View All guides Resources 15 guides · updated 2026-09-30
Maryland SBDC · MIT licensed

Skill guide

Skill guides

How to use every skill in the Maryland SBDC toolkit

For: Maryland SBDC consultants and staff
Maintainer: Brandon Mason
Source: the skill’s own instructions

The rundown

Every skill, and how to actually use it

Every skill in the Maryland SBDC toolkit, one page each: what it does, what to have ready, what to say, what comes back. Open the guide before you open the skill.

Where the files are: the sbdc-toolkit repository on GitHub holds the skills; the ready-to-install plugin file is on the latest release. MIT licensed — other SBDCs are welcome to use and adapt these. They were written for Maryland SBDC practice, so check anything that touches your own CRM, programs, or reporting rules before you rely on it. Workshop kits and handouts from the AI Co-Working team are on the Resources page.

Maryland SBDC Toolkit

Business Model Canvas Helper Conversation skill
Build a Business Model Canvas block by block with a client — or read a finished one for insight, planning direction, and KPIs.
Client Follow-up & Re-engagement Conversation skill
A warm, personal email to a pre-venture client who went quiet — from whatever history is on file.
Debt Helper Conversation skill
Coach a client through negotiating and restructuring debt they already have — creditor tactics, cash-flow-driven repayment, protecting credit.
Grant Advisor Conversation skill
Advisor-to-advisor grant strategy: is this client grant-ready, which categories fit, and a verified table of live opportunities to bring back to them.
Marketing Plan Generator Conversation skill
A 2,000–3,000-word strategic marketing plan from client inputs, a Vertical IQ report, and the client's own website.
Proposal Buddy Conversation skill
A Shipley-method government proposal coach — RFP analysis, bid/no-bid, capture plan, compliance matrix, outline, writing, and review.
Service Provider Referral Engine Conversation skill
A neutral, alphabetical shortlist of attorneys, CPAs, insurers, marketers, IT or HR providers near a client — with reviews, licensing checks, and ready-to-send referral emails.
Success Story Writer Conversation skill
Turn a client win into a success story, then a press release, blog post, LinkedIn post, or legislative letter.
TAM / SAM / SOM Conversation skill
Size a client's market in three defensible layers — total, serviceable, obtainable — with the math shown.
Training Newsletter Conversation skill
Build the monthly training newsletter: Neoserra events export → one clean course table → Constant Contact template → course images on request.
Transcript to Action Plan Conversation skill
Turn a client meeting transcript into the follow-up email you post into Neoserra — Next Steps, Notes, Accomplishments, Links — plus a menu of extras and the Nexus counseling narrative.
Transcript to Meeting Notes Conversation skill
Write up a client call as your own internal file record — four fixed sections, every time.
Transcript to SOP Conversation skill
Turn a process walkthrough into a repeatable Standard Operating Procedure a new consultant could follow.
Underwriter & Capital Coach Conversation skill
Read a business plan the way an SBA underwriter would, then coach the client on fixing what a lender will flag.
Workshops Plugin with setup
Turn an old class deck or script into a click-by-click slide deck, a QR worksheet, an automatic follow-up email with each attendee's own answers, a PDF, and a run sheet.