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Small Business Financial Fundamentals Client Application - (2025 Winter Cohort)

The Polsky Small Business Financial Fundamentals begins with a nine week intensive program occurring January - March 2025 for South or West side businesses to receive tailored technical assistance and consultation related to financial capital pathways and preparedness, business finance education, and coaching. South and West Side business owners with annual revenues approximately $250,000-$500,000 who are actively seeking to secure capital through a bank loan or other fundraising are welcome to apply. Business owners will also receive guidance on improving their financial reporting and using financial statements to make strategic decisions. Participants should be: // Ready to make shifts in their businesses to achieve greater success. // Prepared to spend time to work on their businesses (and not just in their businesses), i.e. be able to step away from daily operations to grow the business. // Able to attend an in-person gathering at the start and close of the program. // Have a set of financial statements, i.e. income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Minimum requirement for participation is a P&L (income) statement; assistance is available to create if needed. // Commitment to attend all classroom sessions. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. CST. If you need any assistance or clarification while completing the application, please contact Isra Omar at isra.omar@chicagobooth.edu. Inquiries received by 9:00 a.m. on November 15 will be addressed before the deadline.

(e.g. CEO, Founder)
My business is primarily:
Industry
Entity type (if incorporated/organized)
Racial identity
Which of the following describe(s) you?
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native
  • Asian
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latinx
  • Middle Eastern or North African
  • Multiracial or Biracial
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  • White or Caucasian
  • Decline to state
Gender identity
Which of the following describe(s) you?
  • Man
  • Woman
  • Genderqueer/gender nonconforming
  • A different identity
  • Decline to state
Do you identify as transgender?
Growth goals
List a few business goals over the next year and the type(s) of support that will help you achieve them.


Pitch deck
If you have a pitch deck or other materials, attach here.
Attach file
Drop files here
Scope of business
Venture description
Please briefly describe your business and provide details about your typical customers, your products and services, and other information that would help us understand your business.
  • {name}
Ownership distribution
Please indicate if your business is 50% or more owned by any of the following. (Please select all that apply.)
  • Minorities/ A minority individual
  • None of the above
  • Veterans/ A veteran
  • Women/ A woman
If your company has any business certifications (e.g. MBE, WBE, DBE), please list them below.
  • {name}
Venture needs
Which of the following project types best describes your needs? Please select no more than two project types.
  • Bookkeeping Tools/Systems
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Document Preparation for Funding Opportunities
  • Identification of Capital Opportunities
  • Payment Processing
  • Other
Business challenges
Please describe the business challenges that are driving your interest in our program.
  • {name}
Capital needs
Describe the capital you are seeking to grow/scale your business.
  • {name}
Do you have the following financial statements?
  • Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Profit & Loss Statement
  • Statement of Cash Flows
  • None of the above
Are you prepared to make shifts in your businesses to achieve greater success?
Are you prepared to commit to this program?
This program lasts for nine weeks, with a time commitment of two hours per week of instruction time for entrepreneurs and an average of two hours of outside work per week with dedicated MBA student team support.
How did you find out about the Small Business Financial Fundamentals?
Questions
Please use this space to raise any questions or comments or clarify any of the above responses.
  • {name}

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