Owning a Portland small business takes a ton of hard work, determination and assistance.
As a Portland small business owner, VIDA Coworking’s founder Melanie Marconi understands firsthand just how tough it is to start your own organization. There’s the strategic planning, state and federal registration, legal and financial planning, insurance, marketing and so much more. Plus, being your own boss often means being a Jane-of-all-trades. It takes endless hard work, late nights and perseverance.
In the wake of all that sweat and determination, there’s so much to gain. And, you don’t have to go it alone. There are many resources and organizations that provide small business support in Portland. To make life a bit easier for you business owners, we’ve curated a list of the most helpful local small business assistance options for Portland’s small business owners.
Small Business Loans in Oregon From Local Providers
Prosper Portland Business Finance Programs
Prosper Portland offers several loan programs, including:
- The Growth Capital Loan provides $25,000 to $250,000 for working capital, equipment purchase and real estate acquisition.
- The Thriving Small Business Loan offers $25,000 to $50,000 for working capital, equipment, and business development or expansion.
- The Tenant Improvement Program loans $25,000 to $2 million for physical improvements of real property in leased or owner-occupied properties.
Mercy Corps Northwest Small Business Loans
Mercy Corps Northwest provides loans ranging from $500 to $10,000 to small businesses owned by women, people of color, gender non-conforming individuals and more. To apply for one of these loans, you must be a resident of Oregon or Washington, have a registered business in either of those states and have an open business checking account.
A community development financial institution (CDFI), MESO provides business loans up to $250,000. The CDFI also offers credit-builder lending options to help local entrepreneurs grow their credit knowledge and scores. In addition to loan assistance, MESO provides financial education, including a Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights that “identifies six fundamental rights that all small business owners seeking financing deserve and outlines how lenders, brokers and lead generators should uphold and protect these rights.”
Small Business Technical Assistance & Business Advising
From ideation to scale, there are experienced and vetted professionals who provide one-on-one business mentorship at no or low cost through nonprofit organizations. Many of these nonprofits are part of Prosper Portland’s Inclusive Business Resource Network, which includes culturally-specific support for Portland entrepreneurs. Some of these technical assistance and business advising organizations include:
Specifically designed to assist women entrepreneurs, Xcelerate Women provides coaching from industry experts, peer mentorship and education opportunities.
Mercatus is a business directory connecting the city of Portland with entrepreneurs of color. With over 1,200 members, the Mercatus holds marketplaces, tells business stories and connects Portlanders.
The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon provides small business support and advisory services to Portland’s API small business community.
Business advisors assist Portland small businesses with general questions, resource referrals, business loans, grant identification and application assistance.
Events, Education and Networking Groups
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network hosts several PubTalks events throughout the year. Entrepreneurs can network, pitch ideas, and listen or participate in panel discussions about running their businesses.
An organization looking to create opportunities for entrepreneurs in consumer products, Built Oregon runs community programs and events for small business owners. Programs and events include:
- Bridges Program
- Consumer Product Accelerator Program
- Built Festival
An organization dedicated to brick-and-mortar small businesses, Bricks Need Mortar offers advocacy, policymaker visibility, coaching, educational resources and community panel discussions.
VIDA Coworking is a proud Portland small business in the heart of downtown. For other small business owners and remote workers, we offer a stunning coworking space, complete with small business services, family support and much more. Learn more now.