October 2026

Presenting marketing ideas to conferance room

Simple habits that can prevent a cash flow crisis

Cash flow problems are one of the most common reasons small businesses struggle, even when sales are strong. In a recent Forbes column, Nav.com CEO Levi King writes that business owners cannot eliminate every late payment or surprise expense, but they can make monitoring cash flow a weekly habit instead of a crisis response.

A few habits make the biggest difference. Reviewing what is coming in and going out every week, rather than waiting until month end, gives owners time to adjust before a shortfall hits. Payment terms also matter more than they seem. Net-30 terms from a supplier, for example, can give a business room to finish a job, invoice its own customer, and collect payment before its own bill comes due.

The takeaway is not a complicated financial overhaul. Small, consistent habits, checked weekly rather than reactively, give business owners more room to make decisions from a position of strength rather than under pressure.

Mesa business owners looking for one-on-one help building these habits can connect with a free SCORE mentor, a nationwide network of volunteer business advisors backed by the SBA. Find a FREE SCORE mentor.

Mesa Chamber Business Plan

The Mesa Chamber returns with the 24-Hour Business Plan Challenge on Oct. 9

Competitors will have 24 hours to develop a business plan for a new or existing business with help from business professionals. Participation is open to anyone with a business idea who would like assistance preparing a business plan. Meals, snacks, and beverages will be provided.

A panel of business and education professionals will judge the plans, and the winner will receive a cash prize! The Mesa Chamber hosts the event in partnership with Green Flag Mesa, the Chamber’s business incubator program for Mesa Community College student entrepreneurs.

Apply today

Mesa business can go green and save green by getting certified

Mesa businesses can reduce their environmental impact while saving money through the Arizona Green Business Certification program.

In partnership with the City of Mesa, Local First Arizona provides free hands-on consultations to local businesses to identify and implement practical sustainability strategies. Once certified, the community celebrates businesses as leaders in sustainability and helps them grow loyalty with customers and employees who seek out environmentally friendly businesses, while also giving them access to a custom toolkit full of best practices and ideas and a variety of green marketing efforts.

Simple changes can result in big savings and big impact. To learn more about this program and see the current list of certified businesses, visit the Green Business webpage. Interested businesses can email Nick Shivka, Sr. Manager of Sustainability Initiatives, at Local First Arizona.

Built around business: how community feedback is shaping future workshops

Mesa business owners have made their preferences clear. They want training they can put to use right away. According to a recent Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios survey, business owners want training that is practical, hands-on and respectful of their time. Among 50 respondents, 84% said they value strategies they can put into action immediately, 70% want hands-on exercises or demonstrations, and half prefer workshops that fit into about an hour.

Respondents also shared where they need support. Marketing and customer acquisition ranked among the leading business challenges, while artificial intelligence, social media management, automation and content creation were among the technology topics generating the most interest. The survey also provided valuable feedback about preferred days, times and ways to participate.

That feedback is helping MBB @ The Studios plan future workshops around the needs of Mesa’s small business community. From the topics covered to how MBB @ The Studios delivers training, the goal is to create practical learning opportunities that business owners can use to strengthen and grow their businesses. Details on upcoming workshops are available at MBBTheStudios.com.

Simple cybersecurity steps to protect a small business

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a good time for small business owners to review how they protect their business, employees and customers online. Cybercriminals target businesses of all sizes, and protecting a business does not always require complicated technology. A few basic cybersecurity practices can help reduce risk.

Small business owners can start by keeping computers, phones and software updated and regularly backing up important business files. Using strong, unique passwords for business accounts and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever it is available can also help. Employees also play an important role, so cybersecurity should be part of regular conversations with staff, including how to recognize suspicious emails, links and requests for sensitive information.

Business owners who are not sure where to begin can turn to the Federal Trade Commission’s Cybersecurity for Small Business, a free collection of practical resources covering cybersecurity basics, phishing, ransomware, email security, vendor security and more. The guidance can help business owners review their current practices and identify areas that may need additional attention. More information is available at ftc.gov/cybersecurity.

Why a Certificate of Occupancy matters for a small business

Opening a business is exciting, but the Certificate of Occupancy is one document that can easily get overlooked, and overlooking it can slow everything down. Knowing what it is and when it is needed can help business owners avoid costly delays before they even happen.

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) confirms that a building or commercial space is approved for a specific use and meets applicable building and safety requirements. For a small business, having the right CO can mean the difference between opening on schedule and running into unexpected setbacks.

Before signing a lease, purchasing a property, or starting renovations, it helps to confirm that the space is approved for the intended use and find out whether a new or updated CO is needed. A little planning upfront can save real time, money, and frustration down the road.

Business owners do not have to figure this out alone. Project Coordination Station offers small business assistance in-person every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 E. First St., 2nd Floor. Business owners can stop by to connect directly with staff and get help with their project.

Upcoming Events

We Rise Cohort 13 – Oct. Applications Open

Oct. 1 – 31 | 9 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. | FREE | Online
Register

Local First Arizona’s We Rise business accelerator is a six-month program offering comprehensive and practical business skills to Arizona’s Black entrepreneurs. Meeting bi-weekly, business owners receive classroom instruction and mentorship from Black entrepreneurs with firsthand experience and expertise in starting or growing a small business in Arizona.

Stop the Chaos: How to Fix Your Operations and Take Back Your Time

Join Local First, in partnership with Mesa Business Builder, for this free, hands-on, in-person workshop. Justin Coldiron (Fractional COO, Founder of The Coldiron Hour) will introduce the Five Pillars of Operational Clarity framework and guide participants through a live Operational Health Check Scorecard to identify the gaps holding their business back. Through this guided assessment, business owners will evaluate key areas of their business including People, Process, Systems, Communication and Metrics, and uncover where to focus first to improve efficiency, accountability and growth.

Spanish Good Food Boot Camp

The Good Food Boot Camp is a six-week course designed to help scale a local food business from ideation to a fully-fledged operation. Through discussions with industry experts, government officials and partner organizations, participants gain the tools necessary to be successful in developing or growing their start-up food business fully in Spanish.

Business Owner Compensation: How It Works for Sole Proprietors, Partnerships and Corporations

Thursday, Oct. 8 | 10 – 11 a.m. | FREE | Online
Register

Learn which compensation methods apply to each structure, when payroll may be required and why accurate bookkeeping matters when recording owner payments.

Good Food Boot Camp

Tuesday, Oct. 13 | 8 – 10 a.m. | FREE | Online
Register

Coffee + Co-Working

Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 9-10 a.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St.
Register

Meet entrepreneurs, share resources, work free and explore Edson E+I. Event designed to help you build meaningful connections, exchange ideas, discover new resources, and grow your support network.

ASBA Community Give Back Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 9-11 a.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St.
Register

In collaboration with the Arizona Small Business Association, the City of Mesa is sponsoring small businesses with a FREE ASBA Membership.

Video Production Training – The Perfect Companion to Podcast Studio Training

Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 5-6 p.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St.
Register

Businesses already using the Podcast Studio at Mesa Business Builder can elevate their content with the Beginner’s Video Production Training. This hands-on, interactive session covers available video tools, how to use them, and strategies for leveraging media in business. Spots are limited and early registration is recommended.

Presented by Ita Udo-Ema, Founder of View from Above Entertainment, the session includes:

An overview of on-site video production equipment
Hands-on training for setup, recording, and sound
A Q&A on using video to complement a podcast or grow a brand

Collab, Co-Work & Chill

While you work, you’ll also be supporting Cultured Experiences and Collab, Co-Work & Chill’s mission to uplift and empower communities through innovative, impactful events that address core challenges and nurture growth. This experience is sponsored by Adobe. Use this form to reserve your spot and help Collab, Co-Work & Chill keep the energy — and the impact — going.

QuickBooks 101: Year-End Prep & Tax Planning

Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 3 – 4:30 p.m. | FREE | Online
Register

This session prepares business owners for year-end financial review. With transactions updated in QuickBooks, participants will examine their profit & loss and balance sheet reports, discuss tax implications, and explore planning considerations prior to December 31.

Podcast Studio Training

To use the Podcast Studio at Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, you must attend one free training session prior to booking. Spots are limited and early registration is recommended.

Important Details:

Training is mandatory before you can book the podcast studio to ensure you know how to use the equipment properly.
If you sign up but cannot attend, please notify the MBB @ The Studios staff at least 48 hours in advance, by email at MBBTheStudios@mesaaz.gov. Failure to do so will negatively impact your ability to register for future trainings.

The MBB @ The Studios team is looking forward to seeing the amazing content you’ll create.

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