5 Tips for Using Colleges and Universities to Help Your Business

1. Volunteer your company to be a business school case study. You'll learn much about your company in the process and get good ideas for the future.

2. Obtain management and technical assistance from one of more than 50 Small Business Development Centers. Check the U.S. Small Business Administration web site at www.sba.gov for locations.

3. Participate in special programs. Many colleges and universities sponsor venture capital forums, entrepreneurship centers and family business programs.

4. Work with the business school to offer internships to graduate students.

5. Find out what expertise is on a business school's staff. You may find just the right person to hire as a consultant or serve on your board.