Each spring, the Entrepreneurship Assistance Center (EAC) offers its comprehensive,10-week, hands-on business training program called for established business owners looking to expand.
ScaleSmart is an intensive, growth-focused program designed to help existing entrepreneurs strengthen, stabilize, and strategically scale their businesses. Through a combination of virtual classroom instruction and hands-on lab sessions, participants work on real business projects that directly impact growth, such as refining pricing and revenue models, strengthening financial systems, improving operations, and preparing for financing or expansion. Learning continues beyond session hours, as participants apply tools, frameworks, and feedback to their businesses in real time, ensuring that each concept translates into measurable progress and long-term sustainability.
Who this program is for
ScaleSmart is for established entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the startup phase and are ready to grow their businesses intentionally, by strengthening systems, improving financial health, and scaling their marketing to reach the right customers. This program is designed for founders who are already operating but need clearer growth strategies, stronger visibility, and more consistent demand without burning out or relying on guesswork.
- Have an existing business with active sales, customers, or contracts
- Feel stuck at a revenue plateau and want to grow more consistently
- Want to improve marketing strategy, messaging, and customer acquisition
- Need systems that support growth instead of constant firefighting
- Are juggling too much and want repeatable processes that drive growth
- Seek trusted guidance and a peer community of growth-stage founders
Whether you’re trying to increase demand, improve conversion, or expand your reach, ScaleSmart meets you where you are and helps you grow with clarity and confidence.
What you’ll walk away with
Through this program, you’ll gain the strategy, tools, and execution support needed to scale your business, especially your marketing, while maintaining operational and financial stability.
- Identify your most effective growth and marketing channels
- Refine your brand positioning, messaging, and value proposition
- Strengthen pricing and revenue strategy to support sustainable growth
- Improve marketing execution using tools, systems, and automation
- Develop financial projections that align with marketing and growth goals
- Build scalable systems for operations, workflow, and decision-making
- Use AI, dashboards, and project management tools to streamline growth efforts
- Join a community of growth-stage entrepreneurs and receive targeted 1-on-1 coaching
Whether you’re scaling your marketing, preparing for expansion, or building a stronger growth engine, ScaleSmart equips you with the structure, strategy, and support to grow smarter, not harder.
Program Structure
ScaleSmart is divided into two parts. The first part consists of live, online group sessions focused on strategic growth and implementation. Sessions take place virtually via Zoom and are designed to balance learning, execution, and reflection. Each class is structured around three core objectives: learn, apply, and refine. Short lectures introduce key growth, marketing, and financial concepts, followed by guided work time where participants apply these strategies directly to their businesses. Sessions conclude with peer sharing, feedback, and facilitated discussion to deepen learning and accountability.
The second part of the program is customized coaching and technical assistance. Each participant works with a coach to tailor class material to their specific growth goals, such as scaling marketing efforts, improving operations, or preparing for expansion. This one-on-one support ensures that strategies are relevant, actionable, and aligned with each business’s current stage, enabling participants to make measurable progress throughout the program.
Week 1: Identifying market opportunities and goal setting
Week 2: Gathering and analyzing data
Week 3: Automating processes
Week 4: Expanding market presence
Week 5: Strengthening your sales funnel
Week 6: Exploring growth through government contracts
Week 7: Learning about funding opportunities
Week 8: Preparing financial projections
Week 9: Planning for expense management and tax strategies
Week 10: Pitching your work
Location and Schedule
Virtual, conducted via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Links will be sent right before class starts.
Class 1 – Tues, Feb 17, 2026
Class 2 – Thurs, Feb 19, 2026
Class 3 – Tues, Feb 24, 2026
Class 4 – Thurs, Feb 26, 2026
Class 5 – Tues, Mar 3, 2026
Class 6 – Thurs, Mar 5, 2026
Class 7 – Tues, Mar 10, 2026
Class 8 – Thurs, Mar 12, 2026
Class 9 – Tues, Mar 17, 2026
Class 10 – Thurs, Mar 19, 2026
Class 11 – Tues, Mar 24, 2026
Class 12 – Thurs, Mar 26, 2026
Class 13 – Tues, Mar 31, 2026
Class 14 – Thurs, Apr 2, 2026
Class 15 – Tues, Apr 7, 2026
Class 16 – Thurs, Apr 9, 2026
Class 17 – Tues, Apr 14, 2026
Class 18 – Thurs, Apr 16, 2026
Class 19 – Tues, Apr 21, 2026
Class 20 – Thurs, Apr 23, 2026
Rain date – Tues, Apr 28, 2026
Instructor
Janet Tanguay is a certified business advisor, certified creativity coach and CEO of The Hammock Way of Life, LLC (a NYS MWBE certified company) where she guides people in fulfilling their dreams by making good connections. She is also a mixed media artist, an author of two children’s books and a book series on Doing Business in New York State, and Janet just produced her first record “Smell the Rain” under her record label, Tanguay Productions. Some of her corporate clients include Queens Economic Development Corporation, Hofstra University, Union College, The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Business Leaders of Colors, Mars/Wrigley, Delta Air Lines, Bare Blends, Connect Center for Youth, Together for Youth, Jahnel Group, Bank of America, Capital District Physician’s Health Plan,
Sunmark Credit Union, SUNY Broome, WPO, Start Small Think Big, and 6catalyst along with private individual clients.
This is her second year teaching ScaleSmart. You can check her out on Home – Hammock Way of Life
Cost
The class will only require a refundable deposit of $150. As long as you complete the following, you will be receive the $150 back with your graduation certificate:
- You complete all mandatory work assignments
- You submit a business plan and pitch deck with presentation at the end
- You attend 80% or 16/20 classes) live. Watching recordings will not count
Application Process
- Fill out the application. (This should take approximately 25 minutes)
- Wait for someone to schedule a phone interview with you.
- Ace the interview! Don’t worry, this is not something to fret. We want to get to know you a bit better and make sure that we are the right fit for each other.
- Pay the fee. A payment link will be sent to you. Payment must be received before class begins. If you cannot make the payment on time, please email Bpunjwani@queensny.org for financing options.
- Read your emails. Make sure you are receiving emails from us because we will be sending information on next steps and logistics.
- Come to class – virtually, of course! Make sure you are hydrated and that you are able to spend the next three hours distraction-free and focused on crushing your business goals.