America lives on business. It thrives on business. You cannot keep navigating this world through a personal name — you need a structure, a shield, and a strategy. These resources exist to help you build all three. Most of them are free.
You are not going to move richly through this world by staying behind a personal name. Set up your LLC. Move your money through a business. Build your business credit. Separate yourself from your business legally and financially — that is how you protect what you are building and access the capital that is available to you.
Everything you need exists. Source wants to give you what you want — and better. But you have to take the steps. And the first step is structure.
One step at a time. One resource at a time. You will figure it out. A business is like a baby — it needs tending, patience, and daily intention. You already know how to do that.
Before anything else — your legal structure, your EIN, and your business bank account. This is not optional. This is the ground everything else stands on.
The federal hub for everything small business — loans, grants, legal structure guidance, licensing, and free local resources. Start here if you are starting a business or want to understand what is available to you.
Visit sba.gov →Your Employer Identification Number is your business's Social Security number. Apply for free directly through the IRS — takes 15 minutes online. You need this to open a business bank account and file taxes as a business.
Apply free at IRS.gov →File your Articles of Organization directly with the New York Department of State. LLC filing fee is $200. You will also need to comply with NY's publication requirement. Your legal protection starts the moment you file.
NY DOS LLC Guide →File with the California Secretary of State. LLC filing fee varies. California has specific tax requirements for LLCs including an annual minimum franchise tax. Know before you file.
CA Secretary of State →File with the Illinois Secretary of State. LLC filing fee is $150. Illinois has strong small business support infrastructure through DCEO and SBDC centers statewide.
Illinois Secretary of State →Relay is an online business banking platform with no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and the ability to create sub-accounts to organize your revenue by category. Keep your business money completely separate from personal from day one.
Open at relayfi.com →You do not have to figure this out alone. Experienced business mentors and advisors are available at no cost through these programs — in person and online.
Free mentorship from experienced business professionals — retired executives, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Available in person at local chapters and online. You can meet with your mentor as many times as you need at no cost. This is where Mama Moka connected with her business attorney mentor Claude Trahan.
Find a mentor at score.org →A national network of centers offering free and low-cost training, counseling, and resources specifically for women entrepreneurs. Business planning, access to capital, marketing, and federal contracting opportunities.
Find your center →Free legal, financial, and business services for under-resourced small business owners. Provides pro bono legal advice, tax preparation, and strategic business coaching. A trusted resource for entrepreneurs who cannot yet afford professional services.
Visit startsmallthinkbig.org →Small Business Development Centers are an official extension of the SBA — federally funded, locally delivered. Free confidential business advising, low-cost training, and access to capital support. Over 900 locations nationwide.
Search by state or zip code to find the SBDC center nearest you. Free business consulting, help with business plans, financial projections, and loan applications. No cost to you — funded by the federal government.
Find your SBDC →New York's SBDC network has 22 campus-based centers across the state administered by SUNY. Free business advising, market research, financial analysis, and low-cost training. Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island all have dedicated centers.
nysbdc.org →Seven service centers across LA, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Free advising for startups and existing businesses — business planning, access to capital, government contracting, and international trade assistance.
smallbizla.org →Statewide network of SBDCs providing free business guidance, training, and resources for startups and small businesses across Illinois including Chicago. Funded through a cooperative agreement with the SBA and the state.
Illinois SBDC →One of the largest SBDC networks in the country with multiple regional centers across Texas. Free consulting, training, and business research for entrepreneurs at every stage.
txsbdc.org →Florida's statewide SBDC network serves entrepreneurs across Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and beyond. Free consulting, capital access support, and specialized programs for women and minority-owned businesses.
floridasbdc.org →Your public library is a business resource. Most offer free access to databases, business plan resources, legal research, and dedicated business librarians who will help you for free.
The Thomas Yoseloff Business Center at NYPL's Science, Industry & Business Library on 34th Street in Manhattan. Free access to business databases, market research, patent resources, and one-on-one business appointments with librarians. One of the most powerful free business resources in the country.
nypl.org/locations/sibl →Free business resources, databases, workshops, and one-on-one appointments at the Brooklyn Public Library's Business & Career Center. Market research, business plan help, and access to tools that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per month.
bklynlibrary.org/business →The Los Angeles Public Library offers free access to business databases, legal research tools, and entrepreneurship resources across its branches. The Central Library has a dedicated business section with extensive market research capabilities.
lapl.org/business →Free business databases, market research, and business plan resources at CPL branches across Chicago. Harold Washington Library Center has a dedicated business and science department with extensive resources for entrepreneurs.
chipublib.org/business →Every public library in the country offers free resources for small business owners — databases like ReferenceUSA, Legal Forms, business plan templates, and librarians trained to help you research. Ask specifically for business resources — they exist everywhere.
Find your library →Free online education platform with courses on digital marketing, business finance, e-commerce, and more. Completing courses makes you eligible for local grants. No cost to join, no subscription required.
Apply at Verizon →Grants do not have to be repaid. They are not loans. These are funds given to support your business — and many are specifically designed for women, women of color, and community-focused entrepreneurs. Apply everywhere. The worst they can say is no.
One of the largest women's small business grants available. Grand prize $50,000 plus one year of free AT&T service. Applications opened May 1, 2026.
Open · Closes May 31, 2026Reimbursement funding for business-related expenses. Female-founded, US-based, revenue-generating, under five years old. Priority given to businesses creating measurable social impact. Multiple cycles per year.
Rolling ApplicationsFor Black women and Black nonbinary entrepreneurs. Includes fundraising advice, investor connections, and lifetime access to the SoGal Foundation network. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Rolling ApplicationsFor Black women-owned small businesses generating $3M or less annually. Four recipients per cycle receive $20,000, mentorship, and digital tools.
Verify Current CycleFor Black and women-owned businesses in the wellness or beauty industries. Strong alignment with Moka Medicine's mission of sovereign wellness and holistic health.
Verify Current CycleAwards grants to Black business owners. Generally coincides with Black Entrepreneurs Day. Details and application released closer to each cycle's deadline. Watch the NAACP site for announcements.
Verify Current CycleEducational grants plus access to further capital, a peer-to-peer network, and expert workshops for female entrepreneurs. Annual program with a competitive application.
Verify Current CycleFor woman entrepreneurs who are also parents. Cash award paired with accelerator program access. Multiple cycles throughout the year including programs for LGBTQIA+-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
Multiple CyclesRolling applications, no fee. $20,000 award. For small business owners at various stages. Strong alignment for service-based businesses and digital entrepreneurs.
Rolling ApplicationsOpen to all women regardless of minority status. Monthly grants plus an annual $25,000 grant. No credit score required. Simple application. One of the most accessible women's grants available.
Monthly DeadlinesMama Moka also maintains a live Google Doc with grants updated regularly — including opportunities not listed here. This list grows as the community shares what it finds.
Access the Live Grant Directory →Know a grant that should be here? Email info@mokamedicine.com
The digital infrastructure of a business does not have to be expensive. These are the tools that work — many of them at no cost to start.
All-in-one platform for email marketing, funnels, courses, and digital products. Free up to 2,000 contacts. Replaces ConvertKit, Teachable, and ClickFunnels at a fraction of the cost.
systeme.io →Free graphic design for social media, presentations, logos, and marketing materials. The free tier is extensive. Pro adds brand kits, more templates, and team collaboration.
canva.com →Free, beautiful forms with unlimited responses. No monthly fee, no response caps. Great for client intake forms, surveys, and lead capture — without the cost of Typeform.
tally.so →Website builder with built-in e-commerce, scheduling, and payment processing through Stripe. The platform Moka Medicine runs on. Clean, professional, and designed for service-based businesses.
squarespace.com →Payment processing for your business. Connect to your business bank account, accept cards, set up subscriptions, and create payment links. 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction — no monthly fees.
stripe.com →AI assistant for writing, building, planning, and creating. Mama Moka built her entire website using Claude. AI is here for us — use it. Your first digital product, your email sequences, your website copy — all of it is within reach.
claude.ai →Business credit is separate from your personal credit. Building it protects your personal credit score, increases your access to capital, and signals to lenders and vendors that your business is real and stable.
A DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet establishes your business credit file. Required by many government grants and federal contracts. Register for free at dnb.com. Takes a few business days.
Get DUNS Number →Free business credit monitoring from all three major business credit bureaus — Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Know where your business credit stands before applying for anything.
nav.com →Open net-30 accounts with vendors who report to business credit bureaus — Uline, Grainger, Quill, and others. Pay within 30 days and your business credit score builds with every payment. Start here before applying for business credit cards.
Learn about Net-30 →