Helping Tri County business owners survive & thrive
Business Tools, Training & Resources
Resources to help start, grow and manage your business. We'll be adding more and more, so keep coming back to see what's new. Or, sign up for our email list below, so you can get notified when we make big updates or schedule new events.
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COVID-19 Resources
This dashboard provides an overview of the key metrics and data used by state leaders to assess whether it’s safe for a county to enter a new phase of reopening.
Contact tracing plays a vital role in helping to slow and prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Local health departments lead this work while the WA State Department of Health and its partners provide support.
To better help TEDD document the economic impact of COVID-19, area businesses are encouraged to complete this worksheet.This information supports the documentation the state is required to submit to the U.S. SBA when requesting an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration.
Ready to Reopen: A Playbook for Your Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (PDF)
Business Resilience 101 Workbook. Learn how to protect your business before disaster strikes. Presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce & UPS. (PDF)
Matching small-to-medium businesses with the most relevant lenders to provide them with the simplest and quickest funding solution. Currently also a lender for COVID-19 related SBA funds.
Our public health heros have been working throughout this crisis to assess, protect, preserve and promote the health of the tri-county area and establish local public health policies that will keep us save. Their site is a great hub for local COVID-related information.
Signs.com is offering dozens of free, printable health and closure sign templates related to the COVID-19. You also get a 10% discount on your next order when you download one of their signs.
Find industry-specific guidance for opening your business under the state of Washington’s “Safe Start” plan. More guidance documents continue to be added here as we enter each of the four reopening phases.
Business Tools
- All Tools
- Accounting
- Business Plans
- Calculators
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Contracts
- Ecommerce
- File Sharing
- Free Tools
- Graphics
- Low Cost Tools
- Marketing
- Scheduling
- Social Media
- Taking Payments
- Website
- Work Smarter
Powered by American Express, Stand for Small is a clearinghouse of offers, tools, and resources to help you grow your business.
On Patreon, your fans become active participants in your work through a monthly membership. You give them access to exclusive content, community, & insight into your creative process. In exchange, you get the freedom to do your best work, and the stability you need to build an independent creative career.
Square is an online payment processor and so much more. Take payments in person, online, or on your website. Send an invoice, set up an ecommmerce site, sell photos online. They also have point of sale systems specifically for retail, restaurants, hardware, and appointments.
Ecwid is a super simple ecommerce solution that allows you to get up and running quickly. Sell anywhere: Your Ecwid site, your own website, social media, Amazon, Ebay, even in-person. They even have a free-forever plan.
The abosolute fastest way to get paid online. With Paypal.me, you get your own link that you can send to clients (or family or friends who owe you for dinner). It’s that easy. Send the link, get paid. Done & done.
Shopify not only offers an easy-to-use e-commerce platform but also a range of products from emailing and shipping to financial services. They even have point-of-sale system so your online and in-store shops can be on the same inventory system.
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Creative Market is the world’s marketplace for design. Bring your creative projects to life with ready-to-use design assets from independent creators. Sign up to get weekly free graphics and fonts!
If you only have a few products to sell, Gumroad is a great option. It’s super easy, but also robust. Sell digital or pyhysical products online, sell subscriptions, communicate with customers, and more. As they say “If you can share it, you can sell it.”
If you need help creating a business plan, LivePlan will make the process much, much easier.
Business Resources
- All Resources
- Business Funding
- Business Planning
- Continuity Planning
- Downloads
- Financial Management
- Health Insurance
- Organizations
- Staff Management
- Working Remotely
Powered by American Express, Stand for Small is a clearinghouse of offers, tools, and resources to help you grow your business.
The Washington State Small Business Development Center hosts this free self assessments to score, choosing a business, feasibility and financing.
Ready to Reopen: A Playbook for Your Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (PDF)
It’s hard to know how much you should be charging. Pricing your freelance work involves a lot more than just getting paid for your time. These two freelance rate calculator tools help you identify the all-in expenses associated with working independently vs. working in a salaried position.
Gusto makes it easy to onboard, pay, insure, and support your hardworking team. Get the right tools and services for your business and your employees.
A collection of resources and virtual events put together by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help you start, run, and grow your small business.
If you need help creating a business plan, LivePlan will make the process much, much easier.
Matching small-to-medium businesses with the most relevant lenders to provide them with the simplest and quickest funding solution. Currently also a lender for COVID-19 related SBA funds.
The Washington State Small Business Development Center created this helpful checklist. It includes an overview, assessment, feasibility, costs with Pre-opening budget and Projected Income worksheets.
Business Training
More Learning Opportunities
- Starting & Planning a Business
- Marketing
- Financial Management
- QuickBooks
- Small Business Development provides microenterprise business training & counseling to low-moderate income individuals starting or expanding a business
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
- NxLevel for Entrepreneurs is a 13 week evening business planning program. Veteran scholarships may be available.
- Networking Events
- Business to Government
- Leadership Training
- Startup Spokane has resources and events for startups and entrepreneurs in the Spokane area
- Workforce Training
- Small Business Boot Camp
Spokane Community College Entrepreneurship
- Six month intensive course
The Libraries of Stevens County has partnered with Lynda.com to provide all of their very long list of online courses and workshops for free.
Check out Lynda.com
Contact the LOSC to get access
The Startup Roadmap outlines each step in starting a business with information and resources on the most difficult tasks. It also contains tips for working with your mentor on each topic.
Get information about business training, certification, and bidding on government contracts.
CoMotion, through the University of Washington, is a collaborative innovation hub. They have four focus areas:
IP advising, protection & licensing
Innovation training
Funding & partnerships
Startups & incubation
There are also loads of technology-related workshops & courses on Lynda.com. You can get access to Lynda.com for free with your Stevens County library card.
Cultivating Success is a program of Washington State University. Their goal is to create and implement educational programs to increase the number and foster the success of sustainable small acerage farmers and ranchers.
The offer courses, farmer mentorship, and experiential learning.