Pro Bono Small Business Clinic

Running a business is hard, but getting support shouldn’t be. Pathway Financial Education’s Pro Bono Small Business Clinic provides Kansas City small business owners with free, one-on-one consultations with trusted professionals to help them grow and strengthen their businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, you’ll walk away with real advice and actionable steps tailored to your business.

For Business Owners

Ready to grow your business? Fill out our short form to get matched with the right expert.

For Volunteers

Are you a professional interested in giving back? Learn how to join our volunteer network.

Designed for Entrepreneurs at Every Stage

Are you a small business owner, entrepreneur, or running a part-time business and need expert guidance, but don’t have the budget for it? This clinic is for you! Whether you’re navigating complex decisions or working through challenges in areas like finance, legal, or marketing, our team is here to help at no cost. Get the expert support you need to grow and strengthen your business.

What We Can Help With

We support business owners every day with a wide range of accounting needs, from day-to-day tasks to big-picture planning. Here are just a few of the ways we can help:

  • Reviewing income statements and balance sheets

  • Figuring out what their numbers actually mean

  • Understanding how their business is doing financially

  • Learning how to track income, costs, and profit margins

  • Choosing between cash or accrual accounting

  • Preparing for tax time by getting financial records in order

  • Cleaning up past records that may have errors or inconsistencies

  • Organizing finances to prepare for funding or investor conversations

  • Discussing when it might be time to hire an accountant full-time

Whether it’s one of these common scenarios or something else entirely, we’re here to help you feel confident in your finances.

Whether you’re brand new to business banking or trying to build stronger relationships, we can help with a variety of scenarios, like:

  • Opening a business bank account for the first time

  • Choosing the right type of account for your needs

  • Understanding what banks look for in business customers

  • Separating personal and business finances

  • Organizing documents commonly requested by banks or lenders

  • Setting up systems for deposits, expenses, and financial tracking

  • Learning how to build a relationship with your banker

  • Avoiding common mistakes that raise red flags with financial institutions

And if what you need isn’t on this list, that’s okay, too. Our banking professionals are here to help you build a solid foundation and avoid surprises down the road.

You don’t have to be a numbers person to stay organized. Some of the common things our team supports business owners with include:

  • Setting up a system for tracking income and expenses

  • Choosing and using software like QuickBooks or Wave

  • Separating personal and business transactions

  • Organizing receipts, invoices, and payment records

  • Catching up on a backlog of financial tracking

  • Preparing clean records to share with a tax preparer or lender

  • Understanding the difference between bookkeeping and accounting

  • Cleaning up inconsistent or unclear records

  • Creating a process you can stick to each month

And if you’re facing something a little different? That’s okay. Our bookkeepers help you simplify your workflow and build habits that keep things manageable, whatever that looks like for your business.

Whether you’re hiring your first team member or managing a growing crew, we can help you navigate the people side of business. Here are just a few areas we often support:

  • Writing clear job descriptions and postings

  • Understanding the difference between an employee and an independent contractor

  • Setting up basic onboarding documents or processes

  • Creating policies and expectations that protect you and your team

  • Handling HR issues when things don’t go as planned

  • Learning about labor laws and compliance

  • Navigating payroll, scheduling, or team communication challenges

  • Planning for future growth with a people-first mindset

  • Supporting a positive and professional work environment

Our HR professionals are here to help you hire smart and lead confidently.

Insurance can feel confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rethinking your current coverage, we’ll help you make sense of it all. That might include:

  • Understanding the different types of insurance (general liability, property, professional, etc.)

  • Determining what kind of coverage your business might need

  • Identifying gaps in your current insurance setup

  • Learning what insurance clients, landlords, or vendors may require

  • Reviewing existing policies for clarity or missing coverage

  • Figuring out how to insure a home-based or mobile business

  • Exploring affordable insurance options that still offer protection

  • Knowing when and how to update your coverage as your business grows

Our insurance professionals will help you better understand your risks and how to manage them, even if your situation doesn’t fit neatly into a checklist.

Legal questions come up in every stage of business. We support entrepreneurs with a wide range of legal needs, including:

  • Choosing a legal structure that fits your business (LLC, sole prop, etc.)

  • Reviewing vendor, contractor, or lease agreements

  • Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a business owner

  • Figuring out which licenses, permits, or registrations you need

  • Drafting or updating operating agreements or terms of service

  • Clarifying liability concerns and how to protect your assets

  • Responding to disputes or client issues

  • Protecting intellectual property, logos, or your business name

  • Making sure you’re meeting legal requirements as your business grows

And if your needs fall outside of these examples, our legal professionals are here to point you in the right direction and help you move forward with confidence.

You don’t need a big budget to tell your story. Whether you’re building your brand from scratch or trying to gain traction, we can help you make the most of what you have. That might include:

  • Clarifying your brand message, voice, and tone

  • Identifying your target audience and where to find them

  • Creating a simple marketing plan that fits your business

  • Reviewing social media profiles and strategy

  • Giving feedback on your website, logo, or other brand elements

  • Helping you make the most of free or low-cost marketing tools

  • Brainstorming campaign or promotion ideas

  • Finding ways to stand out in a crowded market

  • Understanding how to track results and adjust your efforts

Our marketing professionals are ready to help you reach your people and grow your presence.

When it comes to funding, we help you get prepared. Here are some of the ways we commonly support business owners:

  • Identifying what funding options might be available (loans, grants, investors)

  • Preparing required documents for loan applications

  • Understanding what lenders are really looking for

  • Reviewing or building a business plan or pitch

  • Identifying red flags that could delay funding

  • Clarifying your financial position and how to strengthen it

  • Learning how to build business credit

  • Getting ready for conversations with funders, bankers, or partners

  • Exploring the right funding path for your goals and business stage

Our capital experts will help you take the guesswork out of funding and make smarter moves.

Navigating city rules and requirements can be tricky, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re setting up shop or planning to expand, we can help you work through things like:

  • Determining whether your business is allowed to operate in a certain location

  • Understanding local zoning regulations for storefronts, home-based businesses, or mobile services

  • Identifying permits needed for renovations, events, or signage

  • Troubleshooting issues with leases or code enforcement

  • Planning for expansion or relocation with compliance in mind

  • Making sense of city language, applications, or approval processes

  • Connecting with the right municipal departments or staff

  • Getting clarity before signing a lease or launching in a new space

  • Avoiding fines or delays by understanding what’s required upfront

Our planning professionals can help you avoid headaches and operate with peace of mind.

These examples are just some of the most common ways we support business owners, but they’re not all-inclusive. If there’s another topic you’d like help with or an area you think Pathway should consider offering support in, we’d love to hear from you. You can share your ideas or suggestions directly in the intake form.

How It Works

We’ve designed the clinic to be simple, supportive, and flexible. Here’s how you can access free small business support in Kansas City through our one-on-one consultation process.

1. Submit an Interest Form

Start by completing a quick intake form. You’ll share a little about your business, what you’re working on, and what kind of support you think you might need. If you’re not sure, no problem. Just give us your best guess, and we’ll take it from there.

2. We Reach Out to Learn More

After reviewing your form, a member of the Pathway team will contact you to schedule an initial meeting. This conversation helps us better understand your goals, challenges, and what type of support would be most helpful right now. Based on your needs, we’ll connect you with a trusted professional in the appropriate field.

3. You Schedule Your Session

Once you’re matched, you’ll receive a personalized scheduling link with your assigned professional’s availability. All sessions take place on our designated clinic days — the first and third Tuesday of each month — and are offered via Zoom. Just choose a time that works best for you.

4. Get Personalized Guidance and Next Steps

Your one-on-one session will last about 30 minutes and will focus entirely on the questions or topics you need help with. You’ll leave with clearer direction, helpful tools or ideas, and a better sense of what to do next. If additional support is needed, we’ll help coordinate that too.

Do you need help in more than one area? No problem. You’re welcome to schedule additional sessions with other professionals as needed.

Why It’s Free

Pathway’s Pro Bono Small Business Clinic is powered by local professionals who donate their time to help entrepreneurs thrive. These experts, from fields like legal, accounting, HR, marketing, and more, volunteer their services to provide free, high-quality support to Kansas City small business owners. Whether you’re just starting out or trying to grow, our clinic connects you with real people who want to help your business succeed.

This model keeps resources accessible, community-driven, and 100% free to small businesses. It’s one way we’re building a stronger, more equitable small business ecosystem across the region.

Interested in Volunteering?

Are you a business professional who wants to give back?

Our Pro Bono Clinic is made possible by business professionals who volunteer their time to support Kansas City’s small business community. If you have experience in legal services, small business accounting, HR, marketing, insurance, banking, or operations, your expertise could help a local entrepreneur solve real challenges and move forward.

We’re also open to expanding the areas we cover, so if you work in a field not currently listed, we’d love to hear how your expertise could benefit small business owners. Our volunteer professionals meet with clients one-on-one to offer free, personalized guidance in a flexible, supportive setting.

Ready to Get Started?

Complete our short intake form to begin. We’ll reach out with next steps and connect you to the right resource.