As conversations about small business growth continue into 2026, one assumption still dominates many strategies: that access to capital alone is the key to success. Across headlines, funding announcements, and policy discussions, capital is often positioned as the primary solution to the challenges facing entrepreneurs.

At The Acceleration Project (TAP), we see a different reality. Capital alone is not enough to drive sustainable growth. Funding can open doors, but without clarity, strategy, and trusted guidance, many business owners struggle to translate capital into momentum, stability, or long-term impact.

In fact, effective coaching often reveals that businesses do not yet need capital at all — or that taking on debt would be premature. Through structured guidance, entrepreneurs gain a clearer understanding of their financial position, operational readiness, and growth priorities. Many discover that foundational gaps must be addressed before borrowing, whether related to cash flow management, pricing, systems, or lender preparedness.

Growth happens when capital is paired with coaching, and when business owners are supported in building the skills, confidence, and decision-making frameworks needed to monetize their work effectively. In practice, expert guidance is monetization.

We see this need for coaching across industries and stages of growth, which led us to offer free 1:1 Loan Readiness coaching sessions apply here. Loan Readiness is a core topic within our 1:1 coaching series and consistently ranks among the most in-demand sessions. Business owners seek out this support to evaluate whether debt is appropriate, understand loan structures and risks, and prepare in advance to meet lender requirements before committing to capital. By guiding entrepreneurs before they borrow — not just after — coaching helps prevent costly missteps and ensures that when capital is deployed, it truly supports sustainable growth.

Funding Preparation Builds Confidence

Following these 1:1 coaching sessions, 96 percent of participants report being satisfied with the support they received, and 78 percent report feeling more confident running their business. Together, these outcomes reinforce the value of expert, curated coaching in helping business owners make informed financial decisions and avoid costly missteps.

Why Capital Without Coaching Falls Short

What we most often see when small business owners lack expert coaching is that they make critical missteps before taking on debt. Without proper guidance, they may select a loan that does not align with how the funds will be used, fail to fully understand or compare loan terms using tools like APR calculators, and underestimate the risks associated with high-cost or high-risk products. In many cases, they also begin the lending process too late and are unprepared to meet lender requirements.

Coaching provides the structure that capital alone cannot. It helps entrepreneurs clarify priorities, pressure-test decisions, and sequence growth in a way that aligns with their capacity and long-term goals. Coaching creates space for reflection, accountability, and course correction, all of which are essential when resources are limited and stakes are high.

A Perspective Reinforced by Elizabeth Gore and Hello Alice

The connection between capital and coaching was reinforced during TAP’s Fall for Small Business virtual event, where Elizabeth Gore, Co-founder and President of Hello Alice, joined as a keynote speaker.

During her remarks, Gore captured this relationship succinctly: mentoring makes money. Coaching helps business owners determine how and when to deploy resources, adapt to challenges, and build businesses that are resilient, scalable, and sustainable.

This belief is deeply embedded in TAP’s approach. As our CEO Jane Veron often says, capital and coaching have to be inextricably linked. While access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers to small business growth, proactive planning is key to long-term success.

Supporting Small Business Owners Nationwide

TAP supports small business owners across the United States in a wide range of industries, including beauty, healthcare, wellness, food, beverage, construction, and childcare. Our tailored guidance spans finance, operations, marketing, and strategy, and is delivered at no cost to the small business owner.

We work alongside entrepreneurs at critical inflection points, when decisions carry outsized impact and clarity matters most. We help business owners build businesses that extend beyond the founder, create lasting value, and generate a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, and the broader economy.

Stay up-to-date on TAP programming throughout the year. Each month, we focus on a new set of coaching topics designed to meet small business owners where they are and address the most pressing challenges they face.

Visit our Services page to explore TAP’s current coaching offerings and learn more about this month’s focus areas, all delivered at no cost to the small business owner.