Pointing You in the Right Direction for Free Advice

Often, when a business finds itself at a crossroads, the underlying cause is financial restriction.  There are ‘free’ resources to help business owners through this phase.

While we have written on this topic before, it bears noting again that the US Small Business Administration, a Federal Agency, has the resources and the expertise to assist business owners in need.  An internet search will provide you with the closest office to your location. Their Small Business Development Centers  are staffed with knowledgeable employees to point you in the right direction.  They keep multiple names of advisors that can provide paid assistance when your need is beyond their expertise.

If your time does not allow for a physical visit to one of their offices, look into their virtual sessions.  Each month, both your local SBA office and national headquarters provide a list of seminars to attend online.  Some are during the day while others are in the evening.  The topics range from starting a business, to maximizing search engines, to reviewing contracts.  We have personally attended several online seminars and never been disappointed at the information provided. And, again, they are free.

SCORE is often the organization through which many of the workshops are offered to business owners.  SCORE is an acronym for the “Service Corps of Retired Executives.” Founded in 1964, SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential business mentoring services to prospective and established businesses.  Our experience has been very positive. This is free mentoring from a retired executive with knowledge and years of experience in your industry or a similar one.  

Recently, a few business owners reached out to us experiencing growing pains. Their concerns centered around not having the financial wherewithal to pay attorneys or CPAs for some of the expertise they were seeking.  Clearly, that meant they did not have the resources to pay us as a consulting firm.  We provided them with contact information for both the local SBDC office and SCORE.  Think of it as your tax dollars at work for you.

When we first became involved with the canine dockdiving sport, we took lessons at a local dog pool training facility. While this was imperative for us, we also learned quite a lot from experienced dockdiving enthusiasts.   There is nothing quite like years of experience, whether in a dog sport or a small business.  Direction comes from many places and understanding your options on where to find it is key.  

So, when you are seeking free advice and assistance for your business, start with the SBA, their SBDC and SCORE affiliates are a wealth of knowledge for business owners.  Whether you are at the start-up phase or a critical growth crossroads, likely you will find a warm welcome and the expertise you are seeking.  

Be well.