Accounting and Projection Clinic
About the Clinic
Accessing needed funding to start or grow a business can be challenging, especially translating business plans into financial projections that are typically needed to be considered for a bank loan. The Small Business Accounting and Projection Clinic (APC) assists start-up and growth-minded entrepreneurs in Dane, Sauk, and Columbia Counties in Wisconsin with building financial projections in two ways:
- With no-cost, confidential, hands-on assistance creating financial projections necessary for traditional commercial lending funding requests, which includes SBA 7a and 504 loan options, and
- With our Beginner’s Guide to Financial Projections course, which is a no-cost, on-demand course to help businesses across the state of Wisconsin (and beyond!) understand the basics of developing financial projections, including relevant accounting terminology, required financial statements, and more. New to financial projections? Start here to learn more about the topic and, if desired, to prepare to apply to the Clinic! Learn more about this course further down this page.
The Clinic is managed by the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Madison (part of the Wisconsin School of Business) and is supported by student interns from the Wisconsin School of Business.
Wisconsin Art Hub
“It was fate that there was an opening in the Accounting and Financial Projections Clinic right when I needed it.”
Jackpine Wakesurf
The APC helped them organize their data “to gain the confidence to put resources into Jackpine to reach more of the market.”
Lumohs
The Badger Consulting team’s market research gave Luke and Hannah critical information about housing inventory in the Northwoods.
Miggy’s Bakes
“We have seen growth at our storefront that I didn’t even project happening for years down the line”
WineHouse
“We literally dove into this headfirst not knowing what to do, and working with SBDC and the ETP program was invaluable to us.”
Tricky Foods
Bringing people together over playful, enticing food
Blue Highway Lodge
“To sit with Anne and talk specifically about my business was helpful,”
Eminent Development Corp.
“Talking through projections taught me how to structure a business; I had to project 15 years down the line.”
Creekside Veterinary Clinic and Grooming
Becca Phillips and Tanya Hoffman opened Creekside Veterinary Clinic to offer personal, relationship‑based care for pets and their families. With support from the SBDC, they launched a thriving, growing practice built on compassion and connection.
How to Apply
CLIENT CRITERIA
The UW-Madison Small Business Accounting and Projection Clinic supports Wisconsin entrepreneurs currently located – or planning to open a business in – Dane, Columbia, or Sauk counties who are preparing to seek funding from commercial lending institutions.
Clients who are “ready” for projection preparation generally have:
- A completed plan for the proposed new business or growth strategy (usually in the form of a written business plan, pitch deck, Business Model Canvas, or completed Beginner’s Guide to Financial Projections workbook) that clearly outlines the proposed business model and path to operations.
- Identified key revenue streams, including a pricing plan and key costs of sales and operational costs.
- A good understanding of potential market size and expected market share, grounded in a solid understanding of competition.
- Start-up cost estimates, including the cost of any land, building, or asset acquisition that may be part of the business plan.
- A sufficient credit score to qualify for bank funding (generally above 670).
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Small Business Accounting and Projection Clinic has limited resources and cannot work with every entrepreneur or business that applies for services. If you would like to be considered, please use the Service Request form below. Upon completion of the form:
- We will contact candidates who meet the client criteria (defined on the left) to schedule a further screening interview, held either by phone or via video conference. Screening interviews typically occur bi-weekly. Candidates who are not qualified will be notified via email.
- After the screening interview, we will let you know if you are a good fit for our Clinic at this time. This determination is based on current Clinic capacity, your “readiness” as defined in CLIENT CRITERIA, and overall fit with Clinic objectives.
- For those accepted to the Clinic, we will provide a detailed list of Clinic input needs.
- Once client input is received, your project will be added to the schedule. Project completion time is typically 15-20 business days from the scheduled start date.
Not Ready to Apply for the Clinic?
The no-cost, on-demand Beginner’s Guide to Financial Projections will help you clarify the information you’ll need for projections! The course features:
- A custom workbook to help you apply the concepts you are learning to your own business. Completing the course workbook is your ticket to preparing for the application!
- Beginner-friendly content – written for non-accountants!
- Detailed explanations of the key financial inputs you’ll need to create effective projections.
- Narrative and full financials from case-study business owners Mateo and River, who will talk you through how they built their projections.
About our APC Team | Click the photos to learn more!
UW-Madison Accounting and Projection Clinic is generously supported in part by Federal Community Project Funds and Associated Bank
.