SBDC AI Quick-Start

You asked for a “user’s manual for dummies.” Here it is. No coding, no GitHub knowledge needed — just copy, paste, and go. Use the Copy buttons; they put the text on your clipboard so you can paste it straight into ChatGPT or Claude.

1Install my whole toolkit — pick your tool

Claude (Claude Code or Cowork) — two pastes

/plugin marketplace add https://github.com/bwfnx/sbdc-toolkit.git

/plugin install sbdc-toolkit@maryland-sbdc

Paste the first line, wait for it to finish, then the second. If it asks, say yes.

ChatGPT — connect the GitHub repo

Settings → Connectors → GitHub → connect, and give it access to this repo:

github.com/bwfnx/SBDC-toolkit

Then in a chat, say “use the skills in my connected SBDC-toolkit repo” and name the task.

Neither works? Upload the files directly

Everything is also in the toolkit download on GitHub. Download sbdc-toolkit-main.zip (or a single .skill file) and upload it into your chat or your tool’s Skills settings.

2The only 3 words you need to know

Skill — a task you’ve taught the AI to do the same way every time. You call it by name whenever you need it (like “last 30 days” or “transcript to action plan”).

Plugin — a bundle of skills that installs together. My toolkit is a plugin.

Connector — a live data source you plug into (like the Maryland Community Compass for funding). The data stays fresh because it’s pulled live.

Rule of thumb: a skill is a task, a plugin is a bundle of tasks, a connector is a live data feed.

Before you upload anything: 2 safety switches

Do these once, today. They stop the AI from learning off your (and your clients’) data.

Claude: Settings → Privacy → turn OFF “Help improve our AI models.”

ChatGPT: Settings → Data Controls → turn OFF “Improve the model for everyone.”

And: only use your approved UMD accounts for client work. Names and costs are fine. Never upload tax returns or Social Security numbers, and never use a free account or Grok for anything client-related.

3Try these first (copy & paste)

Find funding for a client (Maryland Community Compass)

Use the Maryland Compass to find grant and funding programs for a [industry] business in [county], Maryland. Give me each program's eligibility, deadline, and how to apply.

First add the connector at claude.ai/directory/maryland-compass, then paste this.

Review a client contract (Claude — Legal plugin)

Evaluate this contract using your legal skills and give me a draft redline for my client that conforms to Maryland state law. This is business guidance, not legal advice.

Attach the document first. Needs the Legal plugin in Claude; in ChatGPT drop “using your legal skills” and it still works, just without the checklist. A redline is a marked-up copy showing suggested changes. Always send the result to a real attorney — this just gets you prepared.

See what’s trending in an industry (Claude — Last 30 Days skill)

Use the last 30 days skill to tell me what's trending right now for [topic or industry], and what it means for a small business owner.

In ChatGPT, say “search the web for the last 30 days” instead of naming the skill.

4Where to get help

The SBDC wiki: Staff Connect → Director Workgroups → AI → the SBDC wiki link at the top.
Ask the Second Brain: it answers SBDC questions the way an advisor would. Linked from the same AI page.
Stuck? Drop into an AI Co-Working Hour and the team will walk you through it.

You really can’t break anything. If a chat goes sideways, delete it and start a new one.