Why Partner With SBGI?
Support Small Businesses. Strengthen Communities. Expand Opportunity.
As an SBGI partner, you may have the opportunity to support eligible Illinois small businesses through professional technical assistance services, referrals, workshops, or specialized advisory support.
Ideal partners are experienced, responsive, and committed to serving Illinois small business owners with professionalism, accuracy, and care.
Expand Access to Expertise
Help eligible Illinois small businesses connect with experienced professionals and specialized technical assistance.
Strengthen Business Readiness
Support entrepreneurs with advisory guidance, documentation, systems, and readiness for long-term growth.
Serve Underserved Businesses
Contribute to a mission-aligned initiative focused on expanding access for small businesses that may face barriers to resources.
Build Community Impact
Collaborate with SBGI to support stronger local economies, business stability, and sustainable growth.
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking experienced professionals and organizations in areas such as:
- Accounting, bookkeeping, tax, and financial reporting
- Business law, contracts, compliance, and entity structuring
- Capital readiness, lending, and funding preparation
- Credit counseling and financial coaching
- Business strategy, operations, and growth planning
- Marketing, branding, and digital readiness
- Specialized services aligned with participant needs
Our Screening Process
Step 1:
Partner Pre-Screening
Complete a short pre-screening form to help us understand your business structure, professional experience, service area, capacity, and system readiness.
Step 2:
Full Partner Application
Qualified applicants may be invited to complete a full application, including questions about service delivery, workflow maturity, documentation standards, and professional experience.
Step 3:
Interview & Review
Selected applicants may be invited to interview with the SBGI team. Approval is based on program needs, professional qualifications, service capacity, and alignment with SBGI standards.
Step 4:
Partner Onboarding
Approved partners may receive onboarding instructions, system access, compliance expectations, and referral/service delivery procedures.
Interested in Supporting Illinois Small Businesses?
Start with our short partner pre-screening form. If your experience and capacity align with current program needs, our team may invite you to complete the next step.

