Build the business you’ve been imagining with clarity, structure, and real support.
Start Her Up is a four-month program, February-May 2026, designed to help women build the foundations of a real, sustainable business. Under the guidance of an entrepreneur with 20 years experience and in a cohort of supportive peers, you will lay the groundwork that matters.
This is a practical program focused on decision making, planning, and follow-through, not just a motivational course or a passive video series. This guided process combines education, planning, accountability, and support—to prevent guessing, overbuilding, and skipping steps that create problems later. .
Over the course of the program, we’ll move through idea validation, market research, financial planning, legal and licensing considerations, systems and operations, marketing foundations, and launch preparation.
By the end, you’ll feel more prepared and less overwhelmed—you’ll know what you’re building, who it’s for, how much it costs, and how to move forward.
What You’ll Walk Away With
A vetted and refined business idea
Clear understanding of your ideal client and market
Competitive analysis and positioning
Startup cost estimates and operating budgets
A pricing model built for sustainability
A business plan draft
Legal, licensing, and compliance clarity
Core standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Website structure and draft copy
Marketing and social media foundations
A realistic soft-launch plan and 90-day roadmap
Program Details
Dates: Tuesday Evenings, February 17 - May 26, 2026
Format: 2-hour Weekly live group sessions (online)
Method: Structured Curriculum, Worksheets, Templates, Homework that moves the needle on your business
Time Commitment: Approximately 3-5 hours per week
Cohort Size: Limited to keep the experience focused and supportive
Investment: Start Her Up is a paid, application-based program. The investment reflects the depth of support and is comparable to other multi-month mentorship programs. Details will be shared with applicants.
This Program Is For You If:
You’re seriously considering starting a business
You have an idea but want to vet and refine it
You want to understand the financial and legal realities before launching
You’re ready to commit time and attention over four months
You value clarity, integrity, and sustainability
Hello!
I’m Gretchen Albrecht—a business builder and mentor with over 20 years of experience running service-based businesses.
I’ve opened and operated a coffee shop, a fitness studio, and soon a women’s camp and community in Western Wisconsin—all service-centered businesses. I’ve hired teams, managed budgets, navigated licensing and compliance, written business plans, and built systems that keep businesses running sustainably.
I’m also a SCORE business mentor, where I work with entrepreneurs at many stages helping them move from ideas to execution.
Start Her Up is built on real-world experience, not theory. I believe women deserve practical, grounded support as they build businesses that align with their lives, values, and capacity. Want a spot in my next business building program for women? Apply now to Start Her Up!
What Clients Say:
“Gretchen gave me a lot of usable information and was incredibly helpful and professional. The guidance she shared was meaningful, well-organized, and immediately applicable. I would absolutely work with her again.”
-Brigid M.“Gretchen made herself available for any questions I had, and the knowledge she shared was extremely helpful. I felt supported and confident moving forward after our session.”“Gretchen made herself available for any questions I had, and the knowledge she shared was extremely helpful. I felt supported and confident moving forward after our session.”
-John B“Gretchen was insightful and made strong, practical recommendations. Her depth of experience really shows, and I appreciated how clearly she broke things down and helped me think through next steps.”
-Bill A“Gretchen brings real experience from the service and fitness industries, and our conversation was extremely valuable. She asked thoughtful questions and helped guide me toward my objective — testing interest in my business idea — in a creative and practical way.”
-Michelle NAre you ready to Start Her Up?
Start Her Up is for women who are ready to stop circling their ideas and begin building something real. If you’re feeling both excited and nervous, that’s a good sign! This application is simply a way to make sure this is the right program for you. All Applications are reviewed personally.