What tools help you be more productive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you're running a business — or trying to get one off the ground — you know there’s a lot to manage. From funding and marketing to handling day-to-day tasks, it can feel overwhelming, sis. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help. Whether you provide local services, sell products online or run a retail store, these free tools and resources can support you on your entrepreneurial journey.
1. Free small business mentoring. Get one-on-one business advice through SCORE, which connects small business owners and entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. These mentors offer personalized guidance on starting, running, growing and even selling a business.
2. Free small business resource centers. Access free workshops, webinars, online courses, live events, business directories and much more (like coworking spaces and podcast tools) through national and local organizations. These resources provide invaluable support for launching and running your business, including tools like How to Start a Side Hustle After Age 50, Resources for Black Entrepreneurs, The Startup Roadmap: Your Guide to Successfully Starting a Business and Fundamentals of Financial Literacy for Black-Owned Businesses.
Here are some organizations and platforms to explore:
- Small Business Resources on aarp.org
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
- CO by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Amazon Small Business Academy
- SCORE
- Small Business Resource Center for the 50+
- Women’s Business Centers
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
- HubSpot Academy
3. Free business and productivity tools. From time management to graphic design, hundreds — if not thousands — of free tools are available to help you run your business. While many have paid options, the free versions are a great way to try a resource and can often meet all your needs. Here are some popular free tools for all aspects of your hustle.
- LinkedIn for professional networking and business development.
- Zoom for video conferencing and virtual meetings.
- Calendly for appointment scheduling.
- Mailchimp and MailerLite for email marketing and newsletters.
- Trello, Asana and Notion for project management, note-taking and task organization.
- Wave for small business accounting and invoicing.
- Canva for creating social media posts, presentations and marketing materials.
- Buffer for scheduling and tracking social media posts.
- Unsplash and Pexels for free stock images.
- SurveyMonkey for creating surveys to gather customer feedback.
4. Free Google business profile. Whether you have a brick-and-mortar business or offer online services, you can create a business profile on Google and attract customers for free. This profile helps your business appear in Google Search and Maps, making it easier for customers to find you and see your hours, contact details, reviews and more.
5. Free education and skill-building. Sharpen your skills and improve your craft with free courses and learning materials related to your business or service. AARP’s Senior Planet features articles, resources and over 60 free weekly online classes, ranging from technology trends to financial advice. Also, MIT Open Learning Library, Coursera, edX Free Courses, SBA Learning Center and LinkedIn Learning (free with access from your local library) offer many courses and content to take your personal and professional growth to the next level.
6. Free motivational and mental health support. Let’s face it: a big part of running a successful business is having the right mindset and motivation to navigate the journey. Resources and podcasts like AARP How She Did It, TED Talks, Side Hustle Pro, Black Entrepreneur Blueprint and Therapy for Black Girls Podcast can provide motivation and encouragement as you manage your hustle.
7. Free business plan template. Access a free professional business plan outline from Sistahbiz Global Network.
8. Free small business and entrepreneur communities. Find support, accountability, networking events and communities through The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., LinkedIn Groups, Black Girl Ventures, Meetup and Facebook.
9. Free legal tools. Not all services at LegalZoom are free, but the platform offers many resources, guides and tools on small business topics, such as incorporating a business and protecting intellectual property.
10. Free AI tools. Use free AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly and Adobe Firefly to brainstorm, create content and more.
What tools help you be more productive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
