Whether you've got a great idea for a business, are struggling to get your business off the ground or have an established firm in need of a turnaround, the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (IESBDC) can be valuable resource that will not cost you a thing.
IESBDC offers training and counseling services to small-business owners and would-be entrepreneurs.
One-on-one consulting is free, and training programs on issues such as business plans, taxes, marketing, regulatory compliance and even international trade are offered either free or at low cost.
Laurčn Thompson, founder & owner of Source Studio in Riverside is a student, an Instructor, and is now a business owner, but "none of these titles are me", she said. Before she became an entrepreneur she was an entrepreneur; always restless with the norm and seeking more experiences, be them "good" or "bad."
"It is not as if I woke up one day and said I want to own a business." Laurčn said. She hasn't even accepted that she is a business owner yet and is still introducing herself as a Yoga Instructor at Source Studio! "I try to stay separate from the business to let it develop into its own entity (some advice an old friend gave me)", said Laurčn.
Louisa joined the Inland Empire Small Business Development team in November 2001. Since joining the organization she has assisted 2,200 clients, helping 63 
Kristen Gerke makes sure this newsletter is current and alive with content for Inland Empire Small Business Development Center and its readers. She also, as part of her duties as Administrative Assistant in the High Desert office, processes training files, updates client records and keeps the calendar for business consulting sessions. Kristen joined the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center in 2007 after a decade of customer service and customer relations experience and 3 years of event planning experience. 
