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Small Business Coaching

The City of Cambridge will offer the Cambridge Small Business Coaching Program to established Cambridge small services and/or retailers who are eligible based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG/HUD) criteria. To check your business' eligibility, click here.  

The Small Business Coaching Program offers eligible business owners up to 4 hours of free, one-on-one coaching from industry experts. Coaching sessions will be coordinated with our industry experts. Our experts can help with:

• Financial Planning – including organizing financial records, building strong banking relationships, understanding key financial statements, and more
• Goal Setting – including business planning support, clarifying goals, and creating an action plan to reach your small business goals
• Access to Capital for Contracts – specifically designed for businesses interested in preparing and gaining large, governmental or private company contracts

The Small Business Coaching Program entails three steps:

Step I – Attend a Small Business Workshop (Optional, but strongly encouraged)

• City of Cambridge will offer workshops to small businesses in the areas of Financial Planning, Goal Setting, and Access to Capital.
• These workshops are open to all Cambridge small businesses regardless of CDBG/HUD eligibility
• For workshop dates, please visit our workshops page. 

Step II – Apply for Coaching

• Decide what type of assistance expertise you need: financial or goal setting
• Check your eligibility here. 
• Click here to complete an online application. Attach your business certificate in the online application.

Step III – Connect with your Coach

• Once your application is received, reviewed and approved, the project manager will connect you with your selected coach by email.
• You and your small business coach will coordinate a time to meet after the email introduction.

Eligibility

The Cambridge Small Business Coaching Program is offered to established Cambridge small services and/or retailers who are eligible based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG/HUD) criteria. To check your business' eligibility, click here.

Please note - only one coach per business.** This program is a first come, first served program. This is a rolling program (there is no set deadline).

For More Information

If you have any questions about the Small Business Coaching Program, please contact Jared Staley at jstaley@cambridgema.gov or 617/349-4616.