Business Services Collective, NFP

What Business Services Collective, NFP does

Business Services Collective, NFP operates a community-led, services-only nonprofit under the brand Builders Avenue Chicago, targeting diverse entrepreneurs (with particular emphasis on women and minority-owned businesses) in the construction trades. The organization delivers a unified program structured around three components: an Action Planning engagement in which staff work with entrepreneurs to define goals and challenges; 40 hours of one-on-one training and mentorship delivered by a vetted Service Partner Network of estimators, bookkeepers, and other professionals; and a Community Connection layer that links members to peer contractors and partners, including a Co-Op Program for collaborative resource sharing. The organization also runs an Event Registration funnel for workshops and networking.

Underlying technology is minimal — the website runs on WordPress/WP Engine with no proprietary software, no APIs, no integrations, and no AI/ML components disclosed; the offering is fundamentally human-delivered advisory and bookkeeping-adjacent support rather than a SaaS product. Builder stories and named-testimonial marketing drive referrals rather than any platform mechanic.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven: as a 501(c)(3), the organization accepts charitable contributions through a PayPal-hosted donate button and likely foundation grants, while providing services to construction entrepreneurs at no cost or low cost. Geographic scope is Chicago metropolitan, with GTM executed via the website, newsletter, peer testimonials, and community events rather than paid acquisition. There are no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no commercial contracts disclosed, and the four impact counters on the public site (revenue from new projects, hours served, businesses served, service partners) all currently read zero.

Name

Business Services Collective, NFP

Legal name

Builders Avenue

Website

https://businessservicescollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Builders Avenue is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free or low-cost one-on-one training, mentorship, and a Service Partner Network to diverse entrepreneurs in the construction trades.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Business Support Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAC

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

Keywords

• Construction business support
• Nonprofit mentorship services
• Small business training
• Contractor financial health
• Construction back office

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Builders Avenue generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts donations via PayPal and likely through grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Business Services Collective, NFP (operating as Builders Avenue Chicago) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps construction businesses develop shared back-office capabilities through action planning, one-on-one training, and mentorship. The organization delivers 40 hours of personalized training and mentorship per entrepreneur, connects contractors with a network of expert service partners (estimators, bookkeepers, other professionals), and runs a Co-Op program and event-based community engagement for diverse construction-trade entrepreneurs.

Product overview

Builders Avenue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a unified program of no-cost or low-cost business development services for diverse entrepreneurs in the construction trades. The core offering consists of action planning, one-on-one business support (40 hours of training and mentorship), and community connection services. The organization also maintains a Service Partner Network of estimators, bookkeepers, and other professionals, and operates a Co-Op Program and event registration system for members. All services are designed to help contractors plan, manage, and fund viable companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 hours of one-on-one training and mentorship per entrepreneur

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Service Partners NetworkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilders Avenue has established a network of expert service partners including estimators, bookkeepers, and other professionals who are passionate about supporting local businesses. These partners provide 40 hours of one-on-one training and mentorship to construction entrepreneurs. The organization actively recruits estimators, bookkeepers, and other professionals to join the network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Women's Business Enterprise National Council: Nonprofit organization certifying and supporting women-owned businesses, including in construction, through training, certification, and corporate connections. Comparable in serving diverse business owners with capacity-building programming, though not construction-specific.
• Initiative for a Competitive Inner City: Nonprofit research and advisory organization focused on urban business growth and inner-city economic development, including programs for minority entrepreneurs. Comparable in providing capacity-building services to diverse entrepreneurs, including in construction-related trades.
• National Association of Minority Contractors: Nonprofit trade association advocating for and supporting minority-owned construction contractors through training, networking, and capacity building. Closely comparable to Builders Avenue in mission and target customer (diverse construction business owners), with a national scope.
• National Association of Women in Construction: Nonprofit association supporting women in the construction industry through education, networking, and leadership development. Comparable in serving women-owned construction businesses and entrepreneurs, with a comparable community- and training-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: Largest U.S. nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to small business owners. Comparable to Builders Avenue in delivering volunteer-driven mentorship to entrepreneurs, but operates broadly across industries rather than focusing on construction trades.
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Centers: Federal program funding centers that provide business consulting, contracting, and access to capital for minority business enterprises. Comparable in targeting minority construction and trade entrepreneurs with business development services, though federally rather than donor funded.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBA-funded network of local centers providing no-cost consulting and training to small businesses. Comparable to Builders Avenue in delivering free or low-cost advisory and training to SMBs, but they are generalist rather than construction-focused.
• Associated Builders and Contractors: National trade association representing the U.S. commercial construction industry, with member education, training, and business development resources. Comparable to Builders Avenue as a construction-industry support organization, though it serves members across all business types rather than focusing specifically on diverse entrepreneurs.

Emerging players

• Turner School of Construction Management (and similar contractor capacity programs): Industry-led training programs (e.g., Turner, AGC chapters) that help small and minority contractors develop business management, estimating, and financial management skills. Comparable to Builders Avenue in delivering construction-specific back-office training to small and diverse contractors.
• BIC ALLIANCE (Black Issues in Construction Alliance): Nonprofit organization supporting Black professionals and businesses in the construction industry through networking and professional development. Comparable in mission to uplift diverse construction entrepreneurs, though more focused on workforce and professional development than back-office business services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/business-services-collective-nfp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business Services Collective, NFP