Ventures
About
Ventures is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping people with the tools they need to launch microbusinesses, increase their incomes, and move out of poverty. We seek to break down systemic obstacles that women, immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ individuals face to small business ownership.
Ventures serves individuals with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income; our average client supports a family on $28,000 per year at entry. Since 1995, we have served nearly 9,000 low-income entrepreneurs in the Puget Sound region with small business training, lending, technical assistance, and incubation. All entrepreneurs begin at Ventures by completing an eight-week Business Basics Course that covers the fundamentals of business sales, marketing, finance, and operations. Upon graduation, they gain access to a comprehensive toolkit of small business development services that includes advanced training, relationship-based technical assistance, low-interest microlending, incubation opportunities, and financial literacy trainings. Our highly customized technical assistance underpins our services and ensures small business owners receive needed support to launch and sustain microbusinesses.
Ventures is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and Small Business Administration intermediary lender. These certifications enable us to promote lasting financial self-sufficiency for low-income individuals throughout the Puget Sound region.
Services Provided
Economic and Site Development
- Lease Review
- Market Research
- Economic Development
Business Planning
- Business Succession Planning
- Diversification
- Business Plan Consulting
- Feasibility Studies
- Forming a Business
- Market Plan Development
- Market Research
- Operations
- Cash Flow/Financial Planning
- Information Technology/Infrastructure
- Grow Your Number of Customers
- Hire Employees
Financial Resources and Assistance
- Debt Funding (Specialty)
- Real Estate Finance
- Accounting Services
- Grant Funding Providers (Specialty)
- Microloans (Specialty)
- Bookkeeping /Tracking Expenses and Income
- Financial Statement and Cash Flow (Specialty)
- Debt Financing Preparation (Specialty)
- Financial Modeling
- Non-Traditional Financing (Specialty)
Human Resources, Workforce and Talent
- Employee Development
Legal Services
- Contract Review
- Forming a Business
- Lease Review
- Employee Relations
- Eviction Support
Libraries and Research
- Business Research Resources
Management Issues
- Human Resources
- Insurance Requirements
Manufacturing, High Tech, Life Sciences Development
- Commercialization
- Small Scale Manufacturing (Specialty)
Marketing and Sales
- Advertising
- Award Recognition
- Competitive Analysis
- E-Commerce/Internet Marketing (Specialty)
- Feasibility Studies
- Market Plan Development and Training
- Market Research
- Website Development
- Branding
- Social Media Consulting
Mentoring
- Formal Mentoring Programs (Specialty)
- One-on-One Counseling (Specialty)
- Peer Mentoring (Specialty)
Networking and Associations
- Demographically Based
- Geographically Based
- Small and Microbusiness/General
Nonprofit Development
- Advocacy Tools & Training (Specialty)
Space
- Commercial Kitchen Facilities (Specialty)
- Retail Space (Specialty)
- Site Location Assistance
Operations and Logistics
- Health and Safety Training
Product Development
- Product Assembly and Packaging
- Product Design and Development (Specialty)
Public Policy and Government Relations
- State Business Issues (Specialty)
- Small Business Policy (Specialty)
- Microbusiness Advocacy (Specialty)
Regulatory Compliance
- Codes
- Insurance Requirements
- Registration, Licenses and Permits
- Certification
Starting a Business
- Business Research Resources (Specialty)
- Feasibility Studies (Specialty)
- Forming a Business (Specialty)
- Registration, Licenses and Permits (Specialty)
- Site Location
- Startup Business Counseling (Specialty)
- Startup Classes (Specialty)
- Business Training (Specialty)
- Business Technical Assistance (Specialty)
Tax Services
- State and Federal Tax Training
- State Tax Credit Information
- Tax Credits
- Tax Preparation Assistance
- Tax Registration
Technical Assistance
- Virtual Consulting and Online Services
- Business Bootcamps, Business Classes (Specialty)
- Commercialization
- Bookkeeping/Accounting Software Training
- Website Development
- Commercial Leasing (Specialty)
- Design Services
- E-Commerce
Training
- Online Courses and Videos
- Bookkeeping/Accounting Software Training (Specialty)
- Budget, Cash Flow and Financial Statements Training (Specialty)
- Business Management Training (Specialty)
- Business Plan Training and Assistance (Specialty)
- E-Commerce/Internet Marketing
- Health and Safety Training
- Human Resources Training
- Marketing Plan Training
- Startup Classes (Specialty)
- Operations Planning/Systems
Accelerators and Incubators
- Accelerator
- Incubator (Specialty)
Events and Community Building
- Business Competitions/Pitch Events/Hackathon/Startup Week or Weekends (Specialty)
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