• There are several free resources available for businesses.Business News image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com
  
  Starting up and running a business can be a costly venture both financially and in terms of time consumption. However, the rewards of operating your own business can usually outweigh most of the risks and chaos. There are also many resources available to help business owners and entrepreneurs without hurting their bottom line.
  
  

Small Business Administration

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a number of free services and resources to business owners. In addition to offering financial services including grant applications and disaster relief, the SBA also has step-by-step business planning guides and a library of articles and business related materials. Perhaps the most notable service available through the SBA is the Small Business Training Network, an online campus of free business start-up courses that, according to the website, are self-paced and usually take about 30 minutes to complete. Courses are available in a variety of categories including marketing and advertising, surviving a slow economy, finance and accounting, business planning, starting a business, business management and government contracting.
  
  

SCORE

• As a resource partner to the SBA, SCORE touts itself as being “Counselors to America’s Small Business." The non-profit organization has chapters across the U.S. and is staffed by a team of volunteers comprised of retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders. SCORE provides free counseling services to business owners to help them succeed and thrive under any circumstances. In addition, SCORE offers a variety of free educational online workshops and webinars for entrepreneurs and business owners. Free workshops are available in categories including business planning, making your business competitive, legal considerations, growing your business, marketing your business and managing your finances.
  
  

OSHA

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has several free resources available through its website in a section geared specifically toward small business and new business owners. These resources serve to ensure that new business owners are meeting OSHA’s compliance requirements. OSHA offers a free onsite consultation program, safety and health tools, publications, guides for OSHA standards, and information on benefits available to small businesses from OSHA. They also offer several multimedia presentations on safety and health topics, which can be valuable training tools for your employees.
  
  

Colleges and Universities

• For additional free resources for your business, consider contacting your local college or university to inquire about setting up intern programs through your company. Interns can fulfill many job duties and save you money that would be spent on payroll. College students are usually willing to work for credit or to build their resumes. In addition, photography, videography and marketing students could provide advertising assistance to your company in exchange for professional references.