There are experts who will advise you for free. Most owners never find out.

Roughly a thousand centres nationwide, usually hosted by universities, offering free one-to-one business counselling funded by the SBA and state partners.

Best for: Business plans, financial projections, loan applications, and working out whether an idea holds together before you spend money on it. Advisers often have direct relationships with local lenders.

The most substantive of the free options. Counselling is ongoing rather than one-off, so you can keep going back to the same adviser.

A volunteer network of working and retired executives who mentor small business owners, in person and remotely, at no charge.

Best for: Getting a second opinion from someone who has actually run a business in your industry, and for founders who mainly need a sounding board.

Quality varies with the individual mentor. If the first match is not useful, ask for a different one — that is normal and expected.

SBA-funded centres providing training and counselling, with a focus on women entrepreneurs, particularly those who are economically or socially disadvantaged.

Best for: Founders who want advisers experienced with the specific barriers women face in accessing capital.

Centres dedicated to veterans, service members and military spouses starting or growing a business.

Best for: Veteran-owned businesses, and anyone wanting help with veteran-specific certifications and contracting set-asides.

Minority Business Development Agency centres, aimed at helping minority-owned businesses access capital, contracts and markets.

Best for: Minority-owned businesses pursuing larger contracts or growth capital.

Mission-driven lenders that serve businesses conventional banks decline, often with technical assistance alongside the loan.

Best for: Getting financed when a bank has said no, particularly in underbanked communities. They generally look at the whole picture rather than just a credit score.

Not a grant source. But frequently a far better option than the merchant cash advances that target businesses turned down by banks.

Free tax workshops and a dedicated small business self-employed section, straight from the agency that will be assessing you.

Best for: Understanding your actual filing obligations without paying anyone to interpret them first.