Free Resources for Small Businesses
Knowledge is Power
Small business owners spend their days concentrating on their particular specialty, but there’s one thing they have in common: they all have to contend with a host of similar workforce issues.
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Our Top 3 Resources Every Small Business Owner Should Utilize
The Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA offers a plethora of advice about planning, launching, managing, and growing a small business. They offer a useful guide to writing your business plan. The SBA’s Create Your Business Plan section of its website is an excellent place to start when drafting your business plan. This free resource will walk you through each section, telling you what to include and how to make it stand out.
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Every state runs its own small business development center, which is a very valuable free resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Resources vary by location, but typically include things such as assistance with business planning, access to financing, counseling services and classes.
SCORE
The nation’s largest network of expert business mentors dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve goals. Since 1964, we have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs. SCORE’s Business Plan page is another fantastic and free small business resource loaded with online business workshops and podcasts. Free mentoring is also available – both in person and via email.
Helpful Resources for Small Businesses
Small Business Finance Center (SBFC)
The SBFC helps businesses create and retain jobs, and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities. The SBFC has several programs to support small business, including a Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee, a Jump Start Loan Program and more.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
From inception to business planning, access to capital and resources, and ongoing assistance that growing businesses require, Renaissance fuels community vitality by empowering under-served individuals in the Bay Area to start businesses that bring jobs, character, and sustainable economic health to the local economy.
SmallBusinesses.org
SmallBusinesses.org gives small business owners and entrepreneurs an online platform where they can easily find answers to all their business related questions.
Small Business Trends
An award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and the people who interact with them.
Inc
Inc offers hundreds of articles and guides offering everything you need to start and grow your small business. They offer everything you need to start and grow your small business.
The Self Employed
Created by Steve Strauss, small business columnist for USA Today and bestselling author of The Small Business Bible. It provides lots of great advice for solopreneurs in particular, on start-up, finding clients, insurance and tax issues.
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur has a lot of articles, business plans, webinars, podcasts advice, and insight for established and aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.
Small Business 101
Loaded with information and tools for each of the following topics: Inspiration, Planning, Structure, Finance, Regulations, Insurance, Location, Store Design, Equipment, Inventory, Staffing, Marketing, and Growth & Exit Strategies.
Coursera
Coursera helps you build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies. They have many courses to help small business owners, such as: Business Foundations, Digital Advertising, Financial Accounting, Managing the Company of the Future, Entreprenuership and many more.
Need financing?
TMC Community Capital
Affordable online microloans for under served business owners, with a particular focus on women-owned businesses
ICA Fund Good Jobs
ICA Fund Good Jobs educates, accelerates, and invests in high-growth small businesses in order to create accessible good jobs that lead to equitable communities for all.
Opportunity Fund
Opportunity Fund provide microloans to under served small businesses, particularly those owned by low- and moderate-income immigrants, people of color, and women.