Program Description

Washington C.A.S.H. (Community Alliance for Self-Help) empowers aspiring entrepreneurs with limited resources—and unlimited potential! We provide the hands-on education, support, and access to capital needed to start or grow small businesses.

We are a nonprofit organization and most of our services are free or very low-cost (we serve low-income entrepreneurs—see our income guidelines here). Following is our program at-a-glance:

 
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> Orientation | Get Ready for Business Workshop: The first step in getting involved with Washington C.A.S.H. is signing up for a Get Ready for Business Workshop. This 1-session workshop is designed to introduce you to Washington C.A.S.H.'s programs and training courses. At the end of the Get Ready for Business Workshop, you will have the option of applying for our 8-week Business Development Training course. Please keep in mind that space in our Business Development Training is limited and not everyone who applies will be accepted into the program.

We offer this workshop in English and Spanish in varying locations around the Puget Sound region.  Please visit our Get Enrolled page for further information on locations and the application process.


> Learn & Plan | Business Development Training

This training is our core offering to help people examine the feasibility of their new business idea or look at the profitability of an improvement in their existing business. We offer a new series of classes each quarter in English & Spanish in several locations around Puget Sound. The class meets once per week for 8 weeks.The following are basic descriptions of each class session in the 8-week course:

  • Class 1 -  Define Your Business
  • Class 2 -  Marketing Plan
  • Class 3 -  Creating a Sales Plan
  • Class 4 -  Make Money From Your Business
  • Class 5 -  Determining Your Break-Even Point
  • Class 6 -  Cash Flow Projections
  • Class 7 -  Legal, Taxes and Licensing
  • Class 8 -  Organizing Your Business
To apply for the BDT, you must attend a Get Ready for Business Workshop.
 

> Launch/Expand & Support | Additional Training and Resources: Upon successful graduation from the Business Development Training, you are eligible to apply to our Advanced Services, which may include micro-loans/financing, additional workshops, and more extensive business and financial education.

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Washington C.A.S.H. is a Washington State SEAP-Approved Provider/Program. Our program includes Entrepreneurial Training, Business Counseling, Technical Assistance, and other activities relating to setting up a business and becoming self-employed.

The Washington State Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) is a unique opportunity that allows individuals to enter into self-employment entrepreneurial training and receive business counseling while they collect unemployment benefits. If an individual qualifies and enrolls in an approved training program, they do not have to look for other work while in this program.

Contact Jen Chantrill, Business Accelerator Manager, with questions about eligibility requirements and the enrollment process: jchantrill@washingtoncash.org or by phone 206-352-1945 ext. 240. To learn more about Self-Employment Assistance Benefits, visit their website.