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Small Business Mentorship Program

Overview

The Wakefield Small Business Mentorship Program is a town-led initiative designed to support new and emerging businesses through structured mentorship from established local business owners. By leveraging the experience and knowledge of Wakefield’s existing business community, the program will reduce barriers to entry, improve long-term sustainability, and encourage economic growth within the town. Participating mentors are volunteering their time.

Two businesswomen sitting indoors looking at a laptop

Program Goals

  • Increase the success rate of new businesses in Wakefield
  • Simplify the startup process for entrepreneurs
  • Encourage local collaboration and community investment
  • Activate vacant storefronts and commercial spaces
  • Retain and grow local talent and innovation
  • Create a competitive edge to encourage entrepreneurs to choose Wakefield over other towns to open their business
  • Support the transition of Project: Pop-Up businesses into permanent brick-and-mortar locations in Wakefield

Program Structure

Mentor Participation

Established Wakefield business owners will be invited to participate as mentors. Mentors will:

  • Commit to a defined mentorship period (3–6 months)
  • Provide one-on-one and/or group guidance to new business owners
  • Commit to at least one meeting a month with the mentee
  • Be available for reasonable email/phone questions
  • Provide constructive and positive guidance
  • Be located in Wakefield or have a strong connection to Wakefield
  • Be in business for a minimum of 3 years

Mentee Eligibility

New business owners will benefit from the guidance of experienced, local experts. To participate in the program, applicants should have a willingness to receive constructive and positive support and meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • New businesses opening in Wakefield
  • Participants in the Town-supported Project: Pop-Up program
  • Home-based businesses transitioning to commercial spaces
  • Entrepreneurs actively preparing to open in Wakefield
  • Businesses opened within the last 24 months

Proposed Mentorship Areas

Depending on areas of need and interest, a participant’s involvement could include:

  • Regulatory Navigation: Guidance could include the permitting and licensing processes, understanding local compliance requirements, and health, safety, and zoning considerations.
  • Financial Foundations: Mentors and mentees may discuss startup costs and financing options, sales tracking and forecasting, how to calculate cost of goods sold, or budgeting and cash flow management.
  • Payroll and Labor Compliance: Discussions in this area may include payroll setup and management, how to understand state and federal labor laws, and hiring practices and employee classification.
  • Business Operations: Mentors could guide mentees in creating standard operating procedures, developing an employee handbook, or inventory and supply-chain basics.
  • Marketing and Growth: Participants could review branding and merchandising strategies, social media presence and content planning, website creation and digital storefronts, or local marketing and community engagement.

Apply Today

Interested in participating in the program? Apply as a mentor Mentorship Program Application (Mentor) or apply as a mentee Mentorship Program Application (Mentee).

If you have specific questions before submitting your application, contact Erin Kokinda, Wakefield’s Planning and Community Development Director, at 781-246-6397

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