SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

Consultations

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Request a Business Consultation

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SIMBA helps independent and local Eastern Washington businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs with their business needs.

Since 2020, SIMBA has provided 1:1 business support and group trainings to over 1300 unique Eastern Washington businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. Almost 80% of those businesses have been BIPOC-, women-, veteran-, LGBTQIA2S+, and immigrant/refugee owned. All of them have been independent and local small business owners and nonprofit leaders just like you, living and working in Spokane and Eastern Washington.

Our talented Business Assistance team is available to help you navigate your business advice needs from startup to stay up. Let us help you with the business of running a business. Our consultations are available for free or $25 for a one-hour session, depending on the topic, as outlined below. Paid consultations may be tax-deductible for your business, and a receipt will be provided.

Consultations are always free for SIMBA Members, depending on membership level. If you’re an existing SIMBA Member, simply email: members@spokaneindependent.org and let us know what you need!

If your business or nonprofit has been directly impacted by the Spokane Complex, Autumn Lane, or other Eastern Washington wildfires in 2026, please head here for resources and support info.

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TOPIC AREAS

Our Business Support team is available to help business owners navigate through their business from start-up to stay-up, including, but not limited to, the following topics:

$25 | Business Consultation (Up to One Hour)

  • Raising Capital, Financing, and Loan Applications

  • Bookkeeping Basics

  • Tracking Expenses & Deductions for Federal Taxes

  • Nonprofit Formation, Compliance, & General Advice

  • State Regulatory Filings, including B&O and Sales Tax preparations

  • Digital Marketing

  • Social Media Management

  • Website Maintenance and Building

  • Understanding Business Contracts

  • Lease Agreements

  • LLC Setups and Entity Formation

  • Federal Tax Prep

  • Operations & Customer Growth

  • Free Business Support Sessions (Up to One Hour)

    • Business License Applications

    • Employee Recordkeeping

    • Food Industry Licensing

    • Construction Contractor Licensing

    • Independent Contractor vs. Employee Considerations

    • General Wage and Hour Law Consultations

    • Workers’ Compensation

    • Volunteers and Interns

    • Employee Handbook Questions

Please complete the above-intake form to request business assistance (at the top of the page). You will hear from a SIMBA staff member within 2 business days of completing your form to pay for (if applicable) and to schedule your initial consultation. You are not limited to one consultation. Please make sure to look for an email from @spokaneindependent.org - it may have gone to your spam folder for scheduling and payment. Translation services are available. SIMBA Members do not need to complete an intake form - simply email us: members@spokaneindependent.org with questions.

Questions? Comments? Need further assistance? Email us at: info@spokaneindependent.org.