Feeling The Impact
Resources For Small Business Owners Impacted by COVID19
COVID19 has officially thrown all of our worlds off-kilter. Whether you’ve got kids at home for the foreseeable future, whether your income has been affected, or whether you’re unable to get basic supplies you need (ahem, toilet paper), we’re all facing a new normal and feeling its impacts.
As we ride out the news cycle and shift towards accepting this new normal, how can we cope in the days, weeks and maybe even months ahead?
Here on the Fearless In Training team, we’re all about action and one of the biggest things we express to our clients is that whenever and wherever possible, is that we are Here To Help.
In that spirit, the team and I have begun compiling a list of resources for people, and particularly small businesses that are feeling the weight and anxiety that Coronavirus has suddenly imposed on all of our lives.
On a personal note, we have been blown away by the generosity & kind-hearted connections being forged by our own community in the past few days. Many of the folks we know are all “doers” with a shared value around acts of service, and many of the companies on this list are made up of our friends, clients, and comrades in the industry who are out in the world offering up their services and expertise for free or deeply discounted to others in this time of need. We could not be more honored to know these folks and spread the word about the work they’re doing.
Here are the resources we have compiled so far:
Back to Work Toolkit: COVID-19 isn’t over, but at some point we will need to get back to work. How do we do that safely? Madrona, the Seattle Venture Community, Leading Tech, Retail and Aerospace Companies in the Region, and the Seattle Metropolitan and Bellevue Chambers of Commerce worked together to create a repository of documents to help business owners build a Safe Work Plan for Back to Work. Access the Toolkit here.
Payroll Protection Program Forgiveness Worksheet: Concerned about the forgiveness of PPP loan proceeds? Prix Fixe Accounting has put together this nifty google sheet to help quickly estimate the potential forgiveness of PPP loan proceeds. Prix Fixe Accounting knows things are always changing, so they are also updating the toll as new information comes out about forgiveness of PPP loan proceeds. Estimate forgiveness here.
An upstate New York retailer’s fighting spirit amid COVID-19: Moving from brick and mortar business to online sales and service can be daunting. This Brick & Order podcast episode shares one New York retailer’s experience with the process and some of Faire’s C.E.O. Max Rhodes’s favorite resources that can help retailers like you get through this challenging time. Listen here.
BrandLab From Root & River: Figuring out what to say right now to your clients & customers can be challenging. However, people will remember what you said & what you stood for now more than ever before. That is why our friends at Root & River have moved their BrandLab sessions online (at a major discount!) to help more folks than ever before get firm in their beliefs and branding. You can learn more BrandLab here.
Daily COVID-19 Ecommerce Marketing Insights: The current COVID-19 crisis is one that many of us feel underprepared for. So, every day Klaviyo is leveraging their network of 30,000 businesses and consumers to tell you what’s happening so you can make the best decision possible for your business. Check the latest Ecommerce data here.
Secrets of Wealthy Women Podcast: This Wall Street Journal Podcast regularly features powerful womxn talking about finances and setting big goals. In this episode, Cate Luzio, the founder of Luminary, a female-focused work space in NYC, explains how she's adapting her business in a world of social-distancing. Listen here. Prefer to be an active participant in the conversation and support small businesses instead of listening to others talk about it? Want to connect with other womxn working from home? Join our Womxn Talk Money Community by emailing me and our team at hello@fearlessintraining.com.
Amazon’s Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund (Seattle): Amazon has a $5 million dollar relief fund dedicated to helping Seattle area small businesses survive the pandemic. To be eligible for a grant, recipients must have fewer than 50 employees or less than $7 million in annual revenue. Learn more and apply here.
Kitsap Economic Development Alliance Weekly Webinars: During this time, things are constantly changing, so keep up with all the latest COVID-19 happenings, the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) has been offering weekly webinars about COVID-19 and your business. Each week different local business leaders and experts are featured (Fearless in Training’s very own Aljolynn Sperber even participated representing her company LadyBox!) The webinars take place every Thursday at 10am. Register for future webinars and watch all the past recordings here.
Salesforce Care Small Business Grants: Salesforce and Ureka have partnered together to create grants for small businesses. Eligible small businesses can receive up to $10,000 in grant money. Washington’s application deadline is midnight on May 4th, but each state has its own deadline. Check your eligibility and apply here.
F-Bomb Community: F-Bomb is a group for female founders that usually meets once a month in Seattle has put together online resources along with funding resources for small businesses. The list includes information about Unemployment, Paid Sick Leave, Paid FMLA, L&I, Legal Assistance, and more. Review their grid of SMB resources here.
Facebook Small Business Grant: Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time. That’s the equivalent of $3,333 for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where the social network conglomerate operates. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply here.
Fearless In Training Courses: Because we know so many people are being forced to explore new streams of income during this tumultuous time, we’re offering 50% off all of our online courses for anyone that wants to invest in personal & business development in the weeks ahead. This includes all three of our cornerstone courses that focus on marketing, branding, and sales. You can learn more here and use the coupon code INVEST to get 50% off at checkout.
Government Small Business Loans: State & national government agencies have passed funding to be able to offer SBA loans to business owners directly impacted by the impact of COVID19. These loans can be used to pay off fixed debts, pay payroll, and cover other bills that otherwise cannot be paid because of the economic impact of the virus. For more details on these loans and the application process, click here.
Guide for Restaurant Owners: Our friends over at Prix Fixe Accounting only work with clients in the hospitality space, and they’ve got a lot of clients in crisis mode right now. Because they are doers & helpers, they’ve crafted this free guide for restaurant owners to help them navigate in the weeks ahead. You can read it & share it using this link.
Heroes Group Coronavirus Resource Center: Heroes Group is a firm made up of tax experts with a huge passion for helping others, and they’ve got a phenomenal resource center for tax and accounting updates during this time. They even have a recording of their CARES Act webinar available for free! You can check it out & subscribe to get updates as new information unfolds here.
What Does Self Care Really Look Like Right Now?: Self-care tips are most likely dominating your inbox right now. During the global pandemic, the health and wellness industry is booming. But can a listicle of must-haves and workout routines really improve your mood during a climate of extreme grief and uncertainty? Fearless in Training writer Brigitte long has created a honest, gritty, guide to want self care really looks and feels right now. You can read it here.
iFund Women COVID-19 Relief: If you don’t know iFund Women, you should. This amazing fund is focused on getting funding into the hands of women founders, and they’re standing up & standing out by showcasing their values and offering grants and free coaching to support women business owners impacted by COVID-19. You can read more & get involved here.
Ignite Spot’s Business Owner’s Guide To Surviving COVID-19: As a scaling firm that focuses specifically on serving small businesses, Ignite Spot knows the stresses that folks are facing during this time. They have been regularly updating this page with the latest info in terms of logistics like government relief, business & cash flow strategies, and mental health resources. You can access the guide here.
Learning Lab: If you have realized now is really the time to up your game online and improve your web presence, consider joining us in the Learning Lab. I made the decision this month to offer the first month of membership for free for anyone impacted by Coronavirus (aka everyone).. Join us here and use the code INVEST at checkout to claim the discount.
Loomly's Brand Quarantine Guide: Loomly has put together one of our favorite comprehensive guides for brands navigating how to adjust their social and communications strategies during this crisis. It includes tactical advice and a great series of examples of what some brands are doing right to stand out and connect with clients in a genuine and empathetic way during this time. You can check it out here.
Coronavirus Small Business Survival Guide: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together an epic survival guide for small businesses by compiling all their COVID-19 content into one easy to filter through list. They have articles from experts on business strategies and best practices during the crisis, articles to help you understand all the information coming out of the government, articles on applying for loans, customizable posters you can use to communicate your COVID-19 efforts to your customers, and tons more. See the full list of articles and resources here.
The Red Backpack Fund: The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation donated $5 million to support female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19 and teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund. Fund recipients will also receive a lucky red backpack and a free annual All-Access Pass to all 80+ MasterClass instructors. They are accepting applications monthly and the portal will open for applications again on May 4, June 1, July 6, and August 3. Learn more and apply here.
Paycheck Protection Program: Lots of small business owners are completely unsure how to navigate the new paycheck protection program. Luckily for them, our friends over at Prix Fixe accounting have written a complete guide to help them work through it and understand how to make their way forward. You can access it here.
Save Small Business Fund: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce created a grantmaking initiative called the Sace Small Business Fund in order to provide short term relief to small businesses (who employ 3-20 people) in the U.S. and its territories. They aim to provide as many $5,000 grants as they can. Check your eligibility and apply here.
The Riveter Virtual Community: Our friends over at The Riveter recently launched their virtual community and they are offering tons of events to support folks to connect and collaborate virtually. They’ll be offering free webinars, daily work from home solidarity sessions, resources for families working with kids at home, and much more. You can check out the community and sign up here.
COVID-19 Resources for Women Owned Businesses: The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is maintaining a comprehensive list of COVID-19 resources to help support women owned businesses both large and small survive and thrive during these uncertain times. The list includes everything from articles to free webinars and is updated regularly, so keep checking to see what’s new. You can check out the full list here.
Comparing CARES Act and Other Resources: Whether you’re a business or an individual, this spreadsheet has you covered. This document includes links to different funding sources and shows you side by side what each resource has to offer so you can easily compare, contrast, and make an informed and confident choice about which funding program is right for you. You can view the spreadsheet here.
Support During Tough Times: Our friends over at the Profitable Firm share our Here To Help philosophy, and they've been working diligently to put together as many free resources as possible to help firms better communicate with their clients during these tough times. They continue to update these resources regularly, so make sure to check them out here.
How Women-Owned Businesses Can Get Help: Our friends at Ellevest have put together a comprehensive guide to how women-owned businesses can get help during the current COVID-19 crisis. Their guide includes everything from grant and loan opportunities, to chat groups, and unemployment information. Read the guide here.
Virtual Yoga: Seeing as how the studios I teach at are closed for the foreseeable future, I’ve decided to take my practice online and share it with students virtually for free. You can register to join me for a 45 minute class on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at 4 pm PST here.
Womxn Talk Money Community: Every other Friday, we’re hosting a community call dedicated to connecting womxn to each other and providing them with much-needed strategies and sounding boards for their firms to face this moment head-on. If you are a female financial professional looking for connection, the first call is free for anyone that is new to the community and wants to join. If you’d like to be added to the invite, email me and my team at hello@fearlessintraining.com.
Zapier Assistance Program: Zapier announced last week that they’re creating a $1 Million Dollar Assistance Program in order to benefit their most impacted customers. Additionally, they’re giving new customers the ability to apply for credit to get up and running on Zapier. You can read more about the announcement here.
Business for All Grant from Alice: Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by coronavirus, as part of their broader mission to ensure Business for All. In addition to funding, grant recipients will receive ongoing support from the Hello Alice community.You can apply for the grant here.
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund: Verizon funding is being used to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of Covid-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. Get more info and apply here.
We know that these are just a handful of the help that is being offered to small businesses, and we plan to continue to keep adding to this list as opportunities for support cross our path.
If you have additional resources to share or add to this list, whether it be your own work or the work of others, we would encourage you to share it in the comments below so that we can continue to update this list in the weeks ahead.
Additionally, if you personally need help that isn’t being explicitly offered or have an idea of how to offer expertise but need assistance structuring your offer and want to brainstorm ways for you and other folks to get the resources you need, please email me personally at madeline@fearlessintraining.com. I truly believe in moments like this we are all being called to our highest abilities, and I would be honored to work with you get and give the help that is so needed in these tumultuous times.