The SBDC does its best to assure clients of fair and ethical treatment in counseling.  Show below is a Statement of Ethical Conduct that every SBDC Counselor signs annually while working for the SBDC.

To mitigate the risk of potential breaches of confidentiality, SBDC Counselors provide one-on-one on-line counseling only through "secure" Web sites or e-mail communications applications which use appropriate encryption technology designed to protect the transmission of confidential information from access by unauthorized third parties.

To mitigate the risk of potential breaches of confidentiality, SBDC Counselors provide only general information from "non secure" Web sites or e-mail communications applications.

SBDC Counselors inform clients of the limitations of confidentiality and identify foreseeable situations in which confidentiality must be breached in light of the law in both the state in which the client is located and the state in which the SBDC is located.

Information transmitted over a Web site or e-mail server may not always be secure.  The SBDC Counselor will make every effort to protect the confidentiality of communications, within reason, however, the client understands there is a risk inherent in such communications.  The client agrees to waive any privilege of confidentiality with respect to any confidential information transmitted through on-line counseling that may be accessed by any third party without authorization of the client and despite the reasonable efforts of the SBDC Counselor to arrange a secure on-line environment.

SBDC Counselors maintain appropriate procedures for maintaining confidential materials in files for clients, including saving e-mail correspondence, regular back-ups of computer records, and other materials provided by the client via the computer, e-mail or Internet.   

Statement of Ethical Conduct

 In consideration of my participation as an Instructor or Counselor with the Arizona Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, I understand and agree that I will adhere to the following standards of ethical conduct: 

(1)     I will treat all client information available to me with the strictest degree of confidentiality during and after my association with the SBDC and will only use this information as it relates to my working with the SBDC.  I will not disclose any confidential client information obtained by me to third parties.

(2)     While teaching or counseling on behalf of the SBDC with any specific SBDC client, I agree not to:

a.       Solicit the private engagement of my services by the client.  I shall not solicit private business consulting/counseling engagements from any persons seeking counseling from the SBDC network during the term of my contract with the SBDC.  I shall not accept unsolicited private business consulting/counseling engagements from any persons seeking counseling from the SBDC network during the term of my contract with the SBDC unless a “Termination of SBDC Counseling Relationship” form is signed by the client and approved by the center director and state director.

b.       Recommend to the client the purchase of goods and/or services which I have an interest in or represent.  I shall not solicit or accept, or appear to solicit or accept any gift, loan, reward, equity in a business, compensation or other monetary remuneration, promise of future employment, favor or service in return for recommending any goods or services to an SBDC client.

c.       Accept fees or commissions from third parties who have supplied goods and/or services on my recommendation to the client.

d.       Accept fees, commissions or gifts from the client for my services as an SBDC counselor.  I shall not solicit or accept, or appear to solicit or accept any gift, loan, reward, equity in a business, compensation or other monetary remuneration, promise of future employment, favor or service in return for services performed for the SBDC client while under contract with the SBDC.