An Effective Way to Scale & Grow Your Technical Assistance

Initiate began as a way to gather and share our best practice business resources. Today, Initiate is a popular TA platform used by Northern Initiatives and other organizations throughout the United States. Its easy-to-use format standardizes the business advisor’s approach for working with business clients. The focus is on areas that matter most to small businesses: Startups, Money, Marketing, and Management.

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Community Development Financial Institutions and Micro Lenders use Initiate to:

Onboard and train TA staff

Ensure customers received consistent TA experience

Improve customer outreach and engagement

Mitigate portfolio risk

Track and monitor clients

Reach and Engage More Customers
Improve Operational Efficiencies

With Initiate, your staff and the customers you serve can gain immediate online access to over 130 interactive calculators, templates, video, and small business guides in English and Spanish.

Contact your advisor or lender to access Initiate.

Gain access to over 130 resources: interactive tools, templates, videos, and guides

Managing Cash flow is a vital aspect of running a successful business. Now you can help your customer gain insight on how to understand and improve their cash position with our interactive tool. This interactive tool provides a cash flow plan in 7 easy to follow steps.

Contact your advisor or lender to access Initiate.

Tools, Templates, Videos, & Guides

Entrepreneurs working with Northern Initiatives get 24/7 access to Initiate, our online business resource with 100s of interactive tools, templates, videos, and guides.

Resources are organized into the four categories business owners need: Startup, Money, Marketing, and Management.

Contact your advisor or lender to access Initiate.

Our Business Support Focus Areas

Startups

Assess, Develop, Finance a Business

We help with:
  • Sales Projections
  • The 5Cs of Credit
  • Guide to Sole Proprietorship
  • Site Selection
    Calculating Startup Costs

Money

Cash Flow and Profitability

We help with:
  • Creating and Reviewing Financial Statements
  • Break-Even and Profit Planning
  • Pricing for Profitability
  • Financial Systems

Marketing

Sales Growth and Awareness

We help with:
  • Creating an Effective Marketing Plan
  • Branding and Positioning
  • Finding and Keeping Customers
  • Building Online Awareness

Management

Enhance Business Operations

We help with:
  • Time Management
  • Risk Management
  • Technology Systems
  • Cybersecurity