Arizona Small Business Academy is sponsored by Arizona Commerce Authority. Equips small businesses across Arizona with knowledge to scale their business through courses and resources.

Arizona Small Business Lending Academy Small Business Financing (SSBCI) Small Business Lending Academy Helping Entrepreneurs build tools, resources, and confidence needed to secure funding.

The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with Growth Partners Arizona , presents The Small Business Lending Academy, a hands-on, step-by-step program for small business owners seeking to secure capital by confidently approaching funders with the financial tools, business narrative, and capital strategy they need to succeed.

Whether preparing for a loan, grant, or equity investment, the program helps small business owners understand what funders are looking for, organize their financials, and build a realistic capital plan to support sustainable business growth.

This comprehensive eight-week program is offered at no cost, with limited enrollment and designed for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEDI) and Very Small Businesses (VSBs) to assist in generating the proper documentation for a microloan (under $50,000). Applications for the Small Business Lending Academy are closed.

Participants will benefit from the expertise of financial and lending professionals who will guide them through building a lender-ready capital folder, developing a 12-month financial forecast, and crafting a compelling business narrative. This eight-week program helps small business owners organize their financials, understand what funders are looking for, and walk away with the tools and confidence to pursue funding.

Businesses that properly complete the program will have a lender-ready packet that contains: A lender-ready financial document folder A 12-month forecast and working budget A polished business narrative and practice pitch Reusable tools and templates to support your ongoing growth Completing the program does not guarantee loan approval. Each business is at a different stage of growth and individual results may vary.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to: Get organized financially Understand how funders and lenders make decisions Build confidence in funding conversations Prepare strong, realistic financial documents and capital plans This program is geared towards businesses that have the minimum requirements below: Preparing to seek a business loan under $50,000 Yearly gross revenue under $250,000 Must be in business at least 2+ Years (active, not just established) Be a Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) OR Very Small Business (VSB - Under 10 employees) Two years of personal federal income tax returns and the previous year's business tax return Must be located in Arizona Currently have a financial system in place to track business expenditures and income (ex: QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero, Wave, business accountant, etc.) If your business does not meet these requirements or you are a business looking for assistance getting started, please review the small business checklist for more information.

Welcome & Program Introduction Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm | Virtual Participants will meet their cohort, learn how the Lending Academy works, and understand what to expect throughout the program. In this session, they will set their goals, learn how the learning journey is structured, and begin building a strong foundation for becoming capital ready.

What it Means to Be Capital Ready Week 1 | Complete by Friday, May 22, 2026 | Self-Directed Week 2 | Complete by Friday, May 29, 2026 | Self-Directed + Office Hours with Coach Participants will build a simple working business budget so they can clearly see what their business earns and spends each month. This session helps them plan ahead, stay organized, and make decisions using their numbers instead of guessing.

Week 3 | Complete by Friday, June 5, 2026 | Self-Directed + Office Hours with Coach Participants will learn how to estimate the money coming in and going out of their business over the next few months. Creating a cash flow forecast helps them prepare for slower periods, plan expenses more confidently, and understand how financial decisions affect their business over time.

Participants will work alongside coaches and peers to apply what they have learned so far and get personalized support using their budget and cash flow tools. During this session, they will use Cashflow Canvas, an AI-enabled resource that helps fine-tune pricing, strengthen forecasts, and better understand how much funding their business can realistically manage with confidence.

The 5 Cs of Credit and Credit Readiness Week 5 | Complete by Friday, June 19, 2026 | Self-Directed Week 6 | Complete by Friday, June 26, 2026 | Self-Directed + Office Hours with Coach Participants will learn how to clearly explain their business goals, financial needs, and funding purpose in a way lenders can understand.

This session helps them connect their numbers to their vision so they can confidently communicate why funding will support their next stage of growth. Build Your Capital Folder Participants will organize the key documents lenders typically request so they are prepared when opportunities arise. Creating their capital folder helps them show up with clarity, confidence, and readiness when applying for funding.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 | 5:30pm | Virtual Participants will celebrate the progress they have made and the financial tools they have built throughout the Lending Academy as they prepare for what comes next.

During this session, they will review their capital readiness progress, explore next-step opportunities, and have the chance to apply directly for funding so they can move forward with greater clarity and confidence about their financing options.