Most new side-business owners spend their first month alone with a laptop and a long list of questions. Here is something that is easy to overlook: the United States has a network of free or low-cost advisors whose whole job is to help people like you. You do not need a finished idea, a registered company or a pitch deck to use them.
Where the Help Comes From
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) describes a set of “resource partners” that offer free or low-cost counseling and training. Four of them are worth knowing about as of October 2026:
- SCORE: volunteer mentors who give advice by email, phone or video on topics such as business planning and financing. The SBA says mentor advice is offered at no cost, and SCORE adds webinars, online courses and a resource library.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): counseling and training on business planning, operations, financial management and marketing. The SBA says they serve existing small businesses and people who have not launched yet. The page does not state costs, so ask your local center.
- Women’s Business Centers: training and counseling for women starting or growing a business, described as free to low cost.
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers: workshops, counseling and mentorship for service members, veterans, military spouses and family members.
What to Expect From a Mentor Request
SCORE says you can request a mentor by entering your ZIP code, or browse mentor profiles yourself. It says a mentor typically responds within 48 hours, and that sessions can happen by video, phone or email, so a day job is not a barrier. Check your junk folder, because the first messages can land there. Quality varies from mentor to mentor, as it does with any volunteer program, and a mentor’s advice is a starting point rather than a guarantee.
How to Get Real Value From a First Session
- Write down one decision you are stuck on, such as which business model to pick or whether you need an LLC.
- Bring a short summary: what you plan to sell, who you think will buy it and how many hours a week you have.
- Ask what they would do in your first 30 days, then ask what you might be overlooking.
- Take notes and turn one piece of advice into a task with a date on it.
If you are still choosing a direction, our guide to picking one business model for your first 90 days is a good thing to read before the call. For legal and tax questions, treat a mentor’s answer as general information and confirm with a licensed professional or the official source.
Do this today
Open the SBA’s local assistance page, enter your ZIP code, and bookmark the SBDC and SCORE options near you. Then submit one mentor request with your single biggest question. It should take about fifteen minutes.
More on Totally Relentless
- Pick One Business Model for Your First 90 Days
- Write a One-Page Business Plan for Your Side Business
- How to Find Your First Customer Before You Have an Audience
