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Confidential one-to-one advising at no cost for people starting, improving or expanding a small business. Topics include planning, finance, marketing, feasibility, capital readiness, contracting and exports.

Cost and eligibility: Training is described as no-cost to low-cost. Confirm fees with the local center.

Free, confidential one-to-one mentoring in person, by phone, video or email. Most on-demand webinars, courses and library resources are free.

Cost and eligibility: SCORE describes local workshops as free or low-cost; California listings showed $10 and $25 events on October 17, 2026. Check your chapter's current event price.

The SBA describes free, self-paced modules and courses on starting, managing, financing, marketing and government contracting. This is a course library, not one-to-one advising.

Cost and eligibility: The exact current Learning Center entry URL was not verified in the research. Use the SBA finder or current SBA site navigation to confirm the route; this guide does not guess a direct URL.

Business-plan, financing-readiness, federal-contracting and mentoring support through SBA-funded nonprofit centers. The network focuses on women entrepreneurs; services are not exclusive to women.

Cost and eligibility: SBA describes counseling and training as free to low-cost. Ask the local center about the cost of each service or workshop.

Business training, counseling, mentoring and referrals for transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and eligible family members.

Cost and eligibility: Services are intended for the listed military-connected groups. Use the SBA locator to check current coverage.

Government-contracting support can include readiness, SAM registration, certification navigation, bid matching, proposal review and post-award help.

Cost and eligibility: This is contracting support, not general business mentoring. GSA describes assistance as no-cost; other summaries allow nominal fees, so confirm with your center.

District offices provide counseling, referrals, events and guidance on SBA loans, contracting certifications and disaster assistance.

Cost and eligibility: District offices do not directly lend for regular SBA loan programs; they connect owners with lenders and partners. District boundaries vary by location.

Free individual and group business coaching, including English- and Spanish-language support, plus a digital resource library. Coaching is available whether or not you borrow.

Cost and eligibility: AOF is also a lender. Its loans carry interest, terms and eligibility rules; do not treat borrowing as free help.

Free membership provides resource and funding matches, education, tools and access to partner grant applications. Grants are competitive and eligibility and amounts vary.

Cost and eligibility: The platform also offers credit and loans, which are commercial financial products. No one-to-one advising was verified. The homepage was not directly opened during the research, so recheck current offerings and terms.

Centers may assist minority business enterprises with capital, contracts, markets, exports and strategic growth.

Cost and eligibility: The authorizing law permits fee-for-service and client or membership fees. Operating status remained unsettled after February 2026 in the research because of litigation and disrupted grants. Confirm that a center is open and ask about fees before relying on it; it is not a guaranteed free resource.