Evaluation of Business Development Center services in terms of enterprises using the services

While SMEs are an important factor for economic development due to the support they provide to the local and national economy, it is a fact that especially small businesses are more sensitive and fragile in the face of rapidly changing economic conditions. At this very point, as a result of the efforts of organizations including KOSGEB, business development centers were established that can accommodate entrepreneurs and small businesses in order to spend these sensitive periods more undamaged and stronger. The aim of this study is to examine the services offered in business development centers and to evaluate these services in terms of entrepreneurs benefiting from the services. In addition, it is thought that this study will contribute to business development centers that continue their activities and will guide the possible business development centers to be established in different provinces. The population of the study consists of all companies operating under business development center in Turkey. The data required to evaluate the services provided within business development centers were collected by interviewing the business owners operating within business development center. Considering the budget, time and applicability constraints, the sample of the study was limited to Tarsus, Adana, Osmaniye, Sivas, Van, Tokat, Kastamonu, Erzincan, Kütahya, Bingöl, Elazığ, Gümüşhane, Karaman, Sorgun, Malatya Business Development Center companies. In this context, 132 companies were contacted and interviews were conducted with 108 companies that agreed to be interviewed. The data analyzes of this qualitative study were made using the MAXQDA qualitative data analysis program. The results of the analysis show that, in accordance with the previous studies in the literature, businesses benefit from the services within business development center and they think that these services and their activities within business development center contribute to them and the economy. Keywords: Business development center, incubation center, KOSGEB, entrepreneur, SME, business development centers services.