This page provides information and resources for small businesses. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact us and we will do our best to connect you with additional resources.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Please note the resources below are for reference purposes only. An organization should always consult and tailor this information to the organization’s needs. If you need a consultation with an attorney or subject matter expert, depending on eligibility, we may be able to help by providing you with one (that’s what we do).
Build Your Own Business (BYOB)
This toolkit is a set of resources Communities Rise has created for entrepreneurs who are starting businesses in Washington.
Commercial Lease Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to provide key, easy-to-understand information for small businesses about common terms or sections of a typical commercial lease.
COVID-19 Resources
Communities Rise is providing a range of resources and support for organizations and small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Please check out these pages for more information about what you can find on our website or how you access additional support.
Funding Opportunities
Check out a running list of funding opportunities. Note that these are not funded by CR and we recommend you refer to the individual funders for the most up to date information.
Lease Amendment Toolkit
This video and supplementary materials can help your small business or nonprofit navigate the process of re-negotiating or potentially ending a lease due to reduced revenue/operating income from the COVID crisis.
Succession Planning Toolkit
This Toolkit is designed to help small business owners plan for retirement and passing on or selling your business. This Toolkit will explain legal concepts, lay out the questions you will need to consider and provides a worksheet to gather the information you will need to create a succession plan.
Intellectual Property Basics
This Toolkit provides an overview on the different types of Intellectual Property for small businesses including copyright and trademarks and points business owners to additional resources that may be helpful in securing intellectual property rights.
- Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) overview and commentary – This resource explains the provisions of the template agreement and is designed to be used alongside the NDA template (provided below)
- Nondisclosure Agreement template – The template NDA is not legal advice and may not be applicable to all business context. It is advisable to consult an attorney to tailor this information to your needs.
- Copyright Basics for Small Businesses
- Español: ¿Qué Onda con los Derechos de Autor?
- Trademark Basics for Small Businesses
E-Commerce
This webinar provides an overview of legal compliance when setting up an E-commerce space for your small business.
Manufacturing and Marketing
Organizations that are working with small businesses to assist with manufacturing and marketing.
- Seattle Good Business Network – this network collectively builds resilient, vibrant and inclusive local economy through buying, producing, and investing locally.
- Seattle Made – a collaboration of over six hundred urban manufacturers, producers, creators and entrepreneurs working to strengthen Seattle’s local economy and communities to provide meaningful living wage jobs, and contribute to Seattle’s independent and innovative culture.
- Refugee Artisan Network – RAI partners with immigrant women to foster an inclusive, prosperous transition to the US through artisan skills training in zero waste and small batch manufacturing.
Business Resources
- Business.WA.GOV Small Business Guidance -This free guide provides links to valuable resources, and outlines the steps for starting and operating a business in the state of Washington (available in six languages).
- Evergreen BizLink – Washington business resource navigator offering referrals, networking, help connecting startups and existing businesses with local, regional and statewide resource partners who provide business and financial technical assistance to help businesses grow and prosper.
- Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) – provides economic development for Washington businesses by providing tools and resources for the smallest of Washington’s businesses to thrive.
- Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA)- Washington State’s only trade association laser-focused on economic development, WEDA is committed to recovering, retaining, recruiting and expanding jobs and re-investment in Washington State.
- Startup Washington – managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness and serves as a clearinghouse for all the information and resources entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses need to achieve success, including funding sources, training and technical assistance, mentorship, education and information.
- Business Impact NW – a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to serving underbanked entrepreneurs. They provide coaching, classes, and access to capital to community small businesses, with an emphasis on working with traditionally underserved populations – entrepreneurial low/moderate income earners, women, BIPOC, veterans, immigrants or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Ventures Nonprofit – provides access to business training, capital, coaching, and hands-on learning opportunities for entrepreneurs. Ventures serves those for whom traditional business development services are out of reach, with a focus on women, people of color, immigrants, and individuals with low income.
- SCORE – the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. SCORE provides mentoring, webinars and variety of business resources.
- Seattle Public Library – Get the information you need to plan and start your business. The Library to Business program offers free access to valuable research and databases that provide information about competitors, customers, market trends and more. Attend an event to connect with experts, learn about tools or meet with a business librarian.
Food Business Resources
- Food Business Resource Center – a program from Business Impact NW that offers robust assistance to food and farm businesses.
- The Kitchen Door – a network to find licensed commercial kitchens.
- Second Mile Marketplace and Food Hub – a shared community space open for food producers, food businesses to produce craft foods in a licensed facility located in Vancouver, WA.
Independent Contractors & Hiring Entities
- City of Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS)
- Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance (ICPO) – this new law went into effect September 1, 2022.
- OLS Languages page – translated resources can be found by clicking the desired language and searching the webpage.
- Administrative rules for the Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance – these rules govern the practices of the Seattle Office of Labor Standards in administering the requirements of the Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 14.34.
- Legal Alert for ICPO – this resource gives an overview of the law that went into effect September 1, 2022.
- Graphic poster for Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance (ICPO).
- Resources for Independent Contractors
- A Guide for Independent Contractors
- Recording of ICPO Webinar for Independent Contractors
- El audio en español del Seminario Web para Contratistas Independientes está disponible a pedido por email.
- Resources for Hiring Entities
- A Guide for Hiring Entities
- Recording of ICPO Webinar for Hiring Entities
- El audio en español del Seminario Web para Entidades Contratantes está disponible a pedido por email.
- Presentation slides for ICPO Webinar for Hiring Entities