El Centro College - Business Incubation Center (BIC)

The Business Incubation Center located at the Bill J. Priest Campus of El Centro College opened in 1990. Small companies operate in the Center, leasing office space and receiving business services for up to four years.

The Business Incubation Center is an environment that supports young companies during their first four years of business, which is the most vulnerable period of development. It is a place where you can learn how to do business while you conduct business. Our mission is to provide professional business services, management assistance and training to enhance the success of the businesses located here. We do not offer money, grants or loans, but we do offer many services.

Services

free use of parking garage
free use of conference rooms for conferences
office cleaning several times per week
free business consultants
free use of business library
free 24-7 security
pay only for use facsimile machine ($1 page sending, $.25 page receiving)
pay only for use postage meter ($15 annual fee, plus whatever USPS postage used)
pay only for use of black/white copier ($0.08 each - Tenant furnishes own copy paper)
pay only for use of color copier ($0.25 each - Tenant furnishes own copy paper)

Offices and Rates

The following general range of rates for office space is designed to provide maximum flexibility and diverse options. Space cost is based on actual square footage leased, and each room is a different size, so each room will be a different price. A one-month security deposit is required for space leased under an annual contract. Rent is pre-paid, but optional services charges are itemized on the monthly rental bill, according to usage during that month. These optional services charges are subject to change at any time.

Office

MONTHLY RENT

Most single room offices

Range from approx. $90 to approx. $150 per month

Most two room offices

Range from approx. $255 to approx. $350 per month

Most three room offices

Range from approx. $420 to approx. $520 per month

Most four or more room offices

Range from approx. $500 to approx. $970 per month

Admission Requirements

Your company must be a small business; you must submit a comprehensive business plan for the Dallas Small Business Development Center manager�s approval and the BIC manager�s approval, complete a formal admission application and attach a $25 non-refundable application fee.

The business plan, application and fee must be submitted all at the same time.

Business Counseling and Training

Counseling

Counseling is provided to each client with the appropriate level of assistance to meet his or her business needs.

Many professionals and agencies work with the North Texas Small Business Development Centers to provide specialized counseling for our clients.

Each center has a director, staff members, volunteers and part-time personnel. Qualified individuals recruited from professional and trade associations, the legal and banking community, academia, chambers of commerce and the Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE) are among those who donate their services.

Knowledgeable counselors are assigned to address a wide range of business concerns:

Management Issues
Marketing
Business Problem Solving
Loan Requirements
Business Expansion
Buying or Selling a Business
Business Start-up
International Trade
Government Contracting
Intellectual Property Protection
Environmental Regulation Compliance
Technological and Manufacturing Assistance
Many others

Clients should schedule appointments with a counselor at the appropriate center.

Training

A variety of low-cost and no-cost seminars is available year round for training on various aspects of business management.

Specialty SBDCs and your local SBDC offer a core program consisting of seminars and workshops designed to meet your needs.

The programs offered by the SBDCs include start-up, loan, business planning, taxes, marketing and financial statement workshops.

The specialty centers provide seminars on such topics as writing a government bid proposal, acquiring a patent or trademark, designing a Web page or exporting your products and services. Please see the North Texas SBDC Training Calendar and online training options for details.

Our facilitators are experts in their fields, including bank loan officers, Certified Public Accountants, Internal Revenue Service representatives, environmental compliance experts, international trade experts, attorneys, and other professionals.

Business Profiles

BIC Business Profiles - May 2012 (PDF)