Best Resources for Small Business Owners

Running a business is a challenging task. So it’s important that you have access to the help you need, no matter what aspect of your business you’re struggling with. To make this help more accessible, we’ve gathered some of the best SMB resources!

Professional Mentorship

Who doesn’t want to get insights from a professional? These resources can connect you to experts and help you gain the individualized advice you need.

• SCORE: as the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses start and grow.
• SBDC: Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) work with the SBA to provide informational tools designed to support business start-ups and existing business expansion.
• AWBC: The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) specializes in aiding women in launching and managing small businesses.

Small Business Community Forums

Sometimes the best place to get help is directly through your peers. These forums can help you connect with other people in the business community.

• Small Business Forum: A space catered explicitly to small business owners, with advice spanning all aspects of business operation.
• QuickBooks Community: Connect with fellow business owners directly through your accounting software!
• Warrior Forum: A forum specifically for business owners operating an internet-based business.

Books

There are countless books out there designed for the information-hungry entrepreneur. These books can give you the mindset and skills necessary for maximizing your business’s potential.

• The Minimalist Entrepreneur: For business owners starting out with limited resources, this book offers insight on how to achieve your goals as you start a business from scratch.
• Lean In: Written by Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, this book dives into the relationship between women and work and can help you understand how to put your best foot forward in the business world.
• The 12 Week Year: This book narrows down the 12-month work cycle into 12 weeks, giving tips on how to avoid the pitfalls of low productivity.

Business-Based Podcasts

Don’t have time for reading? Why not listen to a podcast? Here are some of our favorites for you to listen to while on the go.

• Beginning Balance: If you find yourself freaking out over your money, Beginning Balance is an excellent resource for bettering your money management skills. 
• Business Casual: Listen to Business Casual to hear about the business topics shaping your life right now. Host Nora Ali peels back the professional sheen to bring you convos with people you know, and some you may not know yet. Because money talks… but it does not have to be dull.
• StartUp: Created by former NPR employee-turned-entrepreneur Alex Blumberg, StartUp outlines Blumberg’s journey through creating his own startup and offers plenty of advice and tips for those also just starting out in the business world.

Marketing Tools

Having good marketing skills is essential for gaining new customers. If you’re struggling to get your business out there, these tools may be able to help.

• Constant Contact: Get tools for all routes of marketing, from email to social media. 
• Google My Business: Promote your business through Google and start turning google searches into customers.
• Mailchimp: Helps new business owners start their email marketing campaigns.

News Outlets

Knowing what’s happening in your industry, the economy, and even your world can help make you more equipped to run a business. These outlets are some of the best informational sources for a small business owner.

• Entrepreneurship Section of New York Times: High-quality reporting and compelling profiles of business owners are part of what makes the business section of the New York Times one of the most popular news sources worldwide.
• Morning Brew: As one of the most popular daily email newsletters available, Morning Brew sends business news highlights directly to your inbox every morning before work. The newsletter offers a quick daily read to feel more informed about the happenings of the business world.
• Fit Small Business: Since being  founded in 2013, over 80 Million readers have relied on Fit Small Business to deliver the best answers to their small business questions. Small Business Owners can go here for great advice from true industry experts in each of their topics of focus.