Business · Business guidance
SBA Mentor-Protégé Program
Offered by SBA
Open year-roundApply anytime. Applications are reviewed as they come in.
About
About This Program
SBA program that pairs a small business with an experienced government contractor for up to six years of help winning federal contracts.
SBA's Mentor-Protégé program helps a small business (the protégé) build capacity and win government contracts through an SBA-approved partnership with a more experienced company (the mentor). Mentors can help with business management, accounting, marketing and strategic planning; provide equity investments, loans and bonding; and guide the protégé through federal bidding. A mentor and protégé can form a joint venture to bid on small business contracts, including 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned and HUBZone set-asides the protégé qualifies for. It is not a matchmaking program: the protégé must apply with a mentor already identified. Both businesses must be registered in SAM.gov, complete SBA's online tutorial and sign a Mentor-Protégé Agreement, then apply through SBA's Certify site. Processing takes about 105 days, and agreements can last up to six years.
Eligibility
Who Can Apply
- Small business with industry experience
- Organized for profit or as an agricultural cooperative
- Has a proposed mentor before applying
- Not affiliated with the proposed mentor
Area served: State of Georgia
The offer
What's Offered
- Business development help from an experienced mentor firm
- Possible equity investments, loans and bonding from the mentor
- Help with federal bidding and procurement
- Joint ventures for small business and set-aside contracts
Amount: Mentor agreement of up to six years
Get ready
What You'll Need
- An identified mentor
- SAM.gov registration for both businesses
- Completion certificates from SBA's online Mentor-Protégé tutorial for both businesses
- A signed Mentor-Protégé Agreement
- The protégé's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Key dates
Dates
OpensYear-round
DeadlineRolling
Last reviewedOct 28, 2026
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