Create. Sell. Grow: 5 Week Business Building Cohort for Makers & Creatives
About this Event
Create. Sell. Grow: Business Building Cohort for Makers & Creatives
Are you an Aurora artist, maker, pop-up or flea market vendor, side hustler, or emerging creative entrepreneur ready to get more intentional about your business?
Create. Sell. Grow. is a five-week business-building cohort designed to help you strengthen the business behind what you create through practical small business support, financial coaching, tools, and accountability.
You'll build while you learn — and participants who complete the program requirements can choose to pitch for one of five Implementation Support Microgrants of up to $2,000 each to help put what they've learned into action.
What You'll Work On
Over five weeks, you'll build skills and practical tools around:
- Sept. 16th: Business Planning – turn your idea or side hustle into a clearer business vision and plan
- Sept. 23rd: Budgeting & Cash Flow – manage irregular income, track expenses, and better understand your money
- Sept. 30th: Banking & Capital Readiness – understand business banking, credit, and capital readiness
- Oct. 7th: Retail, Vendor & Pricing Readiness – strengthen your pricing and prepare for pop-ups, markets, vendor opportunities, and retail environments
- Oct. 14th: Systems for Growth – create simple systems for managing customers, orders, payments, and day-to-day operations
What You'll Walk Away With
This isn't just about learning — you'll build while you learn.
You'll work toward developing a business plan, financial tracking tools, a personalized financial action plan, banking and capital readiness tools, a retail and pricing plan, and simple systems for operating your business.
You'll also receive two individual financial coaching sessions through the Aurora Financial Empowerment Center to help you apply what you're learning to your own financial goals and business.
The Commitment
This is a cohort — not a drop-in workshop series. We're looking for participants who are ready to show up, do the work, and build alongside us.
Wednesdays | September 16 – October 14 | 6:00–7:30 PM
City of Aurora Public Works Department | 2185 Liberty St., Aurora, IL 60502
In-person attendance is strongly encouraged. A virtual option will also be available.
Participants will complete two required 1:1 FEC financial coaching sessions during the cohort and should be prepared to work on practical business tools and assignments between sessions.
Business Readiness Showcase
October 28 | In Person | 6:00–7:30 PM
City of Aurora Public Works Department | 2185 Liberty St., Aurora, IL 60502
We'll close out the cohort with certificates, food, celebration, and our Business Readiness Showcase — a chance to recognize what you've built and take your next step.
Participants interested in pitching for a microgrant must attend the required cohort sessions, complete both 1:1 financial coaching sessions and required program deliverables, and present their business and proposed use of funds at the Showcase.
Want all the details? View the full curriculum, learning outcomes, participant deliverables, and Implementation Support Microgrant information in the agenda & FAQ section of eventbrite.
The goal is simple: leave with more than information — leave better prepared to build, operate, and grow your business.
Who Should Apply?
This cohort may be for you if you:
- Create art, handmade products, goods, or other creative work you sell or are preparing to sell
- Sell through pop-ups, flea markets, art fairs, vendor events, online platforms, or a side hustle
- Want to treat your creative work more intentionally as a business
- Need more structure around business planning, finances, pricing, banking, retail readiness, or operations
- Can commit to the five-week cohort, individual coaching, and work between sessions
- Are ready to take what you learn and actually use it
- Email [email protected] or call (630) 256-4551 for specific questions or inquiries.
You don't need to have everything figured out. You do need to be ready to learn, build, and take your business seriously.
Space is limited and registration will close once the cohort is full.
Agenda
September 16th - Workshop 1: Entrepreneur Mindset for Creatives and Business
Info: Explore how your creative identity and business identity can work together while building the foundation for a sustainable business. Participants will learn about entrepreneurial mindset, business structures such as sole proprietorships and LLCs, goal setting, foundational business behaviors, and the key components of a simple business plan.
Participants will: Define their business identity, explore business structure options, develop a business vision and begin building a business plan.
Outcome: Greater understanding of foundational business concepts and a clearer vision as a creative entrepreneur.
Deliverable: Creative Business Vision, Structure & Planning Worksheet + Business Plan.
September 23rd - Workshop 2: Budgeting & Cash Flow for Irregular Income
Info: Creative income isn't always predictable. This session helps participants build practical financial habits for managing fluctuating income, expenses, cash flow, and slower sales periods.
Participants will: Learn basic budgeting practices, strategies for managing inconsistent income, how to track business income and expenses, and why separating personal and business finances matters.
Outcome: Greater understanding of how to manage irregular business income and build financial habits that support stability and sustainability.
Deliverable: Basic Income & Expense Tracker.
September 24th, 25th or 29th - 1-on-1 Financial Coaching Session #1
Info: Up to 45 minutes | By Appointment |Conducted Virtual, In Person or Phone.
Participants will schedule one individual coaching session on one of the available dates. This session connects what you're learning in the cohort to your own financial picture.
Participants will: Work one-on-one with an FEC financial coach to review their budget, complete a financial assessment, identify financial priorities, establish personalized goals, and receive support applying financial tools introduced during the cohort.
Outcome: Greater awareness of personal and business financial needs and priorities.
Focus: Financial assessment, personalized budget review, goal setting and implementation support.
September 30th - Workshop 3: Banking & Capital Readiness
Info: Learn how banking, credit, and capital readiness connect to business growth. This session introduces business banking relationships, credit awareness, financing readiness, common financial barriers, and responsible financial practices for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Participants will: Explore business banking products and services, understand how personal and business credit can impact opportunities, learn foundational capital-readiness concepts, and identify financial risks and predatory lending practices.
Outcome: Increased banking, credit and capital-readiness awareness.
Deliverable: Business Banking & Capital Readiness Checklist
October 7th - Session 4: Retail, Vendor & Pricing Readiness
Info: Get ready to sell with more intention. This session explores pricing, vendor expectations, inventory basics, customer experience, ecommerce, and preparation for pop-ups, markets, art fairs, and other retail environments.
Participants will: Explore pricing strategies, understand how pricing impacts profitability, identify vendor and retail expectations, learn introductory inventory and customer experience practices, and explore ecommerce tools for visibility and growth.
Outcome: Increased readiness to price, present and sell products in customer-facing environments.
Deliverable: Retail, Vendor & Pricing Readiness Plan.
October 14th - Workshop 5: Systems for Growth & Business Operations
Info: Turn the hustle into systems. Participants will explore simple operational strategies and digital tools for staying organized and managing the day-to-day side of their business.
Participants will: Identify workflows for orders, payments and customer communication; explore tools that simplify operations; strengthen customer-management practices; and identify opportunities to grow through markets, partnerships and expanded sales channels.
Outcome: Greater confidence and readiness to manage business operations consistently and sustainably.
Deliverable: Starter Business Operations Workflow.
October 15th, 16th, 19th or 20th - 1-on-1 Financial Coaching Session #2
Info: Up to 45 minutes | By Appointment Virtual, In Person or Phone.
Participants will schedule one individual coaching session on one of the available dates. This second session focuses on progress, implementation, and next steps.
Participants will: Review progress toward financial goals, receive individualized coaching, address business banking or financial questions, identify next steps, and connect with additional resources or referrals when needed.
Outcome: Increased financial readiness and a clear set of personalized next steps to support continued business growth.
Deliverable: Personalized Financial Action Plan.
October 28th - Business Readiness Showcase: In Person
Info: We’ll close out Create. Sell. Grow. with certificates, food, celebration, and a chance to recognize everything participants have built throughout the cohort.
Participants who have completed the program requirements and choose to pitch will present their business and proposed next steps for consideration for one of five Implementation Support Microgrants of up to $2,000 each.
Outcome: Participants celebrate their progress, demonstrate increased business readiness, and identify next steps for continued growth.
Microgrant Opportunity: Selected participants receive implementation support to help turn what they’ve learned into tangible business assets, tools, and systems.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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