Forge News and Updates |
Running a small business can feel like carrying a hundred different responsibilities at once. You’re making decisions, solving problems, leading a team, serving customers, and trying to figure out what’s next—all while keeping the day-to-day moving.
That’s why we launched the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator. Over 12 weeks, local business owners step away from simply working in their businesses and spend intentional time strengthening how they lead and operate them. Through practical tools, accountability, and the support of other Birmingham business owners, participants gain greater clarity about where they’re going—and a plan for how to get there.
Our Fall 2026 Cohort just launched and we couldn’t be more excited to gather this new group of small business owners!
But you don’t have to take our word for how awesome the Small Business Accelerator is! Here’s what past Accelerator participants have to say about their experience in this program:
Tapio Ikonen, On Fire Sales AI
Khalil Saadiq, Driven Auto Detailers
Amin Mohd, Dumpster Daddy
Natalie Nelson Parker, Civitas Consulting Group
Every business owner’s challenges look a little different, but you don’t have to figure them out alone. The Birmingham Small Business Accelerator gives you the space, tools, accountability, and community to step back from the day-to-day and move your business forward with greater clarity and confidence.
If you’re ready to build a stronger business alongside other Birmingham entrepreneurs, we’d love to have you in an upcoming cohort.
Learn more about the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator and apply for our next cohort.
Forge News and Updates |
Are you and your company looking for the perfect professional meeting space that meets all your needs? Look no further! Here is your guide to finding the meeting and event space of your dreams.
With more than 75 meeting spaces in Birmingham, finding one that fits your needs and desires may be overwhelming. That’s where I’m here to help. When booking a space in Birmingham, it’s important to make sure it has everything you need.
1. Professional Setting
2. Clean and Sanitized (especially during the current pandemic – you can never be too careful)
3. Well-Equipped with the Proper Amenities
4. Welcoming and Relaxed Environment
5. Cost-Effective
6. Parking and Accessibility
7. Geographically Convenient
8. Plenty of Room – You don’t want to feel cramped while in a meeting!
Here’s a list of some of the best Birmingham meeting spaces, that meet all of these requirements and more!
Did you really think I was going to write an article about the best meeting spaces in Birmingham and not include Forge? Forge, in the heart of downtown Birmingham, offers three beautifully designed conference rooms for members and visitors. These conference rooms can accompany varying numbers of people and offers beautiful natural light, proper technology, and stunning views of Birmingham. Forge also has event space available for groups of up to 100 people. Book a meeting room today or check out the event space!
Located in West Homewood, AL, besides Seeds Coffee, the Hub offers meeting spaces for up to 15 people. The space has all the proper technological equipment and WIFI needed, as well as a lounge, greenspace, and coffee next door. Similar to the next three places, the Hub is a collaborative co-working space for professionals of all kinds.
Photo from The Hub Website
Worx BHM, located off Lakeshore and Columbiana, offers two great options for conference rooms. They have rooms for 12 – 20 people, depending on location! If you’re interested in booking a space here, please contact info@worxbhm.com or call 205-379-6023 to reserve a room.
Photo from Worx Instagram
#4: Polaris
POLARIS BHM is a coworking space located in Woodlawn and has conference room space for up to 15 people. The room includes a TV for presentations, a projector wall and a glass whiteboard. Polaris was born from a simple but powerful belief: that Birmingham’s entrepreneurs, creatives, and change makers deserve a world-class space to build, connect, and grow.
photo from Polaris website
#5 Thrive Coworking
Another great option in Birmingham is THRIVE Coworking, located in the Parkside District. THRIVE offers modern, fully equipped meeting rooms that are ideal for client meetings, team huddles, and workshops. Their spaces combine a design-forward environment with practical amenities like high-speed internet, presentation tools, and flexible booking options, making it easy for businesses to host professional, productive meetings without long-term commitments. In addition to meeting rooms, THRIVE also provides coworking and private office options, creating a vibrant, community-driven workspace for entrepreneurs and teams.
photo from Thrive website
Back Forty has their B40 Barrel Room which is the perfect space for a more casual medium to large meeting space. The indoor stage and 20’ projection screen are the perfect added details for any presentations and conference rooms. For more information, email info@backfortybham.com.
photo from Bham Now
The Elyton Hotel offers wonderful meeting and event spaces, in downtown Birmingham. They have a number of different spaces that can accommodate groups of all sizes – from smaller 10 – 30 groups or up to 125 guests. The Elyton is the perfect place for your next meeting or conference. Call ahead or visit their website online for more information.
Photo from Marriott website
The Grand Bohemian provides meeting/conference spaces to meet all your capacity needs. Larger meetings and conferences may utilize the 400-person ballroom. In addition, they have smaller rooms for 10 to 35 people available for rent. Call ahead or book your space online.
Photo from Marriott Website
I hope this list of conference room and meeting and/or event spaces is a great start to an extensive list of incredible spaces located around Birmingham. If none of these places work out for you, I encourage you to continue to find and share spaces that work for all of your needs.
Even if coworking is not for you, we highly encourage you to check out these wonderful collaborative working spaces and some of the meeting and conference rooms Birmingham has to offer.
Forge News and Updates |
Starting and running a small business often begins at home — at the kitchen table, a spare bedroom, or the corner of a coffee shop. While those spaces work at first, many entrepreneurs eventually realize they need something more structured and professional.
…that’s where coworking comes in.
A coworking space for small business owners provides the flexibility, community, and resources that entrepreneurs need to grow without the high cost and commitment of a traditional office lease.
At Forge, our coworking community in downtown Birmingham was built specifically to support entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams.
👉 Learn more about our coworking memberships
The Challenges of Running a Business From Home
Working from home offers flexibility, but it also comes with real challenges — especially for small business owners.
Many entrepreneurs experience:
• Distractions that make it difficult to focus
• Isolation from other professionals
• Lack of professional meeting space
• Difficulty separating work and home life
Coworking spaces solve these challenges by providing an environment designed for focus, connection, and productivity.
The Power of Community for Entrepreneurs
One of the biggest benefits of working in a coworking space is the community.
When small business owners work alongside other entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups, they gain access to an informal network that often leads to:
• Business partnerships
• Client referrals
• Collaboration opportunities
• Shared knowledge and advice
Instead of working alone, coworking creates an environment where people can connect, share ideas, and support each other’s businesses. Forge hosts monthly events- some open to the public and others specifically for Forge members. Think: happy hours, new member lunches, waffle Wednesdays, and much more!
Increased Productivity and Better Work-Life Balance
Working from home can blur the line between work and personal life.
Coworking creates a clear boundary that helps small business owners stay focused during the workday while also allowing them to disconnect at the end of the day.
Many members find that simply being in a space where others are working leads to:
• Higher productivity
• More consistent work routines
• Fewer distractions
• Increased motivation
A change of environment can dramatically improve how someone approaches their work.
Events and Resources That Help Businesses Grow
Coworking spaces also provide access to events and learning opportunities that help small businesses grow.
At Forge, members regularly have opportunities to attend:
• Networking events
• Business workshops
• Speaker events with local entrepreneurs
• Community gatherings
Programs like the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator also help entrepreneurs refine their strategy and build momentum in their businesses.
👉 Learn more about the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator
An Affordable Workspace for Entrepreneurs
One of the biggest advantages of coworking is affordability.
Instead of committing to an expensive office lease, small business owners can access a professional workspace at a much lower cost.
At Forge, coworking memberships start at just $99 per month, making it an accessible option for:
• Freelancers
• Entrepreneurs
• Remote workers
• Consultants
• Small teams
Members can also upgrade to dedicated desks or private offices as their business grows.
👉 View membership options and pricing
Why Small Business Owners Choose Forge
Located in downtown Birmingham inside The Pizitz building, Forge provides a workspace where entrepreneurs can focus, connect, and grow their businesses.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of coworking, we’d love to show you around.
👉 Schedule a tour of Forge
Forge News and Updates, Member Spotlight |
In January 2026, we launched the first-ever cohort of the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator. We are incredibly grateful to have 10 Birmingham-based small businesses participating in this program and committing to intentional growth together.
Over the course of this 12-week accelerator, participants will work through the book Traction, applying its principles directly to their businesses with the goal of building stronger systems, clearer strategies, and sustainable momentum.
This program is made possible through the support of the City of Birmingham and the Bold Grant, which allows us to offer scholarships to Birmingham residents and ensure local entrepreneurs have access to meaningful resources and support.
What truly sets this program apart is the people. The business owners and team members in this cohort show up each week ready to learn, collaborate, and grow—bringing dedication, curiosity, and a shared desire to make their businesses the best they can be. Their commitment is what makes this program special, and we’re excited to see the impact they’ll continue to have on Birmingham’s small business community!
Meet The Businesses of the Accelerator:
Dumpster Daddy – Amin Mohd and Misty Reeves
At Dumpster Daddy, our mission is simple: to provide Birmingham and the surrounding areas with the most reliable, efficient, and customer-friendly dumpster rental services. We understand the importance of timely and dependable service in keeping your projects on track. Whether you’re a contractor, homeowner, or business owner, we are here to meet your waste disposal needs with professionalism and a smile.
Www.dumpsterdaddyal.com
Dee Dee’s Driven Automotive Detailers – Khalil Saadiq
We’re mobile, automotive detailers who use techniques derived from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence and the latest in Automotive Body/Collision Repair to ensure we provide showroom quality cleaning, sanitation, and protection for vehicles. Most importantly, we bring this high level of professional service right to our customers’ doorstep.
https://www.instagram.com/drivenautodetailers/
Cha House, located in Avondale on 41st Street, helps Birmingham flourish through the power of tea and community. We believe in the power of tea to bring people together and help us slow down in the present moment. We have an extensive menu featuring every category of tea. We host daily events with a variety of facilitators, artists, and musicians.
https://www.chahousebham.com/
Brianna’s Natural Infusions – Brianna Butler
BNI makes natural skin care and hair growth products such as soaps, body butters, sugar scrubs, body oils, and pain relief products.
www.bninfusion.com
OnFireSales.AI is a sales-growth agency for SMB businesses in the United States and Finland. We help our customers break their revenue records in 90 days with content marketing, 10X Sales Coaching and marketing automation.
Partyology Event Planning creates fun, stress-free events through full-service planning, entertainment, décor, and interactive experiences for private, corporate, and community events.
Civitas Consulting Group helps cities, institutions, and mission-driven organizations turn bold ideas into measurable impact through proven strategy, smart systems, and scalable execution.
Mogul Mission is a marketing and business development company that also has a podcast network that creates content for entrepreneurs, creatives, tech, community, and business professionals.
Brainsavers.co provides a variety of small business consulting services. It focuses on helping early-stage startups, solopreneurs, and small companies build out operations and start to scale.
JIREH Logistics is an aggregate hauling company. Its primary focus is on streetscape resurfacing and paving.
Forge News and Updates |
A 12-Week Program to Strengthen, Focus, and Grow Your Business
Small businesses are the backbone of Birmingham — and at Forge, we see every day how much passion, grit, and creativity go into running one. But we also know the truth many business owners feel and rarely say out loud: the day-to-day demands can make it hard to step back, get clarity, and build a healthier, more effective business.
That’s why we’re launching the Birmingham Small Business Accelerator — a new, hands-on program designed to help small business owners bring structure, focus, and momentum to the way they run their company.
Why This Accelerator?
This 12-week accelerator is built around the foundational tools and disciplines from Traction (Entrepreneurial Operating System®), which has helped thousands of companies create stronger systems and more aligned teams.
But this isn’t another course you’ll watch and forget about.
This accelerator is intentionally small, intentionally practical, and intentionally focused on implementation. Each week, you’ll apply one or two core disciplines directly to your business — supported by a cohort of peers who are committed to taking action, not just absorbing information.
What Participants Will Gain
Over 12 weeks, business owners will work through:
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A simple, powerful framework for clarifying your vision and strengthening operations
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Weekly accountability to stay focused, follow through, and build new habits
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A supportive peer group that pushes you, encourages you, and keeps you from falling back into old patterns
Each session includes context, practical application, and real action steps — so you finish the program with meaningful progress, not just notes.
We have 10 Full Scholarships available ($5,800 value!) and 2 Partial Scholarships available
Continued Support After the Program
We designed the accelerator to create ongoing momentum, not just short-term breakthroughs. After the 12-week program wraps, participants will meet quarterly for 2-hour accountability sessions to:
This cadence helps business owners maintain traction long after the program ends.
A Full Year of Coworking Included
To make sure participants have the space, support, and community they need, each accepted business owner will receive one full year of coworking at Forge.
That means access to workspace, connection with other business owners, and an environment where focus comes naturally.
Our Goal
Our goal is simple: To equip Birmingham’s small business owners with the tools, clarity, and accountability needed to build a healthier and more effective organization.
Whether you’re in your first year or your tenth, this accelerator will help you strengthen the core areas of your business so you can grow with more confidence and less chaos.
Applications Open December 1
If you’re ready to invest in yourself, your business, and the systems that support both — we’d love for you to apply.
👉 Applications open December 1.
Learn more and apply here!
