Assistance
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBDCs are America's nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers. A partner program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SBDCs are hosted by universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private sector organizations. Their mission is to help start and grow small businesses. Contact Your SBDC
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE): SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Since 1964, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs. SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Find a SCORE Location
Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO): The OWBO is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and helps women entrepreneurs through programs coordinated by SBA district offices. Programs include business training, counseling, federal contracts, and access to credit and capital. The OWBO oversees Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). These centers seek to level the playing field for all women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the business world. Find a Women’s Business Center
Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA): The Office of Native American Affairs is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Their mission is to ensure that American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary business development and expansion tools available through the Agency's entrepreneurial development, lending, and procurement programs. ONAA contracts with two companies to offer entrepreneurial empowerment workshops and free technical assistance. Find Entrepreneurial Empowerment Workshops: RedWind and Sister Sky Inc. Find free Technical Assistance to Native Americans
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises. Minority-owned firms seeking to penetrate new markets — domestic & global — and growing in size and scale, can access business experts at a MBDA Business Center. Find a MBDA Business Center
Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD): The OVBD facilitates the use of all U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs by veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, active-duty service members, transitioning service members, and their dependents or survivors. OVBD oversees Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC), which are designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). Find a Veteran Business Outreach Center
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Small Business and Self-Employment Tax Center: The IRS provides information about being self-employed, preparing taxes, filing and paying taxes, and the stages of owning a business.
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): The VITA/TCE programs offer free basic tax preparation to qualified individuals. VITA/TCE programs may assist with preparing a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship), under certain limited conditions and with expenses of $35,000 or less. Find a VITA or TCE program
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - Entrepreneurship: JAN, an Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP) supported service, provides individualized technical assistance, consulting, and mentoring services to individuals with disabilities, family members, and service providers. JAN customers can expect to receive a resource packet tailored to their specific entrepreneurial goals with consultants available throughout all stages of the process who can provide ongoing supports. JAN provides a number of resources on their website, including State Small Business and Self-Employment Guides.