1. Free Business Planning, Coaching & Startup Support
- Tom Tardy
- Nov 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA provides one of the most complete libraries of free business resources in the U.S. Their site includes:
Business plan templates
Marketing plan templates
Free online courses
Guides for starting, growing, and funding a business
Disaster assistance information
Federal contracting info
They also operate regional offices that offer in-person support, workshops, and training.
SCORE – Free Expert Mentoring
SCORE is a nationwide network of over 10,000 volunteer business mentors. These professionals include retired CEOs, marketing directors, accountants, financial experts, and industry leaders who offer:
1-on-1 mentoring
Business plan reviews
Pitch deck assistance
Strategic planning
Marketing & financial coaching
You can request a mentor by industry, skill set, or location. All services are 100% free.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
SBDCs provide high-level business consulting at zero cost. Funded through SBA and state partnerships, they offer:
Professional business coaching
Access to market research databases
Financial analysis
Funding/small business loan guidance
Import/export assistance
Technology commercialization support
These services are perfect for startups, service companies, and growth-stage businesses.
2. Free Marketing, Branding & Visibility Tools
Google Business Profile (GBP)
GBP is one of the most powerful free tools for any local business. With a complete profile, you can:
Appear on Google Maps
Show up in local search results
Allow customers to call/message you directly
Collect & respond to reviews
Post updates, photos, offers, and events
Businesses with optimized GBPs experience significant increases in web traffic and leads.
Bing Places
Although often overlooked, millions of users rely on Bing, especially business customers and government agencies. Listing your business can:
Increase overall search presence
Help with SEO
Sync with Google Business Profile
Apple Business Connect
Apple Maps powers Siri searches. By claiming your Apple listing, your business appears:
On all Apple devices
Through Siri voice commands
Inside Apple Maps navigation
Many small businesses still have unclaimed Apple listings, which is a missed opportunity that costs nothing to fix.
Meta Business Suite
Manage Facebook and Instagram from one dashboard:
Schedule unlimited posts (free)
Manage messages
Create ads
Review analytics
Build audiences
Respond to comments
It’s an essential hub for social media management.
Canva (Free Tier)
The free version of Canva is extremely powerful for creating:
Social media graphics
Business cards
Presentations
Flyers & brochures
Website banners
Logo concepts
This tool is perfect for small businesses without a graphic designer.
3. Free Cybersecurity & IT Tools (Huge Value)
Cybersecurity now affects every business, not just IT companies. Even restaurants, small shops, and nonprofits are vulnerable to ransomware, phishing, and data breaches. These free tools help businesses reduce risk.
CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency)
CISA offers:
Free cybersecurity awareness training
Ransomware response guides
Incident response templates
Free vulnerability scanning (upon request)
Threat advisories
They are the national authority for cyber defense.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
This framework provides a full cybersecurity roadmap, including:
Policies
Controls
Best practices
Risk assessments
Security checklists
While used by enterprises, it is completely free for small businesses.
HaveIBeenPwned
Check if your company emails have been exposed in a data breach. This tool helps businesses protect accounts and proactively update passwords.
OpenVAS
A powerful, open-source vulnerability scanner. It is great for MSPs/MSSPs and technical businesses needing internal scans.
4. Free Government Procurement & Vendor Portals
For companies wanting to pursue government or corporate contracts, these portals are essential and completely free.
List your business and search for:
RFPs
Bids
Grants
Government contracts
This is the federal government’s main procurement system.
WV Oasis Vendor Self-Service
West Virginia’s official procurement portal. Free registration allows access to:
State RFPs
Purchasing projects
Local agency bids
Construction opportunities
Arizona Procurement Portal (APP)
Arizona’s central purchasing platform for:
State agency contracts
IT services
Construction bids
Goods & services
SupplierGateway (Free Tier Available)
A major corporate supplier database used by:
Starbucks
FedEx
Wells Fargo
Nike
Honda
Hundreds more
This offers excellent exposure for small businesses.
5. Free Accounting, Finance & Invoicing Tools
Wave Accounting
A completely free alternative to QuickBooks, offering:
Bookkeeping
Invoicing
Payment tracking
Receipts
Basic financial reporting
There are no hidden fees.
IRS Small Business Resources
The IRS site includes:
EIN registration (free)
Tax workshops
Employer guides
Forms & instructions
Compliance tools
6. Free Business Education & Certifications
HubSpot Academy
Free courses and certifications cover:
Social media marketing
Sales
CRM
Customer service
SEO
Digital advertising
These resources are great for new business owners and marketers.
Google Skillshop
Train your team for free on:
Google Ads
Google Analytics
Google Business Profile
YouTube marketing
Workspace tools
Microsoft Learn
Ideal for IT-focused businesses like MSPs/MSSPs, offering training on:
Azure
Windows Server
Cybersecurity
Microsoft 365
7. Free Legal Templates & Document Tools
Docracy
A large library of free legal documents, including:
NDAs
Contractor agreements
Partnership agreements
Privacy policies
HelloSign Free Tier
This allows free electronic signatures for small volumes of documents.
Rocket Lawyer Free Trial
Great for creating:
Operating agreements
Contracts
Terms & conditions
Employment documents
8. Free Grants, Funding & Entrepreneur Programs
The largest database of federal grants.
Hello Alice
A major platform offering:
Free small business grants
Mentorship
Training courses
Community support
Local State Grant Programs
Many states, including WV and AZ, offer:
Workforce development funds
Entrepreneurship grants
Technology innovation funding
Conclusion: You Don’t Need a Big Budget to Grow
In 2025, small businesses have an unprecedented advantage: high-quality, enterprise-level tools available for free. Whether you're building a tech-focused MSP like GingerSec, starting a service business, or expanding your footprint across states, these resources can save thousands of dollars per year. They can also help you operate like a much larger company.
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