Free Business Resources for Small Business Owners

When a person starts their own business, they might not realize just how many different skills and talents they need to be successful. Thankfully, small business owners have access to a lot of different free resources, from business courses to mentoring and free training and everything in between.

Every business owner has a lot to tackle: juggling responsibilities like employee and customer management, navigating taxes, learning effective marketing strategies, and more. And while it might be tempting for an entrepreneur to just hire a professional to handle the tasks they don’t like doing, it’s rarely cost-effective. Thankfully, new and existing business owners can all take advantage of free resources around the country. Here’s how to find them.

1. Small Business Development Center

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide a wealth of free services and tools for business owners across the country. SBDCs were established to encourage and nurture local and regional economic development; because of that, SBDCs offer a number of services that enable businesses to get off their feet and thrive.

The SBDC network spans over 900 delivery centers across the country. Services are provided through professional business advisers and cover topics like business plan creation, procurement assistance, disaster recovery assistance, market research, and financing assistance.

Depending on the communities where they’re located, SBDCs may modify their services to suit the unique needs of the businesses in that community. For instance, the Pennsylvania SBDC offers services like environmental management, government marketing, and targeted assistance around the Affordable Care Act and shale energy. Meanwhile, in New York, entrepreneurs can explore assistance programs for international business development, business plan redesign, and employee management with the SBDC.

2. SCORE

SCORE is a volunteer non-profit organization and a resource partner with the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA). There are 250 local SCORE chapters and 10,000 volunteers nationwide. The association offers small business assistance in four ways:

• Volunteer mentors share their expertise and experience-driven insights with businesses. Volunteers encompass 62 different types of industry experts, and all counseling sessions are delivered free of charge.
• Mentors also provide free, confidential one-on-one counseling in-person or via email.
• Local SCORE chapters organize workshops for free (or a small nominal fee in some cases). 24/7 webinars are also offered.
• On the SCORE website, a host of business tools are available for download. These great resources include templates and helpful information on many business areas and topics. 

SCORE’s local chapters offer free counseling services for the full life of a business or as long as required. They serve as a reliable, on-demand source of information and advice for start-ups and established businesses alike.

RELATED: Business Start Up Checklist

3. The Small Business Administration (SBA)

The Small Business Administration, found at SBA.gov, offers free online courses covering the basics of starting, financing, and managing a business. These include half-hour training programs specifically for starting an encore business, and among them is one for women over 50. The SBA also conducts local workshops and technical classes at more than 1,800 locations throughout the United States. The site also provides entrepreneurs with detailed information about how to compete for and win federal government contracts, even as a small business.

Beyond these free resources, the SBA is well known for its financial resources, particularly its competitive small business loans. Their loans can be difficult to qualify for, but business owners who win one will enjoy a competitive rate.

4. Training With Other People Who Started Their Own Business

Most small businesses (even the most successful ones) started from scratch. They endured the challenges of raising capital, chasing sales, and sticking it out when money was tight. So it’s no surprise that other small business owners can be great people to learn from. And many entrepreneurs are willing to share what they’ve learned with others. Some business consultants and coaches charge hefty fees for their expertise, but some will share a little bit of their expertise for free.

For example, a woman who’s starting her own business might find it helpful to connect with other women-owned businesses in their area. Perhaps a woman who’s starting a microblading business could learn about finding a salon location from another female entrepreneur who owns a successful hair salon. The two could also talk about social media marketing strategies they’ve found helpful, where they’ve found funding, and more.

Online tools are also a great option. Thanks to the Internet, there’s a wealth of business owners who are sharing their expertise online through blogs, social media posts, and more.

5. Free Online Business Courses

In an increasingly competitive and highly dynamic business landscape, entrepreneurs are always under pressure to take quick and smart decisions. And even if someone has a degree in business management, there’s always something else to learn and apply to their business. Thankfully, there’s lots of support available to today’s entrepreneurs in the form of free courses on entrepreneurship, marketing, business finances, and more. Accessing these resources can help a small business owner “wear a lot of hats” and steer their company with confidence.

For example, Moz Academy offers a variety of tools for business owners who want to learn about search engine optimization (SEO) to optimize their website. While not all of their training resources are free, there are quite a few no-cost options, including their “30 Days of SEO” training. HubSpot Academy is another great option for business owners who want free training and certifications in social media marketing, content marketing, and more.

And of course, there are plenty of social media influencers and business coaches online who offer free or low-cost training resources for other business owners.

Conclusion

Starting a business is challenging. But thankfully, business owners don’t have to go it alone, and they don’t always have to spend an arm and a leg to get help. These training sessions and other resources can be a great help to any entrepreneur who’s willing to reach out, put in the work, and grow as a professional and as a business.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.