Explore These Low Or No-Cost Programs For Business Growth

You’ve likely heard that more than half of new small businesses don’t make it past the first five years. It’s a startling truth for many entrepreneurs, but it doesn’t have to be your reality.

There are many ways to grow your business without being part of that statistic.

Sustaining a small business means keeping certain priorities top of mind, like cash flow, your target market’s wants and needs, expanding your team, and having a realistic growth strategy.

At SCORE, our mission is to foster vibrant small business communities, and we want to make sure every business owner has the support they need to be successful. 

This goal is not ours alone.

There are other organizations that also believe in seeing every small business owner thrive. Just like us, they’re ready to help you grow your business — even if you’re on a budget.

Whether you’re hiring employees or expanding to a new location, there is help available every step of the way. Here are 15 small business organizations ready to offer you advice, support, education and financing.

Featuring a curriculum designed by the nation’s top-ranked entrepreneurship school, Babson College, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses puts participants through an intensive program that covers topics including financial management, sales and marketing, leadership and business planning. You’ll learn from experienced business leaders and experts, collaborate with peers in discussions and learning exercises and get one-on-one advice to help you develop a customized growth plan.

The free program is available in person at locations nationwide; there’s also an online option. Expect to devote about 10 hours a week to the program, which takes most participants 12 weeks to complete. To be eligible, you must be a business owner with at least two employees (including you), be in business for at least two years and have revenues over $75,000. Learn more and apply.

This executive-level training program helps high-potential entrepreneurs achieve their goals through mentoring, in-person coaching and virtual and in-person sessions from subject matter experts. The free program is open to small business owners who have been in business for at least three years, have at least two employees (including themselves) and have annual revenues of $250,000 or more. 

There’s no cost to participate in T.H.R.I.V.E, but you must commit to devoting six months to completing the training. Learn more.

The Amazon Small Business Academy is an online learning platform for early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to start, grow, or launch their businesses online. The free resources include a library of on-demand business courses so you can learn at your own pace. 

You can also access live and recorded events featuring subject matter experts who answer participants’ questions. Learn more.

The WBENC is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive. The organization offers networking opportunities, events, webinars, pitch competitions, and scholarships. The WBENC also has a variety of executive education programs for women business owners, including:

• WeAMPLIFY is a virtual program designed for solopreneurs and women’s business enterprises (WBEs) that market to other WBEs.
• WeGROW is the next level of executive education for WBEs, exploring core areas of business in more depth.
• WeIGNITE is a highly interactive executive education program that helps women entrepreneurs and leadership teams improve the operational value of their businesses.
• WeTHRIVE is a virtual executive education program that covers leadership and communication, financial management, business strategy, operations and human resources, and marketing and sales. There are separate tracks depending on participants’ annual revenue. Learn more.

The My Own Business Institute at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University offers a range of online entrepreneurship courses with no fees or prerequisites. You can enroll in courses on starting, managing and growing a business, sales and marketing, and more, and receive certification.

Courses can be completed at your own pace and include templates, resources, and videos featuring industry experts. Learn more and enroll.

If you’re looking for federal grants to support business growth, research and development, and more, you’ll find everything you need at Grants.gov. Search a database of federal grant opportunities and access resources to learn how the grant process works, get tips for a successful grant application, find out where to look for grants, and more.

There is no fee to apply. Explore federal grants.

iFundWomen is a funding marketplace for women-owned businesses that offers access to capital via small business grants from corporate partners such as Visa, Unilever, Diageo, Vista, Adidas, American Express, and more. Get listed in the site’s Universal Grant Application Database, and if you’re a match for a corporate partner’s grants, you’ll be notified.

iFundWomen has a library of webinars and workshops, including a free online course in crowdfunding and tools to help you successfully launch your crowdfunding campaign. You can also access a range of coaching options, from on-demand to one-on-one private coaching. 

There is no fee to apply for grants. Coaching and workshops are available for a monthly or annual fee. Learn more.

STEP grants are designed for established small businesses seeking financing to expand their international sales. Administered by individual states, the grants help pay for trade missions, trade show exhibitions, export training workshops, consulting, and other assistance needed to support overseas expansion.

Businesses must meet SBA size standards, have been in business for one year or more, and sell goods or services with at least 51% U.S. content. Learn more.

Created in 1998 to empower women entrepreneurs, the Amber Grant program awards more than $30,000 in grants each month, including three $10,000 grant recipients. Grants available include startup grants, grants for various business categories, and three $25,000 year-end grants. Applying is free and easy; fill out one application to be considered for all grants related to your business.

SBDCs are a nationwide network of centers offering counseling, training, and resources to small businesses across the U.S. A partner program of the SBA, SBDCs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and are located within college and university campuses, state economic development agencies, and private organizations.

Both startup and existing businesses can visit their local SBDC for free consulting services and low-cost training. Get help with business planning, financial management, access to capital, and more. Find your local SBDC.

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center features free online classes, events, and resources for entrepreneurs around the world. In addition to accessing on-demand content, entrepreneurs can apply to participate in Milestone Makers, a free 12-week program that provides personalized mentoring and business coaching, plus training and resources tailored to help you achieve your business goals. Learn more.

This Chicago-based, women-led organization provides free training, counseling, and resources for women business owners. With eight offices throughout the Midwest, the WBDC offers a variety of free and low-cost programs, workshops, and events, plus plentiful networking opportunities. Services include one-on-one and group business advice, online learning, and assistance with public-sector contracting and private-sector procurement.

The WBDC’s Access to Capital team provides guidance on finding financing, including debt, equity, microlending, and more. Learn more.

The 31 VBOCs throughout the country help military veterans and their spouses transition into entrepreneurship by providing training, counseling, mentoring, and referrals to the SBA’s resource partners. VBOCs conduct classes, pre-business plan workshops, feasibility assessments, and more to help clients assess their business ideas and develop a five-year business plan.

A VBOC can also help veterans and spouses find financing through partner lenders or SBA loan programs. Find your local VBOC.

Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) seeking to expand into new markets, access capital, or scale their businesses can find guidance and support from the MBDA’s nationwide network of Business Centers. The organization’s Specialty Centers offer focused assistance for entrepreneurs in manufacturing, exporting, or federal government procurement.

Those seeking capital can get assistance through the MBDA Capital Readiness Program, which helps entrepreneurs develop scalable businesses, provides access to financing sources such as investors and crowdfunding, and connects them with mentors and coaches to overcome their challenges. Learn more.

At SCORE, we offer online and in-person mentoring and education to small business owners across the United States. Whether you are running, growing, selling, or exiting your business, SCORE can help. We’re also an excellent resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups ready to move their businesses forward.

Attend live and recorded events, webinars, and workshops, and receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced business owners who support your success.

There is no fee to join.

Where will you start?

There are many paths to starting and growing your business, so take advantage of one or all of the resources above. The programs and organizations listed here are committed to your ongoing success. Many business owners don’t know about the free or low-cost resources available to help them succeed. Share this article with a fellow business owner and help them thrive on their journey, too.

This article originally appeared on SCORE.