For over twenty years, WHC has served as an anchor of support for Maryland’s small business community, transforming operational vulnerabilities into stories of sustainable growth.  Our deep commitment to regional economic development has been formally recognized across every level of government, earning citations and commendations from three Baltimore mayors, the Governor’s office, Maryland Congressmen, the Baltimore City Council, the Maryland General Assembly, and the Comptroller of Maryland.

 

At the core of our technical assistance capability is an award-winning business curriculum designed to demystify complex financial management for neighborhood-based, minority-owned, and women-owned enterprises. WHC has successfully deployed this specialized training across 75 finance and entrepreneurship cohorts throughout the state of Maryland, producing over 800 graduates who now operate with clear, GAAP-compliant financial structures. This extensive experience ensures that we do not face a learning curve when managing BDC referrals; we already possess the battle-tested frameworks, cloud-accounting templates, and bilingual instructional approaches necessary to clear historical recordkeeping backlogs and build immediate financial capacity.

 

Our organization’s impact is defined by measurable economic outcomes and national validation. Named the 2024 SBA Business of the Year, WHC has consistently driven documented job creation and retention across Maryland by strengthening the back-office infrastructure of the employers who need it most. This work is guided by the strategic leadership of our founder, Will Holmes, whose deep institutional knowledge of the local business landscape is highlighted by his tenure as Chairman Emeritus of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce. Under his direction, our team bridges the gap between grassroots business challenges and institutional compliance, ensuring public funds achieve their intended economic development objectives.


Furthermore, WHC goes beyond baseline accounting cleanup by actively positioning small businesses to scale through capital acquisition. As experienced loan brokers, we possess an intimate understanding of what underwriters demand and exactly how local lenders evaluate risk. We know how to audit general ledgers, forecast cash flows, and restructure balance sheets specifically to unlock commercial loans and BDC-administered funding.

 

RECENT CASE STUDIES

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Baltimore BASE Network During the Pandemic

  • Overview: Developed and deployed customized financial literacy and cloud-accounting training curricula for over 100 underserved, neighborhood-based businesses across Baltimore’s historic commercial corridors to prepare for PPL  and EIDL funding.
  • Impact: Over 80% of participating businesses successfully implemented cloud-based accounting systems (QuickBooks/Xero), transitioned from cash-basis recordkeeping to accurate GAAP-aligned profit & loss tracking, and established active relationships with commercial lenders.

 

Case Study: Business Capacity Building Cohorts for Park Heights, Baltimore City through the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development

  • Overview: Developed and deployed customized financial literacy and cloud-accounting training curricula for 40 underserved, neighborhood-based businesses across Park Heights, Baltimore.
  • Impact: 50% of participating businesses successfully completed the program, creating new businesses in Maryland. Each developed cash flow projections,  implemented cloud-based point of sales and accounting systems and established active relationships with commercial lenders.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Baltimore City Catalyst Program, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guides assigned Baltimore City small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 200 Anne Arundel County small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Charles County, Charles County Economic Development Department

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 130 Charles County small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Talbot County, Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism  

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 50 Talbot County small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Dorchester County, Dorchester County Economic Development  

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 30 Dorchester County small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Caroline County, Caroline County Economic Development

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 20 Caroline County small businesses through financial structural assessments, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

 

Case Study: Technical Assistance & Capital Readiness for Prince George’s County, FSC First

  • Overview: WHC provides training and advisory sessions focused on financial management, credit building, job creation, technology, succession planning, and operations.
  • Impact: Guided over 1000 Prince George’s County small businesses through financial and technical training, directly leading to increased eligibility for local grants, storefront recovery programs, and traditional lending programs.

NEXT STEPS

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