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.

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