Best Small Business Resources in the Chicago Area

Description

Duman Entrepreneurship Center offers one-on-one business advice on a variety of topics. They offer workshops, peer-based entrepreneurial training, and mentorship. Their six-week startup accelerator program enables budding entrepreneurs to form a complete business plan and establish a concept feasibility. Funding is also available to teams that can present a business plan and a 12-month cash flow projection.

Restrictions

There is a nominal fee for attending workshops or subsequent advising.

Description

1871 is a co-working space. It offers all a slew of amenities along with exceptional networking. Events are public but may have a small cost to attend.

Description

Chicago Inventors Organization is a nonprofit center that focuses on helping independent inventors commercialize a product (physical or virtual). CIO encourages members to obtain a patent, copyright, and trademark to protect their inventions, while also helping members develop business plans. This organization also helps inventors find funding and is the only organization of its kind for entrepreneurs in the Chicago area. There are monthly meetings headed by experts in various fields, from marketing to 3D printing, that are free to members and open to the public for a small fee. Membership in the organization provides one-on-one consulting opportunities.

Restrictions

This organization is focused exclusively on independent inventors.

Description

The greatest strength of the SBDC is their free, confidential, 1-on-1 business mentoring for anyone who seeks it. Sometimes in order to be considered for mentoring from one of their professional business advisors, you may have to attend a class/workshop or at least present your business plan. SBDC's are located all throughout the state and you should use the SBDC closest to your location if possible, but you can often transfer to a different location if they do not fit your needs.

Description

SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) is a leading, nation-wide organization that has assisted millions of entrepreneurs over its 50+ years of operation. SCORE is a resource partner of the SBA that offers access to a network of experienced business leaders who donate time to mentor entrepreneurs and small business owners. They also host free or inexpensive workshops online and at 300 local chapters around the United States. Mentoring can be conducted either in person or remotely and is always free and confidential, no matter how often you take advantage of this service.

Description

The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce works to support Illinois-based businesses, and particularly, Hispanic-owned and operated businesses. IHCC offers a wide range of services to help brand-new entrepreneurs and experienced business owners alike. IHCC offers 8 separate programs, including a representative from the Small Business Development Center on site for one-on-one consulting.

Description

Matter is a non-profit organization that specializes in helping entrepreneurs and innovators in the healthcare industry. Matter provides workshops, mentorship, connections with investors, and more. The goal of Matter is to help nurture entrepreneurs' healthcare business ideas, turning them into industry-changing solutions.

Restrictions

Focused on the healthcare industry.

Description

This center is primarily a coworking space, offering many supportive services to members that can foster business development. Membership is free for University of Chicago faculty, staff, and student to join the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Local entrepreneurs with no affiliation to the university may join and participate for a low fee. Polsky offers entrepreneur courses for beginners and those who are advanced. Members will have access to a curated list of mentors from a variety of industries and access to a large network including funding.

Restrictions

Low quarterly fee for non-students.

Description

The Small Business Advocacy Council focuses on using political advocacy to create a level playing field for small businesses. This organization engages with political groups on the local, state, and federal level to ensure Chicago small businesses are equally represented. SBAC also hosts quarterly pitch competitions for any entrepreneur looking to start a company. The competition is a great networking event for local entrepreneurs and awards a prize package to the winning venture.

Description

Women's Business Centers are nationwide programs established by the SBA to assist women in starting small businesses. Some of these centers are combined with other local organizations and use that relationship to offer even more services. Each Women's Business Center has counselors who can provide mentorship and assistance with business planning. Women’s Business Centers also provide a network of other businesses, and some have loan programs available

Restrictions

The Women's Business Centers are, as the name implies, meant for women primarily.