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Business Resources

Classes, workshops, grants, low-cost loans and other resources to help your business start up, grow and thrive in Vancouver. To request this information or any documents noted below in a different format or language, please contact Julie Arenz, Small Business Project Manager, 360-487-7940, julie.arenz@cityofvancouver.us.

Business Funding Opportunities
Free personalized business advising. Drop in for a free and confidential one-hour appointment with a certified business advisor. Email your preferred time slot and date to jerry.petrick@wsdbc.org - Times include Mon. Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon; Mon. Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mon. Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon; Mon. Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Local Business Workshops, Classes and Education

Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries:  Free English conversation circle at Fourth Plain Forward

Practice speaking English in a group setting, led by a native-speaking volunteer. Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost.

Practique hablar inglés en un grupo, dirigido por un voluntario nativo. Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo.

  • Every Tuesday from 5:30pm-7pm at Fourth Plain Forward, 5107 East Fourth Plain Blvd, Suite 111 in Vancouver, WA 98661
  • Learn more / Aprender mas

The Greater Vancouver Chamber: Upcoming in-person events

The Greater Vancouver Chamber is excited to announce upcoming in-person events, providing attendees with invaluable learning and networking opportunities.

Fourth Plain Forward: Business Connect in-person events

Business Connect, offered by Fourth Plain Forward, will be hosting the following in-person events at Fourth Plain Community Commons, 3101 East 4th Plain Boulevard Vancouver, WA 98661, to provide participants with the resources, coaching and advising needed to take the first steps into launching a successful, new business. Please visit the Fourth Plain Forward Events page for more information.

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC) provides free monthly workshops

The Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC) was founded in 1994 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with a mission to lead the economic advancement, wealth creation and equity for Latinos in Oregon and SW Washington. Their vision is to close the Latino economic equity gap and to create intergenerational wealth. HMC’s business development team offers free and confidential technical assistance in Spanish and English to business owners, as well as monthly workshops.

MESO provides free/low-cost Business Education

MESO provides virtual business classes and workshops in English and in Spanish that focus on the foundational elements of running a small business. Learn more about their current offerings and how to sign up.

WSU-Vancouver PACE Program offers online certificate courses

The PACE Program at WSU-Vancouver, with 3-4 weeklong courses, offers 50-75% discounts for employees of small businesses and non-profits. Evening classes are held twice per week in live, online, and in person formats.

Fall 2024 courses include the below, along with Registration and details:

  • Leading with Finance, QuickBooks, and Business Analytics with Power BI
  • Change Management, Business Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution and Leadership Essentials
  • Social Media Marketing, Applied Machine Learning, Python for Beginners, Intro to SQL and Interfacing with SQL

SCORE provides free/low-cost Business Education

SCORE provides virtual business workshops and targeted training that matter to you and your small business. Learn more about their current offerings.

  • Need help writing a Business Plan? SCORE partnered with MasterCard to offer you this free workbook and plan.
  • 11/5 from 2pm-3pm. Free in person event at Vancouver Library: Beyond Google – Research Your Market (for free)
  • 11/6 from 9am-Noon. Free online live webinar: Marketing Plan 101-Create your Roadmap to Success
  • 11/7 from 9am-10am. Free online live webinar: Strategies to Identify and Reach your Target Customers
  • 11/9 from 9am-10am. Free online live webinar: Successfully Starting a New Business in WA
  • 11/13 from 1pm-3pm. Free online live webinar: Redesigning Your Website – Key Considerations
  • 11/14 from 9am-10am. Free online live webinar: Increase your Website Sales and Leads using SEO
  • 11/15 from 10am-11am. Free online live webinar: Expert Strategies for Securing a Business Loan
  • 11/18 from 9am-Noon. Free online live webinar. Creating a Quick Business Plan in Three Hours
  • 11/21 from 1pm-3pm. Free online live webinar. How to Generate More Leads for Your Business

Livelihood NW: Free and Low-Cost Business Support to SW Washington

Livelihood NW provides free and low-cost professional business support services in SW Washington for businesses in all industries and at all stages, from pre-startup to scaling and growth. Services are centered around breaking down barriers and addressing the wealth gap for underserved populations, specifically low-to-moderate income individuals, BIPOC, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. Services are available in English and Spanish and include one-on-one in-depth technical assistance, business advising, workshops, trainings, cohort learning, bookkeeping setup & training, resource navigation and referrals.

Portland Community College’s SBDC offers Training Programs

Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been helping entrepreneurs build businesses for 40 years. Start, grow, or rebuild your business confidently with support from these specialized business training programs. 

  • 11/18 Business Design Series 4-week training program helps you start a business turning your idea into a profitable business.
  • Business Builders 12-week training program. Blends 8 weeks of foundational business educations with 4 weeks of specialized industry learning so you can start, grow and thrive.
  • Buying & Selling Outside the U.S. 6-week series. Learn to thrive in the global marketplace. Become familiar with import/export regulations, supply chain management, cultural awareness, and more.
  • Getting Your Recipe to Market 12-week training program that takes you step-by-step to produce, promote, and sell your product plus one-on-one help in building your food product business.

State Business Workshops, Classes and Education

Small Business Requirements and Resources (SBRR) offers free workshops for Small Business

The Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) is a partnership between 29 state agencies working together with local economic development partners to support and connect with business owners in offering free business education. The Small Business Requirements and Resources (SBRR) offer free workshops with essential information and resources to help start and grow your business These events are sponsored by the Small Business Liaison Team and hosted by various partners. 

Small Business Administration (SBA): free online event “Breakfast with Beto”

This free, live online event shares how other small business owners are preparing for the holiday season. Join Beto Yarce, SBA’s Region 10 Northwest Administrator for “Breakfast with Beto!” Learn how successful NW retailers, eateries and other companies set themselves up for a festive – and lucrative – holiday rush.

  • 11/21 from 9:30-10:30am. Free online live event: Discover what these forward-thinking, northwest entrepreneurs are doing to keep their businesses humming
    • Jessica Atkinson, CEO, Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshops, Spokane, Washington  
    • Molly Leadbetter, Owner, Meriwether Cider, Garden City & Boise, Idaho
    • Kali Tucker, Owner, The Waterworks, Anchorage & Eagle River, Alaska
    • Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Eighth Generation, Seattle, Washington

Scale-Up online training program: $1599 cost waived for WA Businesses

Start 2024 with a Growth Mindset. This online program normally costs $1,599 but will be provided at no cost to Washington State businesses through June 30, 2025, with funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

ScaleUp is an online training program that empowers established businesses to take growth into their own hands. The nine-week program consists of instructor lead virtual training sessions, online learning modules, and access to a social media networking platform that facilitates interactions between business owners and business experts. The program is most beneficial for established business owners with two or more years’ experience owning and operating a small business who are currently based in Washington state.

Oregon MBDA offers free/low-cost Business Education

The Oregon Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), managed and operated by Business Impact NW, is dedicated to serving underbanked entrepreneurs.  Their goal is to assist minority businesses who are seeking growth opportunities with consulting, business training, contracting and business development. Learn more about their current virtual offerings and how to sign up.

WA State Dept. of Revenue: Learn tax incentives, deductions, credits, and programs

Understanding tax obligations can be challenging for a small business or a new business owner.  DOR has several educational resources aimed at assisting businesses with tax reporting responsibilities and questions.

WA Department of Enterprise Services (DES): Want to do business with the State?

State agencies are actively seeking to spend money with small, diverse, and veteran-owned Washington businesses. Learn more from WA State DES.

Resources to help you get started with state contracting:

Stay informed and subscribe to the monthly email bulletin for small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses.

WA State Department of Labor & Industries: Free workshops and webinars

WA State Department of L&I is a state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington’s 3.3 million workers. Here is a combined list of all the workshops, events and webinars that L&I offers. Search, sort and filter the list to find what pertains to you. Learn more about their free/low-cost virtual and in-person educational events.

National Business Workshops, Classes and Education

SBA offers free Wednesday Webinars, free SBA 101 Program, and More

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is celebrating 70 years of service. To honor this occasion, the SBA Seattle District Office invites Washington State business owners to join them for free Wednesday Webinars focused on exporting, government contracting, and finding funding for your small business.

You may also join SBA 101: Overview of SBA Programs to learn more about programs for small business, free counseling, access to business capital, contracting with the federal government and how to incorporate these free resources into your small business journey. This free webinar takes place virtually once a month, on the third Tuesday of each month from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

SBA offers free webinars to start, grow, or expand your Small Business

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a U.S. government agency that offers online tools, training programs, one-on-one counseling services and funding to help small business owners start and grow businesses. The SBA Portland District Office and Seattle District Office invites business owners and aspiring owners to join them for webinars focused on starting, growing, or expanding your small business. Whether you’re starting a business, growing a business, or in recovery mode, the SBA can offer guidance with their free education, Resource Partner Network, loan programs, government contracting, certifications, and more. Learn more about their free/low-cost virtual and in-person educational events.

SBA Learning Center: Free online Business Courses

SBA’s online learning programs are designed to empower and educate small business owners every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to start a small business or expand your current one, SBA’s digital learning platform has everything you need to educate yourself on entrepreneurial best practices and available financing options.

Main Street America partners with Grow with Google to offer free workshops

Main Street America and Grow with Google have teamed up to help business owners gain new skills through local Digital Coaches. Through the Grow with Google Digital Coaches program, 10 coaches in small towns across America are offering free live trainings and hands-on coaching. No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, your local Digital Coach can help you build skills to take the next step for your business.

Legal Resources and Assistance

Clark County Volunteers Lawyers Program: Provides civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They provide legal aid through specialized “clinics” in these areas: Family Law, Housing Justice (eviction), Bankruptcy, Elder Law, Homelessness, Immagration, Dependency, Domestic Violence, and more.

Communities Rise: Offers a Small Business Legal Clinic is for low-income Washington state business owners seeking legal advice, and also offers you direct representation for legal work that requires one-on-one work with an attorney in these areas: Business Entity Formation, Contracts, Real Estate, Taxes, Employment, Intellectual Property and Privacy, and more.

Find Legal Help: Provides Volunteer Lawyer Programs, Reduced Fee Legal Help, Reduced Cost Family Law Legal Representation, Free Legal Help, and more.

Northwest Justice Project: Provides free legal assistance to address fundamental human needs such as housing, family safety, income security, health care, education, and more. Their work challenges structural and racial inequities to promote the long-term well-being of low-income individuals, families and communities across Washington State.

Helpful Guides

Small Business Guide: This Small Business Guide is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business.  Whether you are starting your business, managing a new business, or expanding your business, you will find valuable information and resources. The business guide is accessible online, and it’s also available in PDF to use as a printed reference manual.  The PDF is available English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Samoan, Somali, Tagalog and two volumes in Braille Ready Format. This guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

Evergreen BizLink offers Startup Guides and Growth Guides. Find a perfect guide for your business.

Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA): offers an Information Center (IC) Team as a free customer service center available by phone, text, chat and email. It’s a great place for entrepreneurs and small businesses to ask questions regarding starting or operating a business. The IC Team of professionals are friendly, expert researchers, and eager to provide information and connect you with programs, training, and resources to help you achieve your business goals.  They offer an experienced team familiar with owning a small business, working for regulatory agencies, and ready to connect you with reliable information and valuable resources. Contact the IC Team at (800) 917-0043 or email help@business.wa.gov

  • Example of customer requests: helping an entrepreneur understand the requirements for owning and operating an auto body business, or putting a farmer in touch with the correct regulatory staff to determine if a piece of property has water rights, and connecting a small business owner wanting to start biodiesel production with regulators and safety officials.

Starting a Non-Profit in WA State: The Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) partners with a powerful network of nonprofit organizations across Washington State to learn, advocate, and collaborate, so that nonprofits can achieve their missions. Sometimes a single learning session is just what you need to get started. Popular webinars include QuickBooks Made Easy, Boards and Governance Leadership Training and more. Find your non-profit session in their event calendar.

Craft3: Free Guide to Help You Become “Loan Ready.” Find everything you need to know to apply for a business loan, along with other resources to help you prepare for loan application. If you’ve considered applying for a business loan but aren’t sure of the process or what a lender will ask for, then the Definitive Guide to Getting Loan Ready is for you.

Business Impact NW: Their Loan Readiness Center offers free tailored advice and business loan training to help entrepreneurs from underserved communities learn how to access funding to help start and grow their business. And when you’re ready to talk with an advisor who can support you and help point you in the right direction, reach out for one-on-one business coaching.

Business Assistance Resources

Consider these local, state and federal agencies listed below. They are great resources for your business.

Local

State

Federal

Watch: Spotlight on small business