Where to Find Free Help for Your Business

Q: Steve, I read about so many great ideas here at AOL Small Business, but my problem is that I don't feel like I really have the financial capacity to implement many of them. I'm just a one-woman shop. What can I do?

-- Jennifer

A: Yours is a common lament, that's for sure. The two things that small businesses -- of all sizes -- seem to be chronically short of are time and money. That said, one of the reasons that this is an amazing time to be in business is because there is a lot more help available than there ever used to be. Much of it comes at low or even no cost.

I am reminded of what Ray Kroc used to say when he was running his McDonald's empire. He would tell franchisees that they were "in business for yourself, but not by yourself." The point being, McDonald's was there to help their franchisees along the way.

I think the same can now be said for any small-business person. Sure, it may feel like you are out there all alone, but in actuality, if you look around, there are a lot of people and organizations ready and willing to help you.

Here's what you should check out:

SCORE: Our own Board of Directors member, Ken Yancey, runs one of the nation's great entrepreneurial organizations, SCORE. Ken once described SCORE to me as sort of a "Peace Corps of executives and entrepreneurs." These folks give their time and expertise, for free, online and in person at SCORE offices across the country.

Small Business Administration: If I told you there was an arm of the federal government whose sole job was to help you succeed, you would be pretty happy, right? Well, I am and there is. Aside from its loan guarantee programs, the SBA offers tons of advice and assistance, most of it for free as well, both on its newly redesigned website, and at its various local offices.

Small Business Development Centers: SBDCs "provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. The centers offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations." And again, the cost is minimal.

Chambers of Commerce: Check out your local chamber -- you will find plenty of programs designed to help you succeed in your business.

Trade organizations: Similarly, the mission of your industry trade association is to help its members succeed. See what sort of assistance is available to your business.

An advisory board: I recently read a story about a woman who started a new business. Eager to learn and succeed, she joined several business groups on LinkedIn. She participated in them and members of the group got to know her. Several months later, she decided that she really needed an advisory board, so she posted the request on the message boards of her LinkedIn groups. More than 50, highly qualified people offered to sit on her board, for free.

Business incubators: As the name implies, business incubators help give birth to new enterprises. They do so by providing subsidized rent, free assistance, and other low cost amenities. Check out the National Business Incubation Association to find the ones in your area.

Interns: Interns are ready and eager to learn from you while helping you. And they either work for free, or a relatively low hourly wage. Contact your local university.

So, yes, you might be in business for yourself -- but as you can see here, you need not be by yourself.