Small Business Starts Here
Small businesses are the engine that drives local economies. They create jobs, spark innovation, support families, and build something that matters. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses of 500 or fewer employees make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade notes that in 2022, Colorado had 690,000 small businesses, accounting for 99.5% of all Colorado businesses and employing nearly half the state’s workforce. Small businesses have also led the way in exports from the state: figures from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative show that in 2016, 4,857 of the 5,582 companies exporting from Colorado, 87%, were small and medium-sized enterprises, generating 28.1% of the state’s total goods exports that year.
Ambition here doesn’t require a corner office or a household name to matter. Small businesses bring careers and opportunity, and they contribute to the growth of our local economy through paychecks and taxes. The Colorado Small Business Development Center serving the Pikes Peak Region, Catalyst Campus, and Exponential Impact connect entrepreneurs and startups with the resources they need to launch, grow, and expand, providing a community built to help every business, at every size, build a future.
- Colorado Small Business Development Center serving the Pikes Peak Region
- SizeUp COS
- COS Open for Biz
- Small Business Calendar
- Downtown Colorado Springs
Supporting growth in small businesses
Businesses here don’t have to grow alone. The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC is the proud host of the Colorado Small Business Development Center serving the Pikes Peak Region.
The Colorado Small Business Development Center serving the Pikes Peak Region (SBDC) is one of 14 statewide centers focused on helping Colorado’s small businesses achieve their goals. The SBDC supports small businesses across the Pikes Peak region through consulting and low- or no-cost training, giving owners the tools to start and grow with confidence.
The SBDC connects small businesses with the resources that maximize an entrepreneur’s potential and minimize risk: comprehensive business plans, financial forecasting, marketing strategy, funding applications, and operational improvements. It also connects small business owners with resources and financing available through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) — real support behind real ambition.
The SBDC’s office is located at Catalyst Campus, part of a growing community where businesses at every stage find their footing.
Free business intelligence for data-based decisions
SizeUp COS is a free, powerful online tool from the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, built to help local entrepreneurs and small business owners make smarter decisions with verified data. Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling an existing company, SizeUp COS delivers tailored business intelligence that’s typically out of reach for smaller organizations — the same strategic insight large corporations rely on, now available to any business building here, regardless of size. This initiative reflects the Chamber & EDC’s broader mission: strengthening the region’s economy by giving business leaders the accessible, actionable data they need to thrive.
One of SizeUp COS’s key benefits is its ease of use and confidentiality. The platform doesn’t store any user-entered information, so business planning stays private. Users can drill down to the zip code level or zoom out to compare data across city, county, metro, state, and national scales. Data sources range from IRS records to U.S. Census data, updated regularly using rigorous methodology. Businesses can also explore markets beyond the Pikes Peak region, with competitive insights available within a 120-mile radius.
SizeUp COS makes big data a small business advantage—fueling smarter planning, deeper market understanding, and more strategic growth.
Guiding Your Business Every Step of the Way
COS Open For Biz is a step-by-step guide designed to help entrepreneurs move from great idea to grand opening so ambition doesn’t get lost in red tape. This Chamber & EDC resource, developed in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs and business partners, provides key points of contact, permitting details, and clear roadmaps for getting started.
In the Mix is a quarterly lunch and learn focusing on a small business topic that removes the big rocks in the way of business success.
Breakfast & Business cards is a great way to connect with other business owners in an informal setting. Each month focuses on a different industry, hosted by members around town.
Another morning networking event, Rise and Share provides opportunities for targeted networking with 50 Chamber & EDC members. A Spotlight Speaker gets 30 minutes to discuss their business, and all other attendees get 30 seconds to introduce themselves to the room.
Business development events and initiatives keep Colorado Springs small businesses strong
Colorado Springs’ downtown stores and businesses are kept strong by numerous events and business development initiatives that take place throughout the year. In 2013, Colorado Springs initiated the City for Champions (C4C), a city-wide program focused on strengthening and diversifying the local economy. The enterprise was awarded $120.5 million over a 30-year period to finance economy-building projects like the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, the Gateway Visitor Center and several new stadiums and arenas. These real, measurable investments have created a vibrant downtown with increased support that benefits local small businesses, giving them a foundation to build their own successes on.
Additionally, the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region hosts their annual Arts Month in October, giving local artists and small businesses an opportunity to showcase their offerings.
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