Browse All Resources

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business

SCORE · Template

A free workbook with practical exercises to help you decide if starting a business is right for you and what to think through first.

Best for: People weighing whether to start a business
Cost: Free download

The Startup Roadmap

SCORE (SCORE Academy) · Online course · Self-paced, 12 steps

A free, step-by-step online course that walks you from testing your idea to opening day, with tasks to complete and topics to discuss with a mentor.

Best for: New owners who want a guided start-to-finish checklist
Cost: Free; free SCORE account

Census Business Builder (CBB)

U.S. Census Bureau · Online tool

A free government map-and-data tool that shows who lives near you, how many similar businesses exist, and what people spend, so you can test whether your idea has enough customers.

Best for: Owners checking if there are enough customers in Whiting/Hammond for an idea
Cost: Free

Plan your business

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

The SBA's free plain-language guide to researching your market, writing a simple business plan, and estimating what it will cost to open.

Best for: First-time owners starting their plan
Cost: Free

Business Plan Outline

SCORE · Template

A six-page outline that walks you section by section through writing your business plan, from describing your business to your money plan.

Best for: Owners writing their first business plan
Cost: Free download

Startup Expenses

SCORE · Template

A worksheet to add up everything you need to buy or pay for before opening, plus a cushion for surprises, and where the money will come from.

Best for: Owners figuring out how much money they need to open
Cost: Download; no cost shown

Financial Projections Template

SCORE · Template

A free spreadsheet that turns your startup costs and sales estimates into the 3-year money projections lenders ask for, including when you will break even.

Best for: Owners preparing numbers for a lender or SBDC advisor
Cost: Free download

Indiana Business Roadmap

Indiana Secretary of State (INBiz) · Checklist

Indiana's official 12-step to-do list for registering your business with the state, getting tax IDs, and staying in good standing.

Best for: Anyone registering a business in Indiana
Cost: Free to view; state filing fees apply

Indiana-specific. Use the state site; outside services charge extra for the same filings.

Launch your business

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

The SBA's step-by-step checklist for officially launching, including choosing a structure like an LLC or sole proprietorship. Note: this page's beneficial-ownership (BOI) reporting section is out of date; check FinCEN's BOI page for current rules.

Best for: Owners choosing a business structure
Cost: Free

Federal page. BOI section outdated; see fincen.gov/boi.

Indiana Tax Guide: New & Small Business Owners

Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) · Guide · About 39 pages

Indiana's free plain-English tax handbook for new owners: which state taxes you owe, how to register, and how to file on time.

Best for: Retail, restaurant, and service owners registering for Indiana taxes
Cost: Free

Indiana-specific.

Start Strong: Taxes for New and Small Businesses

Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) Business Education Outreach Program · Recorded webinar

A recorded Indiana Department of Revenue presentation on the state taxes new businesses register for and file.

Best for: Owners who prefer watching over reading tax guides
Cost: Free

Get an employer identification number

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Guide

The IRS's official page for getting your free federal tax ID number (EIN) online, with what you need and when the system is open.

Best for: Owners who need a federal tax ID
Cost: Free

Northwest Indiana SBDC

Indiana Small Business Development Center (hosted by Purdue University Northwest) · Free advising

Free one-on-one help from business advisors at the Northwest Indiana SBDC in Crown Point for starting, funding, or growing your business, plus regular startup workshops.

Best for: Anyone who wants a free expert to review their plan or numbers
Cost: Free; sign up as an SBDC client

9800 Connecticut Dr., Crown Point · (219) 644-3513

SCORE Northwest Central Indiana

SCORE · Free advising

Get a free, experienced business mentor for as long as you need one, and join free online workshops on topics like pricing, funding, and taxes.

Best for: Owners who want an ongoing mentor
Cost: Free; mentor request form

162 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso · (219) 654-2630

Digital Ready Businesses

Purdue Extension Community Development · Training program · Modules up to about 1 hr each (provider estimate)

Purdue Extension workshops and webinars that teach Indiana business owners to get listed online, use social media and email, and track results, with an optional certificate.

Best for: Indiana owners who want guided, hands-on digital marketing help
Cost: Varies by session; check with Purdue Extension

Ask Purdue Extension – Lake County about upcoming Northwest Indiana dates.

Recorded Webinars (SCORE Business Education)

SCORE · Training program · Varies

A free on-demand library of recorded workshops from SCORE, from starting up to funding and marketing, that you can watch anytime.

Best for: Owners who learn best by watching, on their own schedule
Cost: Free; short registration form per recording

Bookkeeping Essentials Every Small Business Owner Needs

SCORE (sponsored by Block Advisors by H&R Block) · Recorded webinar · 1 hr

A free one-hour recorded class on how bookkeeping works, choosing cash or accrual, and keeping records all year so tax time is less stressful.

Best for: Owners doing their own books who want a simple routine
Cost: Free; short registration form

Sponsored by Block Advisors (H&R Block).

12 Month Cash Flow Statement

SCORE · Template

A free fill-in template to plan your cash for the next 12 months so you can see shortfalls coming before they happen.

Best for: Owners who want to see if they'll have enough cash each month
Cost: Download; no cost shown

Small business virtual tax workshop

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Video series · 8 short lessons

Free IRS video lessons on federal taxes for a new business: Schedule C, filing electronically, home office deductions, and taxes when you hire.

Best for: New owners who want the federal tax basics straight from the IRS
Cost: Free

Publication 583 (12/2024), Starting a Business and Keeping Records

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Guide

The IRS guide to what records your business must keep, simple bookkeeping systems, and how long to hold onto receipts and statements, with sample record pages.

Best for: Owners setting up a recordkeeping system for the first time
Cost: Free

2026/08/08 – Demystifying Financial Foundations: Income, Assets & Cash Flow

SCORE Kansas City · Recorded webinar · 1.5 hr

Learn what your profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement each tell you, and how to use them to run your business. Slides are free to download.

Best for: Owners who get financial reports but aren't sure how to read them
Cost: Free; short registration form

Bulletin #3000, Home-Based Business Fact Sheets Series: Basic Pricing Strategies for Small Businesses

University of Maine Cooperative Extension · Guide

A plain guide to setting prices that cover your costs and leave a profit, with separate methods for handmade products, services, and retail.

Best for: Makers, service providers, and shops unsure if their prices are high enough
Cost: Free

Written for Maine home businesses; the pricing math works anywhere.

Loans

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

A plain overview of the main SBA-backed loans — 7(a), 504, and microloans — and what you generally need to qualify.

Best for: Owners comparing loan options before talking to a bank
Cost: Free

Loans

Allies for Community Business (A4CB) · Free advising

A nonprofit lender serving Indiana businesses with loans from $500 and free coaching, even if your credit history is thin.

Best for: Startups and small businesses turned down by a bank
Cost: Free coaching; loans carry interest and fees

Rates are higher than typical bank loans; compare before you borrow.

Loans: From Green Lights to Red Flags | 3/5/26

SCORE Greater Seattle · Recorded webinar · 1 hr

Hear from a bank lender what makes a loan application get approved or turned down, and how to put together a complete loan package.

Best for: Owners preparing for their first business loan
Cost: Free; short registration form

Government Grant Scams

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Advice · Guide

How to spot fake government grant offers and what to do if you've already paid or shared information.

Best for: Anyone who's been offered 'free grant money'
Cost: Free

Add or claim your Business Profile

Google (Google Business Profile Help) · Guide

Step-by-step instructions to add your business to Google or claim the listing that already exists, then verify it so you control what customers see.

Best for: Owners setting up or claiming their first Google listing
Cost: Free; Google account needed

Google's own help page; screens change often.

Tips to improve your local ranking on Google

Google (Google Business Profile Help) · Guide

Learn what Google looks at when ranking local businesses and the simple things you control: complete info, accurate hours, photos, and replying to reviews.

Best for: Owners who have a listing and want more calls and visits
Cost: Free

Google's own help page.

Tips to get more reviews

Google (Google Business Profile Help) · Guide

Simple ways to ask customers for Google reviews with a link or QR code, plus tips for replying to good and bad reviews.

Best for: Owners who want more reviews and a plan for responding
Cost: Free

Google's own help page. Google does not allow rewards for reviews.

Going Beyond SEO: How to Get Found in Search, AI and Local Listings

SCORE (presenter Darin Adams) · Recorded webinar · 1 hr

A one-hour recorded webinar on getting found online today - on Google, in AI assistants, on directories and review sites - and which fixes help fastest.

Best for: Owners wondering why customers can't find them online
Cost: Free; short registration form

Sponsored by Thryv, a marketing software company.

Soliciting and Paying for Online Reviews: A Guide for Marketers

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Guide

A short FTC checklist-style guide on how to ask for reviews the right way and what to avoid, like rewards for good reviews or staff posting without saying so.

Best for: Owners about to launch a review request campaign
Cost: Free

Federal rules on asking for reviews.

Marketing Plan Template

SCORE · Template

A free Word template to map out your goals, customers, competition and a simple marketing to-do list.

Best for: Owners who want a fill-in-the-blank marketing plan
Cost: Free download

Manage your business - Marketing and sales

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

A plain outline of what goes into a marketing plan: your customers, what makes you different, goals, budget, and how to measure results. Scroll to the "Marketing and sales" section.

Best for: Owners writing their first marketing plan
Cost: Free

Resources for Small Businesses

Meta Blueprint · Online course · Short lessons (several about 4 min)

Short official lessons on choosing your audience and social channels, posting authentic content, and using Facebook and Instagram tools to stay connected with customers.

Best for: Owners starting or reviving Facebook/Instagram for their business
Cost: No price shown; login may be needed

Meta's own training; includes lessons on paid ads.

Canva essentials

Canva Design School · Online course · About 1 hr (10 lessons)

A one-hour beginner course on using Canva templates, photos, text and sharing so you can make your own social posts and flyers.

Best for: Owners making their own social posts and flyers
Cost: Free; free Canva account for the certificate

Canva's own course; some other Canva courses need a paid plan.

CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Guide

The rules every business email must follow: honest subject lines, your postal address, an easy unsubscribe, and honoring opt-outs within 10 business days.

Best for: Owners starting an email newsletter or promotions
Cost: Free

Email Marketing basics

SCORE Rhode Island · Recorded webinar

A recorded SCORE class on launching email campaigns, building a customer list, and sending follow-ups with tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

Best for: Owners sending their first email newsletter
Cost: Free

Recorded in 2022; email tool screens may look different.

Make Your Website Work for You – Grow with Google

SCORE (Southwest Florida chapter) / Grow with Google · Checklist

A downloadable checklist that shows the seven things every good small business website needs and helps you set one clear goal to improve yours.

Best for: Owners reviewing or planning a simple website
Cost: Free download

Guide to Safe Payments

PCI Security Standards Council · Guide

A plain-language guide to keeping your customers' card information safe, with simple security basics and where to get help.

Best for: Any business that takes card payments
Cost: Free

Companion checklist "Questions to Ask Your Vendors" is on the PCI merchant page.

Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA

U.S. Department of Justice (ADA.gov) · Guide

Learn why your website needs to work for customers with disabilities and the most common fixes, like image descriptions, captions and readable colors.

Best for: Businesses building or updating a website
Cost: Free

Guidance, not legal advice.

Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) · Checklist · 13 quick checks

Thirteen quick checks you can do yourself to see whether your website works for people with disabilities, such as image descriptions, readable colors and labeled forms.

Best for: Owners doing a first accessibility check of their site
Cost: Free

AI for Small Business: Find Opportunities and Take Action

SCORE (National Small Business Week Learning Lab; sponsored by Consulting IQ) · Recorded webinar · 1 hr

A one-hour recorded workshop that helps you find where AI could save you time, rank your ideas, and leave with a simple seven-day plan to get started.

Best for: Owners deciding where to start with AI
Cost: Free; short registration form

Sponsored by Consulting IQ.

Manage your business (AI for small business section)

U.S. Small Business Administration · Guide

Neutral, plain-language advice from the SBA on where AI can save time and what to watch out for, like privacy, copyright and mistakes. Scroll to the "AI for small business" section.

Best for: Owners curious about AI who want a neutral starting point
Cost: Free

AI training and tools for small businesses | Grow with Google

Google (Grow with Google) via Coursera · Online course · 7 courses (provider)

Free Google AI training for eligible local businesses: seven short courses on using AI for everyday tasks like email, marketing and planning. Enroll by December 15, 2026.

Best for: Owners and staff who want a structured AI course
Cost: Free for eligible businesses (EIN required; enroll by Dec 15, 2026); otherwise paid

Google's own training and tools. Time-limited offer.

Make AI Work for You

Grow with Google (YouTube) · Video series · 25 short videos

Short videos showing how to use AI to write emails, draft proposals, plan social posts, review finances and turn meeting notes into follow-ups.

Best for: Owners who want quick AI how-tos
Cost: Free

Google's own videos; demonstrates Google tools.

Scams and Your Small Business: A Guide for Business

Federal Trade Commission · Guide

Learn the warning signs of common scams aimed at small businesses, like fake invoices and impostor calls, and how to train staff and report fraud.

Best for: Owners and staff who handle bills, calls and payments
Cost: Free; free printed copies available

Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Indiana Attorney General.

Indiana Small Business Cybersecurity Portal - GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit

Global Cyber Alliance, sponsored by Indiana SBDC / Indiana Economic Development Corporation · Toolkit

A free Indiana toolkit that walks you through securing your computers, passwords, email and backups one step at a time, with links to Indiana help.

Best for: Indiana owners doing security themselves
Cost: Free (some linked services charge fees)

Some tools listed are third-party products.

Cybersecurity for Small Business

Federal Trade Commission · Guide

Simple, practical steps to protect your business from hackers and scams, including fake emails, ransomware and scammers pretending to be your vendors.

Best for: Owners wanting cybersecurity basics in plain English
Cost: Free

NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: Small Business Quick-Start Guide

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · Guide

A short starter guide that walks you through the basic steps of a cybersecurity plan: knowing what to protect, protecting it, and responding and recovering if something goes wrong.

Best for: Businesses ready to write a simple security plan
Cost: Free

Small Business Cybersecurity and Privacy Videos

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · Video series

Short videos that teach you and your staff to spot phishing, turn on two-step login and prepare for ransomware, plus longer recorded webinars.

Best for: Training staff on phishing and passwords
Cost: Free

Cyber Guidance for Small Businesses

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) · Guide

A to-do list from the federal cybersecurity agency that tells the owner, the office manager and your IT person exactly what each should do to protect the business.

Best for: Businesses with staff and an IT person or vendor
Cost: Free

Indiana Small Business Development Center: Cybersecurity Resources

Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) · Free advising

Get free one-on-one help with protecting your business online, plus easy downloadable tip sheets and a cyber workbook.

Best for: Indiana owners who want free expert advice
Cost: Free

Hire and manage employees

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

A step-by-step federal checklist for hiring and paying your first employees, from getting tax IDs to setting up payroll and required benefits.

Best for: Owners about to hire their first employee
Cost: Free

Indiana Unemployment for Employers: New Hire Reporting & Required Posters

Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) · Guide

Explains how and when to report each new hire to the State of Indiana and which unemployment poster you must display.

Best for: Indiana owners who just hired someone
Cost: Free

Indiana-specific.

Indiana Department of Revenue: Withholding Income

Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) · Guide

Shows how to register to withhold Indiana state and county income tax from paychecks and where to file and pay online.

Best for: New Indiana employers setting up payroll
Cost: Free

Indiana-specific.

FirstStep Employment Law Advisor

U.S. Department of Labor (elaws) · Online tool

Answer a few questions to find out which federal labor laws apply to your business and what records and posters you need.

Best for: Owners unsure which labor rules apply to them
Cost: Free

Job Analysis Worksheet

SCORE · Template

A fill-in worksheet that helps you list the tasks to hand off and turn them into a clear job description.

Best for: Owners writing a first job description
Cost: Free download

NWI: Employers

WorkOne Northwest Indiana / Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (Indiana DWD) · Free advising

Free local help finding, screening and training employees, including job postings, hiring fairs and on-the-job training support.

Best for: Whiting-area businesses that need to hire
Cost: Free

Business Services: employersolutions@gotoworkonenw.com

Create a Winning Customer Experience

SCORE · Recorded webinar

Learn what customer experience means and how to map every step a customer takes with you so each one leaves a good impression.

Best for: Owners who want customers to come back
Cost: Free; registration may be required

Use a Loyalty Program to Grow Sales at Your Retail Store or Restaurant

SCORE · Guide

Shows how to pick, set up, promote and measure a simple rewards program that brings customers back more often.

Best for: Shops and restaurants considering a rewards program
Cost: Free

Manage customer reviews

Google Business Profile Help · Guide

Step-by-step help for replying to Google reviews, handling unfair ones, and sharing a link so happy customers can leave a review.

Best for: Owners managing their Google reviews
Cost: Free; verified Google listing needed

Google's own help page.

Time Management Strategies for Small Business Owners

SCORE · Recorded webinar · 1 hr

Learn practical ways to plan your week, set up your calendar and decide what to delegate so you spend time on what matters.

Best for: Busy owners juggling everything
Cost: Free; short registration form

Simple Systems to Save 10+ Hours a Week in Your Business

SCORE Twin Cities · Slides + recording · 1.5 hr recording; about 60 slides

See simple ways to write down, hand off or automate routine tasks using free tools, with real examples you can copy.

Best for: Owners stuck doing the same admin every week
Cost: Free (slides need no sign-in)

Presenter's slides promote his consulting service.

3 Inventory Management Problems and How To Avoid Them

SCORE · Guide

Learn the three most common inventory mistakes and simple fixes like minimum stock levels and first-in, first-out rotation.

Best for: Shops and restaurants managing stock
Cost: Free

Food Protection: How to Start a Retail Food Business

Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Food Protection Division · Guide

Explains the steps to open a food business in Indiana, from submitting plans to meeting basic food-safety rules.

Best for: New and expanding restaurants and food sellers
Cost: Free

Permits come from your local health department.

Prepare for emergencies

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) · Guide

A quick SBA guide to sizing up your risks, writing a simple emergency plan, and getting disaster help. Scroll to the "Prepare for emergencies" section.

Best for: Owners who have never written an emergency plan
Cost: Free

Power Outage Toolkit

FEMA Ready Business Program (hosted by FLASH – Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) · Toolkit

A free FEMA workbook that helps you plan how to keep staff safe, protect your equipment and stock, and keep serving customers when the power goes out.

Best for: Restaurants and shops that can't afford to lose a day to an outage
Cost: Free download

Insurance Questions Answered – 06/24/2026

SCORE Washington DC · Recorded webinar · 1.5 hr

A free recorded Q&A with an insurance expert on what coverage your business needs, what owners often miss, and what to ask before you buy.

Best for: Owners buying or reviewing business insurance
Cost: Free; short registration form

Indiana Small Business Development Center: Grow Your Business

Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) · Free advising

Free advising from Indiana's SBDC to help you plan growth — managing finances, finding capital, hiring, reaching new markets, and selling to government.

Best for: Established owners planning their next stage of growth
Cost: Free advising

Selling a Business – 08/07/2025

SCORE Washington DC · Recorded webinar · 1.5 hr

Learn how to prepare your business for sale, find the right buyer, avoid common exit mistakes, and get through closing. Slides are free to download.

Best for: Owners thinking about retiring or selling in the next few years
Cost: Free; registration may be required