About Us

Behind every small business is a story worth knowing...

The Rhode Island Small Business HUB (HUB) wants to know your story. And together, we will make small business ownership a pathway for economic empowerment for all Rhode Islanders. 

Our Mission

Empowering Small Businesses to Fuel our Rhode Island Economy


About Us

We understand how challenging it can be to start, grow or scale a small business. Often, small business owners need to be the CEO, accountant, marketing specialist, IT expert, and many more roles. The Rhode Island Small Business HUB (HUB) is here to help. 


The HUB offers a wide range of resources and services to help entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses. Our services are free to all qualified small businesses in Rhode Island. 


Our Funders

The HUB is managed by Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization, funded by the US Congress, the US Economic Development Administration, and the State of Rhode Island. 

HUB Team

The HUB has expert advisors to help you with your business planning and operation needs. We provide customized solutions for starting, growing or scaling your small businesses. And the best part, our services are free to all qualified small businesses in Rhode Island. 

HUB FAQS

  • What is the Rhode Island Small Business HUB?

    The Rhode Island Small Business HUB (HUB) is a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs and small business owners to access helpful information, advice, and assistance on various topics, such as business planning, financing, marketing, legal, and more. The HUB is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, allowing users to quickly find the information they need to help them achieve their business goals. The HUB is managed by Skills for Rhode Island’s Future.    

  • What is the HUB advantage?  

    The HUB is designed specifically to help start, grow, and scale small businesses in Rhode Island. We have a network of partners you can access, plus the HUB provides consultative services to assist your business in critical services such as legal, bookkeeping, marketing, technology, and human resources. A full list of services can be found on our website www.risbHUB.com.  By taking advantage of these resources, small business owners can increase their chances of success and achieve their goals more quickly and effectively. 

  • If I receive support/services from the HUB, do I have to pay for it?

    No, you don’t have to pay for our services; our services are free to all qualified RI small businesses. To see if you qualify for the HUB services, we encourage you to connect with our team. Call us at 401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222). 

  • I have not yet started my business, but I would like support to launch my business. Can the HUB help me?

    Yes, we have on-site staff and resources available to help you get started. We provide free one-on-one business counseling and can help you with registering your business, financial analysis, business planning, market research, and more.  

  • How do you define a small business?  

    A small business is generally defined as a privately operated business that has a relatively small number of employees and generates modest annual revenues. However, the specific definition of a small business may vary depending on our funding requirements or the programs we offer. Since our definition of a small business may vary, we encourage you to call us at 

    401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222)  to inquire about services available to your small business. 

  • My small business is a nonprofit organization, do I qualify? 

    Yes, the HUB believes Rhode Island nonprofit organizations are small businesses and provide critical employment and economic opportunities for our local and state communities.  All services available to small businesses also include nonprofit organizations.  

  • How would I know if I qualify for your services?

    To receive support from the HUB, you must be or plan to be an established small business in Rhode Island, which means you are either registered in Rhode Island or plan to launch your business in Rhode Island.  If you have an e-commerce business that is based in Rhode Island, this qualifies as having a “physical presence.”

  • Can the HUB assist small businesses in languages other than English?

    Yes, our services are linguistically and culturally relevant, additionally the HUB has team members that are multi-lingual. All materials and resources for HUB services and programs will be immediately available in English and Spanish, plus other languages upon request. The HUB may use third party translation services for languages other than English and Spanish. 

  • Do you provide accommodation for business owners with disabilities?  

    Yes, we provide accommodation for business owners with disabilities. We encourage you to contact a program coordinator by calling 401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222) to discuss your needs. 

  • Can the HUB help me with access to capital funding or other funding opportunities?

    Yes, the HUB provides capital readiness services and once you are ready, we can connect you with trusted lenders with whom we work closely. Currently, our capital funding partners offer loans that may be used for a variety of business operations.  


    The HUB also operates different programs which may include grant funding opportunities. The grant funding opportunities are not always available, and funding may not be guaranteed. To learn more about current grant funding opportunities, please contact a member of our HUB team by calling 401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222).   


  • How do I access services from the HUB? 

    You can complete a contact request form online at https://www.risbHUB.com/contact or call us at 401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222). If you contact us online, a HUB team member will follow-up to schedule a time to discuss your ideas and needs. 

  • What if I need services that are not advertised or provided by the HUB?

    If the services you need are outside of the list of services advertised, we encourage you to contact us. Our HUB team will work with you to see if there may be services available to you with one of our program partners or other agencies in Rhode Island supporting small businesses.   


    If you have additional questions that may not have been answered under this FAQ, please contact a HUB team member by calling 401-BIZ-2222 (401-249-2222) or email us risbHUB@skillsforri.com.