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This is likely because some kinds of files are not supported by our system. You can try saving your document as a pdf and uploading it again as we know that file format is accepted by our system. If you have tried this and you are still experiencing errors, please reach out to us via email (10ksb@icic.org)

If your business meets the minimum program criteria you will be invited to interview and asked to submit additional business documents

This is a technical issue that we have been working out in our system. If an applicant uses any special characters in the answers to these questions, (e.g. , ! # $ “”) the word counting software will miscount the words and register it as greater than 500. If you have not already submitted your application you are welcome to go back in and try again, this time without any special characters. If you have already submitted your application, you can email 10ksb@icic.rog with what your answer would have been, and we can do our best to change things on our end!

We take your privacy seriously and do all we can to protect the information that you submit to us. Our application is protected with SSL encryption, and we limit the number of eyes that view your information to only those necessary to the application process.

Unfortunately, no. We will need separate Profit and Loss Statements with a full list of incomes and expenses. We most commonly see documents created though QuickBooks but if you need further assistance, you can reach out to us via email (10ksb@icic.rog) and we can share some templates that may assist you in create these documents on your own.

If your link or password does not work when you try to log in reach out to 10ksb@icic.org and we will send you a new link and password. It should be noted however that when we do send that link, the old one will no longer work so you should only use the most recent link that you have been sent.

For issues regarding your online application that are not addressed here, please contact the 10KSB team at the site where you are applying. If you are applying to the National Cohort, please email 10ksb@icic.org.

If these do not work, document the problem by taking screenshots.  These will help us determine the nature of the problem and work towards a solution. See below for instructions on how to take a screenshot:

Taking Screenshots:

There are multiple methods to take a screenshot, depending on the device. Make sure that the error message or problem is clearly visible on your screen before you take the screenshot.

On a PC, there are two main methods:

1. On the keyboard, locate the PrtSc button. This will take a screenshot of your entire screen as it is currently visible. Depending on computer settings, it may open a “save as” window – if this happens, save the file as an image in a location you will remember. If a window does not open, the screenshot has been copied to the clipboard. Open Microsoft Paint, Microsoft Word, or any other program, and paste the image in (either Ctrl-V or Right Click-Paste).
2. In the search bar on the task/start menu, search for the Snipping Tool. Open the snipping tool and use your mouse or trackpad to select the area you would like to screenshot. Save this file as an image in a location you will remember.

On a Mac, there are also two methods:

1. Press Shift-Command-3 to take a screenshot of your entire screen. The image should be saved to your desktop automatically.
2. Press Shift-Command-4 to take a screenshot of part of your screen. Use your mouse or trackpad to select the area you would like to screenshot. The screenshot should be saved to your desktop automatically.

You may use the same “Apply Now” link from the website that you used the first time. It will ask for the same information as your first application, but it will generate a new application on our end, effectively alerting us to your renewed interest in the program!

Yes! As long as there is some revenue generating aspect of your non-profit, then you are more than welcome to apply for the program. If your non-profit is run by a Board of Directors, we may also ask you for a Letter of Support. The Letter should state that other owners/Board is aware that you have applied for the program on behalf of your business, and they agree to implement any changes in the business that you’d be suggesting as a result of the program.

We will reach out to you with the specific guidelines for this letter if this is the case for you.

We have many site-specific locations that offer in-person sessions which you can locate in the dropdown menu on the first page of the application. If you live near one of these locations, you can simply click on that program location and your application will be sent to that team. However, if you are further than a 2-3 hour drive away from an in-person location you can apply to our National Cohort. There is no difference in content between the National Cohort and one of our local programs. The only difference is that the National Cohort is delivered through 10 weeks of online learning followed by a final, four-day, in-person meeting in New York (food, travel, and lodging will be paid for by the program).

The National Cohort, however, is only available for people who are greater than a 2-3 hour drive away from one of our in-person locations. If you are within driving distance of one of those locations, you will need to apply to that location.

Numerical fields such as “Years in Operation” will only accept numbers. If you have added additional characters in numeric fields, such as commas, dollar signs, letters, or decimals, an error message will occur. For example, revenues should be entered as “150000” instead of “$150,000.” An error message should be displayed at the top of the screen, alerting you to the issue.

The deadline to apply for the program varies depending on your location and whether you qualify for the National Cohort or the local (in-person) program. To determine which program you qualify for and see your next cohort dates and application deadline, visit our Overview page and enter your city and state in the Our Locations section.

To apply for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, use this Apply Now link or use the Apply Now button at the top of the website. The application process is open year-round.

Applications for a cohort in either the national (online) or local (in-person) programs must be submitted approximately 3 months before the cohort’s start date. Applicants can choose to apply to a future cohort during the application process. Once you have submitted your application, you will be notified of your application status within 6-8 weeks.

For any questions about the application process, please use the form on our Contact section to reach out to a program administrator.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program offers a variety of local program locations across the United States.

Find a location nearest you.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a 12-week program, available both online and locally in-person at various locations across the United States. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to complete it at their own pace, though most finish within 12 weeks.

Successful applicants should expect to spend about 10 hours per week working on the program.

Designed by Babson College, the nation’s top-ranked school for entrepreneurship, our 12-week curriculum covers a variety of different topics, including:

• Financial management
• Marketing
• Sales
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Business planning

The curriculum is designed to help small business owners learn the skills and strategies they need to grow their businesses. The program uses a combination of online and in-person learning, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities.

The program is delivered by a team of experienced business leaders and educators. The program also includes a variety of guest speakers, who share their expertise with participants.

For more information on the curriculum, please visit our Education page.

Benefits of participating in the program include:

• Gaining practical skills in areas such as financial management, marketing, and sales.
• Developing a customized business plan.
• Networking with other small business owners and program alumni.
• Receiving mentorship from experienced business leaders.

Additionally:

• Over 13,600 small business owners have graduated from the program.
• The program has a 97% completion rate.
• 86% of graduates do business with other graduates.
• 67% of graduates mentor other businesses.
• 44% of graduates created new jobs six months after graduation.
• 66% of graduates increased revenues six months after graduation.

To learn more about the benefits of the program, please visit our Education, Program Details, and About Us pages. To hear what program graduates have to say, check out the Alumni Testimonials sections on our Education and About Us pages.

The program is open to applicants who generally meet these criteria:

• Small business owner or co-owner
• Business in operation for at least two years
• Business revenues over $75,000 in the most recent fiscal year
• Business with a minimum of two employees (including the business owner)

For any questions about these criteria or whether you may be eligible, please use the form in our contact section to reach out to a program administrator.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a free, 12-week online and in-person program that provides small business owners with the tools and resources they need to grow their businesses. The program is open to small businesses owners or co-owners who have been in business for at least two years, have over $75,000 in the most recent fiscal year, and have a minimum of two employees (including the owner).

The program covers a variety of topics, including financial management, marketing, sales, leadership, teamwork, and business planning. Participants also have the opportunity to network with other small business owners and receive mentorship from experienced business leaders.