Frequently Asked Questions
Ventures verifies income to ensure that we are assisting people with low incomes. We use total household income to determine eligibility. Use the table below to verify that you are eligible to join Ventures, starting with the number of people in your household.
| People in Household | Max. MONTHLY Income | Max. ANNUAL Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,558 | $66,700 |
| 2 | $6,350 | $76,200 |
| 3 | $7,145 | $85,750 |
| 4 | $7,937 | $95,250 |
| 5 | $8,575 | $102,900 |
| 6 | $9,208 | $110,500 |
| 7 | $9,845 | $118,150 |
| 8 | $10,479 | $125,750 |
Ventures’ program costs $2,000 per person. However, thanks to community support who believe in our mission, business owners pay a sliding scale fee of $50, $100, or $200 for the full course, depending on household size and total household income. Entrepreneurs are never turned away if unable to pay, and are encouraged to contribute what is appropriate for them if unable to pay the fee.
| People in Household | Income Less Than | Income Between: | Income Between: |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost | $50 | $100 | $200 |
| 1 | $25,100 | $25,101 - $41,800 | $41,801 - $66,700 |
| 2 | $28,650 | $28,651 - $47,800 | $47,801 - $76,200 |
| 3 | $32,250 | $32,251 - $53,750 | $53,751 - $85,750 |
| 4 | $35,800 | $35,801 - $59,700 | $59,701 - $95,250 |
| 5 | $38,700 | $38,701 - $64,500 | $64,501 - $102,900 |
| 6 | $41,550 | $41,551 - $69,300 | $69,301 - $110,500 |
| 7 | $44,400 | $44,401 - $74,050 | $74,051 - $118,150 |
| 8 | $47,300 | $47,301 - $78,850 | $78,851 - $125,750 |
Ventures verifies income to ensure that we serve our mission to assist people with low incomes to start small businesses. If you are accepted into the Business Basics Course, you will need to bring the following items to the first day of class. Please provide proof of income for each member of your household earning income. You may provide any of the following as proof:
- Three months of pay stubs from employment
- IRS tax form 1040
- Letters of Entitlement from any form of public assistance (Food Stamps, SSI, TANF, Refugee Assistance Grants, Unemployment Receipts, etc.)
The Ventures Marketplace is an opportunity for product businesses to get their products into customers’ hands. We have our Pike Place Market retail store as well as our online store in which a product business can sell while at the same time receiving valuable business coaching and other small business services.
If you have completed the Ventures Business Basics Course, email programs(at)venturesnonprofit.org. If you are new to Ventures, sign up for the next Ventures Orientation.
Access to capital is one of the Specialized Services we offer to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Learn more about the requirements for our small business loans. (We do not offer IDAs). If you have completed Ventures’ Business Basics Course, email programs(at)venturesnonprofit.org. If you are new to Ventures, sign up for the next Ventures Orientation.