An Independent Foundation for Education & Research

Clearer terms. Better decisions. A stronger commercial finance market.

Main Street Capital Partnership is an Independent Foundation advancing transparency, education, and professional standards in commercial finance — for the small businesses that borrow, the professionals who serve them, and the policymakers who oversee the market.

Find your path

Small Business Owners

Understand your financing options in plain language — before you sign anything.

Finance Professionals

Explore the standards, training, and code of conduct taking shape for the industry.

Policymakers & Researchers

Original data and research on the commercial finance market, built for policy work.

An Independent Foundation for Education & Research

Commercial Finance 101: what to know before you borrow

A plain-language guide to loan terms, disclosures, underwriting, and repayment — plus the questions to ask any lender or broker before you sign.

Guide
12 minute read

From Research & Data

The State of Small Business Financing, 2026

An original survey and market analysis of how small businesses access and evaluate commercial financing, with findings for lenders, brokers, and policymakers.

12 minute read

Standards & Certification — Phase I

Building the first independent standards for commercial finance brokers

We’re developing a code of conduct, eligibility framework, and a training and certification roadmap in consultation with professionals, small businesses, and policy experts. A searchable directory of certified individuals and organizations is planned for a future phase.
Certification launches in a later phase. This page tracks our progress toward it.

Upcoming event

Understanding Equipment Finance Disclosures

A live session on reading the cost and terms of an equipment finance agreement, with time for audience questions.

Latest insight

Explainer

What Revenue-Based Financing Actually Costs

A short explainer comparing the effective cost of revenue-based financing to a traditional term loan.

Stay informed

New guides, research releases, and program updates — a few times a month, never more.

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