On a rainy October morning, Miyoko Yamakawa sits across from a pair of business counselors at the local Small Business Development Center here. She's trying to update her business plan and get advice about how to raise money for her flavored-vodka venture. Yamakawa is one of thousands of small business owners that this particular SBDC has helped since it opened in 1987. The Suffern center and about 1,000 other SBDCs nationwide help fledgling entrepreneurs with tasks such as creating business plans, finding funding sources and understanding the licensing rules for various industries.

The centers are funded by a combination of U.S. Small Business Administration funds, as well as money from states, higher-education institutions and the private sector. Each year, the SBA typically contributes more than $100 million to the program. Each state's SBDC host office is then required to get matching funds through at least 50% cash, as well as in-kind contributions, such as office space or equipment.

The more than 4,000 SBDC counselors nationwide counsel roughly a million clients each year. The advisers also help established small business owners modify their strategies when they thrive, as well as when they hit challenges. For those who discover that an entrepreneurial lifestyle isn't what they want long-term, the SBDC offers guidance on viable exit strategies.

"We help people find what they need — and it's not always money," says Tom Morley, the regional director for several centers north of New York City.

For more information, see USAToday.com