5 Resources to Help Launch Your SMB
If you’re considering starting (or marketing) your small business, you may have asked yourself, “Where do I start?”
Between building the business plan, understanding your competition, finding resources, and attracting customers, getting started can seem overwhelming.
It can be easy to push your launch until you think you’re 100% ready, but doing so could lead to a delay that prevents your business from getting off the ground.
But don’t let this paralyze you. We compiled a short list of free or low-cost resources to help you feel confident about launching your business.
Organizations That Support SMBs
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Many small business owners enter entrepreneurship without mentorship or guidance and find they’ve made missteps that could have been avoided if they had proper support.
SCORE – a national organization dedicated to supporting small businesses – provides mentorship, educational resources, and small business workshops at no cost.
Once you’ve launched your business, you can pay it back by becoming a SCORE mentor to help others navigate the “gotchas” of entrepreneurship.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
If you want a more consultative approach to launching your small business, visit your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
SBDCs are a network of government-backed, local offices that offer a range of services to entrepreneurs.
SBDCs provide free or low-cost consulting and training services, such as professional and personalized business advice on business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, and more.
This organization is ideal for accessing deep domain expertise and knowledge about entrepreneurship.
Online Learning Platforms – Udacity, Coursera and Udemy
Popular online learning platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and Udemy offer courses to help build or refine your business or marketing strategy.
You can find free or affordable courses on various business topics including marketing, finance, management, and entrepreneurship.
What’s more, if your time is limited, you can complete these courses at your own pace.
Business Incubators and Accelerators
If you're launching a tech startup, there are several incubators and accelerators that can connect you to resources that will help your business scale.
Some of these programs offer mentorship, networking opportunities, and sometimes funding.
Furthermore, many incubators and accelerators provide low-cost or equity-based programs to help entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses.
Here’s a list of top incubators and accelerators that can help you build your startup.
Open Source and Free Business Tools
We're big fans of free or low-cost online tools that can help you stay organized, collaborate with team members, and manage your business. Here is a quick list of our favorite platforms:
Canva for graphic design and marketing materials.
Google Workspace for collaboration and productivity tools.
Squarespace for content management.
These tools help operationalize a small business without significant upfront costs.
Turn One Day into Day One
It's understandable to want everything to align perfectly before you launch your small business — but don't let it derail you.
There are several resources for small businesses that can help you navigate the world of entrepreneurship.
Origin Story is also a resource and can provides support to small business owners who don't know where to start or need help refining their existing marketing strategy.