfaction trends.
- No On-Site Co-working: Does not provide physical workspace or co-working facilities—services are advisory, workshop-based only.
Summary
The Long Beach SBDC stands out as a high-value, trusted resource for small business owners in Long Beach. With zero-cost advisory services, affordable and highly relevant training, and excellent transit accessibility, it offers tangible value to entrepreneurs. While service access requires appointment scheduling and review volume is limited, the glowing praise from existing clients and staff underscores the center’s impactful role in the community.
