The Quick Version
- Finish any two free Verizon Digital Ready courses or events to unlock a $10,000 grant application.
- Grants are reviewed monthly from June through December 2026, with about 10 winners each month.
- The money does not have to be repaid, though you will get a 1099 for taxes.
- Complete your courses by December 7, 2026; the earlier you finish, the more rounds you enter.
If you run a small business and you have been ignoring free training because you are too busy, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program is worth a second look. It pairs free courses and coaching with a very real $10,000 grant, and the two are connected: finishing a little bit of the free learning is exactly what unlocks the money.
How the program works
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free platform any small business owner can join. It is run in partnership with LISC (the Local Initiatives Support Corporation), a national nonprofit with decades of experience backing small businesses in underserved communities.
Once you create an account, you get access to:
- Short, plain-language courses on marketing, finances and running a business
- Live virtual events and coaching sessions
- Personalized tools and a networking community
- A path to apply for $10,000 grants awarded throughout the year
The two-course rule that unlocks $10,000
This is the part most people miss. You do not simply fill out a grant form. You earn the right to apply by learning.
To become eligible, you must complete any two eligible courses or events between January 1 and December 7, 2026. That is it. Two courses, or one course and one virtual event, and your application opens up.
- You are a for-profit business owner, age 18 or older
- Your business is based in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
- You have a free Digital Ready account
- You have completed your two courses or events
- Nonprofits and Verizon or LISC employees and their families are not eligible
The grant is $10,000, does not have to be repaid, and there are no strings that make it hard to use for normal business needs. Keep in mind it counts as income, so you will receive a Form 1099 and should set aside money for taxes. For more funding we cover regularly, visit our Business & Tech archive.
The 2026 timeline
This is not a one-shot deadline. Verizon reviews applications in monthly rounds, which is good news if you apply and do not win the first time.
- Applications are reviewed monthly from June through December 2026
- Roughly 10 businesses are selected each month
- Finalists are notified within about six weeks after each month closes
- Final decisions are made by January 12, 2027
- If you are not selected one month, you stay in the pool for the next
Because the last day to complete your qualifying courses is December 7, 2026, the earlier you finish them, the more monthly rounds you are entered into.
How to apply, step by step
- Create a free account at the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready site
- Browse the course library and pick two that fit your business
- Finish both (many take under an hour)
- Complete the grant application, which should take about 30 minutes
- Gather your business and financial verification documents in case you are selected
The application cannot be changed after you submit, so give yourself uninterrupted time and double-check your answers. You can start the free courses and read the full grant rules at the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready website.
The math here is simple. A few hours of free learning gives you real skills and a shot at $10,000 you never have to pay back. Few programs make the trade that fair.