Starting a business is no easy business.
Fortunately, there are some free resources that every entrepreneur should know about.
Most people have heard about the SBA – Small Business Administration, but in my experience, most entrepreneurs don’t know that the SBA, and its sister organization, the SBDC – Small Business Development Center, provide numerous free services to anyone who wants them.
Here are things you can get for free from SBA:
-Numerous articles and templates about many aspects of new businesses – company structure, licenses / permits, finance, legal, marketing, etc.
-Help getting federal and private loans and grants (especially if you’re minority or woman owned business)
-Tons of information about being a federal contractor
-Export assistance
-Counseling and mentoring
To learn more, or find an SBA office near you: www.sba.gov
SBDC
The SBDC is network of parternships between the government and universities. There are offices in every state, and counselors there provide a wide range of counseling and resources. They can share all manner of best practices with you.
http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-development-centers-sbdcs
SCORE
SCORE provides mentoring, events, and templates & tools for free to entrepreneurs. Founded in 1964, and affiliated with the SBA, there is much value in their help.
www.score.org
With SBA, SBDA, and SCORE, starting your business doesn’t have to be as uncertain and uncharted as you think.
