Fund your Idaho business

When your own money is not enough, start with a free advisor, then a lender. The Idaho Small Business Development Center¹ does not have the money. A regular SBA loan comes from a lender, with an SBA guarantee behind it.

What’s different in Idaho

• SBDC advising is free. The SBDC offers confidential one-to-one sessions, typically 1 to 1.5 hours, free of charge², and the capital team’s help is free to small businesses in Idaho³. The Idaho SBDC does not provide loans or grants¹.
• Two SBA offices split the state. Seattle covers the northernmost 10 counties, from its Spokane office. Boise covers the other 34. Both district pages say so.
• The pages below are not a startup grant. The SBDC does not provide one. A lender still decides a loan.
• Visits to the Boise SBA office are by appointment. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment only⁴.

Do this

1. Write down what you need and what it is for. Equipment, inventory, a building, and day-to-day cash are different asks. The SBDC capital FAQ says lenders often want a plan, tax returns, and, depending on the loan, collateral or a revenue history. A brand-new business may not have the revenue history. Ask the advisor which programs even consider a startup.
2. Book free advising. The appointment page lists six regions: North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene, North Central in Lewiston, Southwest in Boise, South Central in Twin Falls, Southeast in Pocatello, and Eastern in Idaho Falls. The consulting page offers confidential one-to-one sessions, typically 1 to 1.5 hours, free of charge². The Idaho SBDC does not provide loans or grants¹. The capital access FAQ says the services are free to small businesses in Idaho, including help building a loan package and an introduction to a lender. The center does not decide the loan. The lender does. The capital team can help you look for grants. It does not provide them³.
3. Use the SBA office for your county. The Boise District Office page says this: The Boise office serves 34 southern Idaho counties and six counties in eastern Oregon. The northernmost 10 Idaho counties are served by the Seattle office. The office offers funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery. It is at 380 E. Parkcenter Blvd., Suite 330, Boise, ID 83706, phone 208-334-9004, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment only⁴. The Seattle District Office serves Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone counties from its Spokane office, 801 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 444, Spokane, WA 99201, phone 509-353-2800. The Seattle page says the same split from its side: the southernmost 34 counties in Idaho are served by the Boise District Office⁵. If your county is not one of those 10, the two district pages place it in Boise’s 34-county service area. However, the “Serving” list under Boise’s office address is shorter than 34 counties and omits Ada and Canyon.* If your county is absent from that list, confirm coverage directly with the Boise office before making an appointment.
4. Understand who lends the regular SBA loans. You apply for a 7(a) loan through a lender, not by sending the application to the SBA. The SBA page says it does not provide 7(a) loans directly to borrowers. The SBA loans guide explains the main programs. The Boise office can help you find a participating lender. It does not approve the loan.
5. Read the grant question the same way. The Idaho SBDC does not provide loans or grants¹. The capital team can help you look for grants. It does not provide them³. Nothing on these pages is a check for opening day. Be wary of anyone selling access to a guaranteed grant.
6. Keep your paperwork ready. Lenders and advisors ask for your formation documents and EIN. Register your business and Get your tax IDs are the steps that produce them.
7. After a declared disaster, read the SBA disaster page before you apply. Disaster assistance is the program where the SBA can lend directly. A disaster by itself does not qualify you. Check the declaration and the loan type.

What you get back

An appointment with an advisor, and help preparing what a lender asks for. A loan decision comes only if you qualify, from a lender. These pages do not promise an approval.