What it is

Mason Small Business Development Center (Mason SBDC) is a regional center of the Virginia SBDC Network, hosted through George Mason University's Mason Enterprise and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The FAQ lists sponsors including the SBA, George Mason University, Prince William County's Department of Economic Development and the Manassas City Economic Development Authority. The center reports advising 1,387 businesses in 2025, with $48.2 million in capital formation, 416 jobs created and 70 businesses started.

What it offers founders

One-on-one counseling covers six areas:

  • Business plan: legal entities, revenue projections, cost budgeting and structure.
  • Business strategy: lean principles, business model development, competitive analysis and growth planning.
  • Financing: funding resources, capital strategy, bank presentation review and investor pitch preparation.
  • Government contracting: fundamentals, capability statement review, SBA set-asides and state and local procurement.
  • Marketing and sales: digital marketing, SEO, branding, pricing, sales pipelines and e-commerce.

The center also runs workshops and webinars, mostly live online sessions of about two hours on topics such as starting a business, financing, pitch preparation, AI and cybersecurity, and SEO. An external funding page lists loan and grant sources.

Who it is for

Counseling is limited to businesses in the Mason SBDC region: Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William counties, the cities of Fairfax and Manassas, and the Town of Herndon. Founders elsewhere in Virginia are directed to their local SBDC. The center uses SBA size standards to define small businesses and helps nonprofits only on business-side topics.

Cost and how to engage

Counseling and workshops are free. New clients complete a one-time registration through the Virginia SBDC client portal, then book sessions by appointment on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM. Clients can book up to two appointments at least three weeks apart, with more if a counselor recommends them. The center requires 24 hours notice to cancel, and repeated no-shows can lead to a six-month scheduling suspension.

Offices are at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 180, Fairfax; at CenterFuse, 9071 Center St., Manassas; and at Office Evolution, 205 Van Buren St., Herndon. Reach the team at (703) 261-4105 or help@masonsbdc.org, or see the FAQs.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

For a Northern Virginia founder, Mason SBDC is a free first stop for planning, financing readiness and government contracting guidance. Local economic development offices in Fairfax City and Manassas refer businesses to it.