Fast Break for Small Business was a groundbreaking multi-year $6 million commitment to help thousands of small businesses across the country with small business grants and LegalZoom services. LegalZoom, Accion Opportunity Fund, and other key partners teamed up to provide these critical small business resources.
Fast Break for Small Business began in 2021 and closed for the final time in 2024, but LegalZoom and AOF are still focused on connecting business owners with small business resources they need to succeed.
How We Can Help
Fast Break for Small Business may be over, but our support for small businesses is not stopping any time soon. Together, LegalZoom and Accion Opportunity Fund will continue to provide small business resources to entrepreneurs across the country. Details about future programming will be available soon.
In the meantime, AOF is here to support your business with access to working capital, one-on-one business advising, online learning, and more. Join our next educational event to start learning right away!
LegalZoom can also boost your business success. Whether you’re just starting out and need help legally forming a business, you’re looking for a contract template, or you just need general support, LegalZoom has you covered with hundreds of small business resources.
Our Collective Impact
Fast Break for Small Business provided game-changing grant capital to 300 business owners across more than 35 states. Roughly three-quarters of these grantees reported making $100,000 or less in annual revenue during the year they received their Fast Break for Small Business grant.
In addition to the grant, these business owners received free LegalZoom products and services as well as access to numerous small business resources offered by both AOF and LegalZoom. We are proud to have created such an impactful program through this partnership.
How Fast Break for Small Business Worked
LegalZoom, AOF, and other partners are committed to encouraging entrepreneurship by expanding access to small business resources. Here’s how Fast Break for Small Business worked:
- 300 business owners received small business grants totaling $3 million
- 15,000 business owners accessed valuable legal resources through free LegalZoom products and services, totaling a value of $3 million
All U.S-based businesses were eligible to apply for the grant if they:
- had an established business bank account
- had been in operation for at least 3 months at the time of application
- made less than $1 million in annual revenue the prior year
- operated a business in an eligible industry
- fully completed the application and submitted all required documentation
Following a random selection process, grantees were vetted and verified by Accion Opportunity Fund to ensure they submitted a complete application, met eligibility criteria, and passed the business verification review.
Learn More about AOF
Ineligible Industries
Businesses could apply for Fast Break for Small Business from any industry EXCEPT the following, which were ineligible:
- Adult entertainment including strip clubs, escort services, adult bookstores, and businesses whose principal business is the sale of pornography
- Tobacco stores, smoke shops, cigarette & cigar retailers and wholesalers, cigarette stands
- Firearms sellers, merchants, retailers, or wholesalers; ammunition sales; gun clubs; shooting ranges
- Marijuana-related businesses; cannabis dispensaries, marijuana crop farming, edibles
- Massage parlors, saunas, or hot tub facilities
- Illegal activities
- Gambling and betting activities, racetracks
- Real estate investment companies (residential and commercial), house flippers, hotels, businesses whose principal source of revenue is rental income
- Banking and financial institutions; central banking; other monetary intermediation; trusts, funds, and similar financial entities
- Merchant service companies, merchant sales organizations, payment services
- Lending businesses; payday lenders, title lenders, and other credit-granting
- Small business loan brokers
- Check cashers
- Bail bonds
- Pawn shops
- Collection companies/lawyers or debt consolidation firms
- Multi-level marketing companies or businesses based on pyramid sales plans
- Nonprofit organizations
- Religious organizations, churches, temples, mosques, shrines, and other services provided specifically for the religious community
- Activities of political organizations
- Transportation of hazardous materials
- Oil and gas exploration/securities
- Rideshare (i.e. Uber/Lyft drivers)