I literally receive hundreds of emails every day announcing new programs and tools for small business owners, and this week I thought I’d share a few with you.
New Retirement Solution for Solo Entrepreneurs
JPMorganChase just launched Solo 401(k), a retirement solution for the self-employed and solo entrepreneurs, expanding its existing Everyday 401(k) program.
Solo 401(k) allows small business owners to quickly set up a 401(k) plan online, offering flexible investment options, including J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s ready-to-use solutions or customized plans. Vestwell will be the recordkeeper for this Everyday 401(k) expansion.
Steve Rubino, head of retirement at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, says the new solution helps small business owners “secure their financial futures [and empowers] them to achieve their retirement goals.”
The Solo 401(k) solution is specifically designed for sole proprietors and self-employed small business owners with no employees, other than a spouse, who can be included in the plan if the business employs them.
Solo 401(k) highlights:
- Small business owners can save up to $70,000 annually (more if they’re aged 50+) for themselves, and up to an additional $70,000 for their spouse, if they are employed by the business.
- Since contributors are both employers and employees, they can benefit from high contribution limits and tax advantages, including pre-tax and Roth contributions, as well as tax-deferred growth.
Solo 401(k)’s launch is well-timed. According to a recent survey from Chase, while 80% of business owners already contribute to retirement accounts (with 35% preferring the individual 401(k) options), only 44% are satisfied with their contributions and wish to increase them, “highlighting the need for flexible, high-contribution options.”
Small Business Training Camp
As most of us know, being a small business owner can be a daunting, unpredictable, and sometimes lonely journey. To help entrepreneurs navigate their paths, Verizon established its Small Business Digital Ready Program. In this free community, entrepreneurs at all stages of their business can find critical resources and support.
The Small Business Digital Ready program, which offers over 50 courses in English and Spanish on various topics, including AI integration, social media marketing, financial planning, and more, group seminars, and one-on-one workshops, has already helped almost 500,000 businesses.
To help more business owners, Verizon is hosting a sweepstakes. It will bring up to 20 small business owners to San Francisco in September on a three-day, all-expenses-paid trip to attend the opening of the Verizon Small Business Training Camp. The camp is headlined by Kristin Juszczyk, founder of sports fashion brand Off Sport, and former football superstar-turned-entrepreneur Drew Brees. The agenda at the Training Camp includes “expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities with leading business owners and industry experts.”
If you want a chance to win a spot at the Training Camp, you must:
- Register for Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program
- Complete two free short courses or attend two events via Small Business Digital Ready
- Submit a public social video entry showcasing your entrepreneurial spirit, including #SMBTrainingCamp #contest, and tagging @VerizonBusiness
The sweepstakes is now open and runs through August 10, 2025, so submit your entries quickly. The Training Camp will run from September 8-10. You can find details and enter here.
Free Virtual Summit for Businesses That Ship Goods
ShipStation, a leading shipping solution, is hosting a free one-day virtual summit, Innovation Delivered, on August 7 from noon to 4:40 ET. If your business ships goods, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from various expert speakers, attend workshops, see demos, network, and hear from the keynote speakers, fashion entrepreneur Rebecca Minkoff and Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar.
To see the Innovation Delivered agenda and register, go here.
#StandwithSCORE
Another organization that helps small business owners start and stay strong is SCORE. Since SCORE was launched nearly 61 years ago, the nonprofit organization has helped over 17 million small business owners.
And yet, not much has changed since I first posted about being “mad as hell” because funding for SCORE and the Women’s Business Centers was eliminated in the president’s budget for fiscal year 2026, and has not yet been reinstated by Congress.
SCORE needs that money so it can continue to support small business owners, whether they’re starting or scaling their companies.
Support SCORE
After more than 60 years of supporting small businesses, SCORE needs your support. To date, over 55,000 letters have been sent to Congress, asking them to fund SCORE. Please join those supporters—here’s how:
- Fill out this form (it takes less than 2 minutes), which will be sent to your congressional representative’s offices.
- Contact your congressional representative and senators via phone or social media. Tell them to save the people who save small businesses. Include @scorementors in your post. And the hashtag #StandwithSCORE.
- If possible, donate to SCORE.
- Tell everyone you know to #StandwithSCORE.
Rieva Lesonsky is President of Small Business Currents, LLC, a content company focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurship. You can find her on Twitter @Rieva, Bluesky @Rieva.bsky.social, and LinkedIn. Or email her at Rieva@SmallBusinessCurrents.com.
Photo courtesy Alexander Mils for Unsplash+
