CEL Program Profile

Small Business Initiative

Empower local businesses and gain real-world consulting experience. The Small Business Initiative (SBI) course allows you to work closely with small, local businesses that form the backbone of the St. Louis economy. Through this hands-on consulting experience, you’ll help these businesses address key challenges such as growth, marketing, and operational efficiency. As you work side by side with business owners, you’ll develop crucial skills in critical thinking, leadership, and project management, while making a meaningful impact on the local business ecosystem. This is your chance to apply classroom learning in a real-world context and contribute directly to the success of small businesses in your community.

• Focus: St. Louis Small Business Consulting
• Eligibility: Open to undergraduates
• Course Structure: You will work on a real organizational problem with an actual client as part of a student consulting team. The course focuses on supporting businesses with less than $1 million in revenue, a brick-and-mortar location, and at least 2-3 years of financial data.
• Key Skills Developed: Project framing and management, critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills.
• Team Size/Time Commitment: 4-6 person teams. Each student is expected to spend a minimum of 100-150 hours on their project during the semester. Students are evaluated based on deliverables throughout the semester, including the final written and oral report at the project’s conclusion.
• Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (14 Weeks)
• Credits: 3
• Application Based: No