Free business program for Tacoma's smallest businesses
Moderate-to-low income residents in Tacoma can get 15 hours of FREE expert consulting to help your microbusiness with strategy, financial guidance, and getting a loan.
Program is FREE for selected participants and is sponsored by the City of Tacoma, Community and Economic Development.
This program is made possible through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
What is the program?
The Microenterprise Launch and Grow Program is a free, 3-month, city-funded business support program designed to help grow very small businesses in Tacoma.
This program is for you if you're a solopreneur or have a small team and want help with:
Business strategy
Financial & Cashflow Planning/Analysis
Bookkeeping setup/troubleshooting
Accessing loans or grants
What you get by participating
In-Person Kickoff Workshop
A half-day, in-person workshop with 2 presentations focused on growth planning and business funding readiness for the next stage
1:1 expert support
Up to 15 hours of tailored coaching for your business
Real deliverables
Leave with a system or tool that improves your operations or helps your growth
Program Details and Schedule
All qualified applicants accepted into the program will be automatically enrolled in the full program described below.
Feb 26, 2026
10:00am - 1:00pm PT
In-Person Workshop Location:
Courtyard by Marriott Tacoma Downtown
1515 Commerce Street, Tacoma WA 98402
Program Welcome Meeting and Kick-Off
A FREE support initiative for Tacoma microbusinesses designed to help business owners gain clarity, confidence, and control over their business finances and next stage of growth.
Through two interactive presentations at the kick-off workshop—focused on Planning for Growth and Funding your Business — participants will build a clear understanding of what may be holding them back, how their businesses can grow, and how to prepare for future financing.
Each participating business will also receive personalized one-on-one technical assistance subsequent to the Kick-off meeting, delivered virtually, to work on practical, tangible deliverables. With guidance from experienced advisors, business owners can strengthen bookkeeping and financial systems, better understand cash flow and overall financial health, develop financial projections or business plans, and make informed decisions that support sustainable growth.
This program is tailored specifically for microbusinesses, providing hands-on, individualized support to help owners build a stronger and more resilient business foundation.
1. Planning for Growth
A practical, interactive presentation designed to help small business owners understand how their businesses can grow and which growth strategies fit their current stage. Participants will explore common constraints that limit growth—such as demand, capacity, and cash flow—and learn how different growth paths address different challenges. Through guided discussion and real-world examples, attendees will identify where their own businesses are getting stuck and clarify what “healthy growth” looks like for them. This session lays the groundwork for future planning, financial modeling, and funding readiness by helping participants by thinking through the right growth direction before investing time, money, or capital.
2. Funding Your Business
A hands-on presentation designed to help business owners understand their funding options, the advantages/disadvantages of debt financing, as well as next steps to take in getting their businesses ready to access funding. In this interactive session, participants will not only actively use a credit-readiness checklist to gain real-time insights into their own funding readiness, but they will also gain roadmap on what remains to be improved to grow their business through funding.
Feb - Jun 2026
One-on-One Coaching
Work on a tangible deliverable
Meetings conducted virtually through Zoom videoconference
One-on-One Coaching and Consulting Work
Applicants will participate in personalized coaching through one-on-one guidance to gain practical tools to improve bookkeeping, understand business financial health, better manage cash flows, take charge of financial planning, and make smarter decisions for growth. This program is tailored specifically for microbusinesses, offering a unique opportunity for business owners to strengthen their foundation with expert support.
Coaching time includes work on a tangible deliverable, such as a business plan, QuickBooks implementation assistance, financial analysis review, financial planning/projections, cashflow projections/template, or other capacity/foundation building activity.
Program qualification
To qualify for this program, you must:
Own a microenterprise in the City of Tacoma
Have 5 or fewer employees (including you)
Qualify as low-income (see chart below)
You will need to provide documentation to prove your household income is at or below 80% of the median income in the City of Tacoma.
What qualifies as "low income"?
| Size of household | Maximum income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $67,700 |
| 2 | $77,350 |
| 3 | $87,000 |
| 4 | $96,650 |
| 5 | $104,400 |
| 6 | $112,150 |
| 7 | $119,850 |
| 8 | $127,600 |
What is a microenterprise?
A microenterprise, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program, is a commercial business with five or fewer employees, including the owner.
Program sponsored by the City of Tacoma, Community and Economic Development and made possible through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
Consulting services provided by Revby LLC, a small business consulting firm.