So, you’ve got a brilliant business idea, but now you need to tackle the legal, financial, and marketing maze? No worries—we’ve rounded up the best free (and a few dirt-cheap) start up business resources to help you get your dream off the ground.
First Things First: Legal Stuff (Because the IRS Will Find and Fine You)
Choosing the Right Business Structure
Before you start printing business cards, make sure your business is legally legit.
- Score: Free, 90-minute webinar on the five main business structures. It’s like a crash course in business formation—totally worth it. Watch it here.
- Quick Reads: Short and sweet guides to help you decide if you’re an LLC, sole prop, or something fancier.
Must-Have Legal Agreements
Skipping contracts is like texting your ex—bad idea.
- Free Legal Guides: Nolo and FindLaw aren’t a bad place to start for starter contract templates.
- HR Headaches? Spend $25 on this HR ebook to troubleshoot non-disclosure agreements, non-competes, and your particular state’s applicable labor laws.
- Need Contractor Agreements? Also worth $25. Chances are your first employees will be contractors, and there are a few nuances here to understand. Get it here.
- Termination Clauses Matter: If you’re a consultant, this one clause can make sure you get paid—even if a client ghosts you.
- Why it’s crucial.
- A solid contract template.
- A must-watch 10-minute webinar (Ignore the bad filming—it’s gold.)
Protecting Your Brilliant Ideas (Because Yours Might Be The Million Dollar One)
- Free Trademark Help – Many law schools offer free trademark assistance, but our secret weapon is the USPTO Trademark Clinic Program.
- Patents & Trademarks Webinar: The attorney in this video is very perky, but she knows her stuff. Watch here.
Marketing & Design on a Budget (Because DIY Is the Startup Way)
Yes, these companies want to sell you stuff, but their free training is actually really useful.
- Meta’s “She Means Business” Program: Great for digital marketing and branding—just don’t expect any TikTok tips. Check it out.
- Canva Design School – Learn how to make your brand look polished without hiring a designer. Canva Design School.
- Adobe Creative Cloud Tutorials – Free lessons on Photoshop & Illustrator. Adobe Tutorials.
- Udemy’s Free Social Media Courses: Browse here.
Finding a Mentor (Because Google Can’t Answer Everything)
- SCORE Mentorship – Get a free mentor who actually knows your industry. Plus, they have tons of free webinars on everything from digital marketing to business formation. Find a mentor.
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship: If you land this, it could change your business trajectory. Apply here.
- ASK people – Find mid-level people in your industry (or even better, other founders.) Ask them for a one-shot and see if it turns into more. Be ready with an intro, three questions you have and ask for 15 minutes of their time. For every five requests you send, we bet you will get 1-2 takers. Here is an example of a note you might send through LinkedIn:
- “Hi Beth, my name is XX, and I am on month 3 of launching my investor relations business. I know that you successfully built and sold two of these businesses – congratulations! Would you have 15 minutes to talk to me? I am really struggling with expanding project agreements into long-term contracts, and with trying to compete with larger firms that charge more and don’t provide the custom consulting my small firm can. I will do this at your convenience, and I can’t thank you enough for considering this.”
You’ve got this. Now, go out there and start building your start up business and empire.
