10 Free or Affordable Resources for Small Business Owners

Posted May 8, 2025 • 5 Minute Read

Taking on the world as a small business or startup can be invigorating and exciting. However, finances are usually tight when a new business is establishing its foundation.

Fortunately, numerous free or low-cost resources and tools are available to support productivity, business development, and marketing. Before opening your wallet, ensure you’re complementing your hustle with strategy by exploring all the free (or almost free) options.

#SmallBusinessWeek2025 is still going strong. Stay with us as we continue to honor small businesses everywhere, and curate the tips and resources you need to take your idea from #DreamtoDone.

1. The United States Small Business Administration

What’s in a business name? In the case of the Small Business Administration (SBA), everything you need to know is right on the name tag. The SBA provides resources like self-assessment guides, business growth tools, as well as grants and low-interest loans to U.S.-based businesses.

The SBA also collaborates with local governments and organizations to establish Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), which offer counseling and training to small businesses nationwide. You can find your nearest SBDC through the SBA’s official website for this program, America’s SBDC.

2. Northwest’s business forms library

Northwest has supported business owners for years with our expansive library of free-to-use business and legal forms. Use our free template to draft an operating agreement and outline in writing exactly how your business is managed and who is considered a member or owner.

DIY types may love the idea of free forms they can use to complete state and federal filings, but sometimes, you need an expert on your side. Hire Northwest to form your business on your behalf and let a professional handle the legal details while you focus on your business.

3. Website and app testing tools

If you’re building a business website to drive traffic or perfecting an app that will serve as your primary offering, it can often help to get a second opinion. Several online services are available to get an extra set of eyes on your product before releasing it into the world.

Sites like UserBrain can provide analytics tools that enable friends, colleagues, and even employees to test your website or app in a controlled environment, providing actionable feedback on user experience.

4. Free accounting software

Keeping company dollars organized and at work is integral to success. Free accounting software can make this a much easier process for smaller organizations. Take ZipBooks’ free tier, which includes quote and estimate tools, invoicing capabilities, and payment collection by integrating with popular online card processors like PayPal.

Many tools, including ZipBooks, can also link to your LLC’s business bank account and help you track expenses and revenue.

5. Fellow small business owners

Sometimes, a mentor with experience is all you need to clear the haze around a confusing problem. For example, if you’re looking to open a nonprofit thrift shop to provide additional revenue to your no-kill cat shelter, you might be in the dark about how to run your new venture smoothly.

Consulting with other successful businesses in your field can help you understand how to effectively collect donations, connect with altruistic cat lovers in your area, and direct resources toward your shelter.

6. IRS small business and self-employed tax center

Businesses with assets totaling less than $10 million, self-employed individuals, and those paid as independent contractors may struggle to navigate taxes on their own. Thankfully, the IRS’s small business and self-employed tax center provides resources, forms, and educational material to help you understand your obligations and any deductions available to you.

7. Free content design tools

To many, marketing is the most enjoyable part of running a business. That is, until the costs for professional content creation tools and assets mount.

Free versions of tools like Canva can enable you to create basic yet eye-catching marketing materials, such as flyers, social media posts, and presentation slides, in a drag-and-drop format. Pairing this with free stock image sites like Pexels or Unsplash can help you take the visual aspect of your marketing and website to the next level.

8. Students at local universities

Consulting with intelligent and driven students enrolled in Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs at local universities can often be a win-win scenario. Here’s how you can do this:

  • Reach out to local universities and have a one-on-one conversation with professors or program directors about student consulting services.
  • Seek out universities that host student consulting clubs or programs for future entrepreneurs, such as Rider University’s Small Business Institute.
  • Check with your local SBDC for partnerships with local colleges.
  • Use a service like Parker Dewey to host a micro-internship, or pay students and recent graduates to complete on-demand, short-term projects for as little as $200.

If you don’t have the funds to hire consultants, the next best option might be fresh-eyed students who can help spark new ideas and develop a game plan for improving your business operations.

9. Chambers of Commerce

Your local Chamber of Commerce can often be a goldmine of nearby resources. You can get connected with organizations offering grants, regional business development incentive programs, and networking events where you can share thoughts and ideas with other local business owners. You can find your closest Chamber of Commerce on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website.

10. Free collaboration tools

Productivity tools like Slack can make collaboration and communication with teammates easier. Through the free version of Slack, you can have one-on-one huddles with key employees to make decisions fast and work through ideas.

You can even integrate other apps, such as Google Drive, to streamline your workflow by keeping all your tools in one place. Upgrading to the pro version of Slack unlocks even more features and costs less than $10 a month.

Stretch no-cost resources early on

Every penny counts when you’re trying to grow a business. Because of this, you should always think twice before dipping into company resources to get things done. Lean on all the free tools available, then upgrade when the time is right.

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