Outgrow Your Garage

Free, online business courses for Cortez businesses February 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026

The City of Cortez has partnered with Outgrow Your Garage to bring 6-months of free access to their online learning platform for small business. These rural-focused, skill-based courses are self-paced and are designed to assist small business owners with real-world issues and problems. All courses are accessible online or can be downloaded as video, audio, or transcriptions for review without internet. You can learn more about this opportunity below, to register please complete the form at: https://tinyurl.com/cortez-outgrow.

Free, in-person and virtual business workshops

March 16: The Art of Pricing
April 20: The Business of Art
May 18: Planning for Summer!
June 15: Make More, Do Less

Business Courses include:

Business Planning
1. Help in pricing your services
2. Automating your business
3. Understanding business legal structures
Business Budgets & Financing
1. Instructions for how to create financial projections
2. Determining if your business is making a profit
Hiring
1. Understand who, why, and when to hire
2. Improve staff on-boarding, culture, and retention
Marketing & Sales
1. Learn how to build a target demographic & customer profile
2. Branding your business

How to Register

Registration for this program is simple. Access the registration form at this link. This program will run February 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026.

You can download the process of registration at this link. Registrations will be loaded weekly on Mondays and Friday.

About Outgrow Your Garage

Outgrow Your Garage believes that business education should be easily accessible for everyone at an affordable price. They work with small businesses and the organizations that support them to offer a variety of business programming, including online courses, workshops, webinars, and virtual co-working.

Based in Delta, Colorado Outgrow Your Garage understands the rural business marketplace and their staff have hands-on experience running various types of small businesses. These courses are designed to help other small business owners thrive and are great for new and aspiring entrepreneurs and a great review for experienced business owners as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t own a business, can I enroll? Absolutely! The City of Cortez Community & Economic Development Department is committed to economic development at every level, and that includes helping potential business owners learn and grow as well.
I run/work for/am starting a nonprofit, can I enroll? Yes! While nonprofit structures are different than for-profit businesses, many of the trainings included in the platform may be helpful to nonprofit organizations.
I teach at a local school/college/etc. can I enroll my students in this program? Yes, although you will not be able to track their completion of the courses. Because the City is allowed one administrator, no follow-up on individual enrollees can be done.
What happens at the end of the 6-month free period? This program with Outgrow Your Garage is supported by a grant from Downtown Colorado, Inc. Normally, a subscription to Outgrow Your Garage is paid for by the local Chamber of Commerce or other similar business organizations on behalf of their membership. At the end of June, a survey will be sent to all participants to see how useful the program was. If your business finds the Outgrow Your Garage platform and trainings helpful, the City encourages businesses to advocate to their local organizations & business groups for a potentially continuing the subscription to the program.
My business is not in city limits, can I enroll? This program is meant for businesses based in the City of Cortez. If your business serves visitors or residents of the City, or if you have a City of Cortez sales tax license, you are welcome to register (even if your businesses in not within the city limits).

Still have questions? Contact Helen West, Program Manager, at hwest@cortezco.gov or 970-331-0213.