Learning Paths

You’ll be able to: Decide whether your idea is worth pursuing, using real local data and a mentor's second opinion.
Time: Not estimated: most steps are self-paced with no stated time.

1. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business SCORE

   Do this: Work through the readiness exercises and write down your idea in one paragraph: what you sell, to whom, and why they'd choose you.

2. Census Business Builder (CBB) U.S. Census Bureau

   Do this: Look up Whiting (46394) and nearby ZIP codes for your business type. Note how many competitors exist and how many potential customers live nearby.

3. The Startup Roadmap SCORE (SCORE Academy)

   Do this: Complete the first few steps of the free course and list the three biggest questions you still can't answer.

4. Business Plan Outline SCORE

   Do this: Draft a one-page version of the outline. Leave blanks where you need more research.

5. SCORE Northwest Central Indiana SCORE

   Do this: Request a free mentor and bring your one-pager and data notes to the first meeting.

You’ll be able to: Register correctly with the state and federal government, know your startup costs, and get a free expert review before you open.
Time: Not estimated: these are guides and checklists without stated durations.

1. Launch your business U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

   Do this: Pick your business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.) and note why it fits your situation.

2. Indiana Business Roadmap Indiana Secretary of State (INBiz)

   Do this: Follow Indiana's checklist to register your business on INBiz. Use the state site directly; outside services charge extra for the same filing.

3. Get an employer identification number Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

   Do this: Apply for your free EIN directly with the IRS in one sitting.

4. Indiana Tax Guide: New & Small Business Owners Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR)

   Do this: Use the guide to list which Indiana taxes apply to you (such as sales tax and the Registered Retail Merchant Certificate) and when each is due.

5. Startup Expenses SCORE

   Do this: Fill in the worksheet with real quotes, then add a cushion for surprises.

6. Northwest Indiana SBDC Indiana Small Business Development Center (hosted by Purdue University Northwest)

   Do this: Book a free SBDC appointment to review your startup budget and registration checklist.

You’ll be able to: Make sure local customers can find you on Google, trust you from your reviews, and hear from you regularly.
Time: About 1 hour for the Canva course; other steps not estimated.

1. Add or claim your Business Profile Google (Google Business Profile Help)

   Do this: Claim or create your Google Business Profile and complete verification.

2. Tips to improve your local ranking on Google Google (Google Business Profile Help)

   Do this: Fill in every field: hours, photos, categories and services. Set a reminder to update holiday hours.

3. Tips to get more reviews Google (Google Business Profile Help)

   Do this: Make a review link or QR code and post it at your register or on receipts. Do not offer rewards for reviews.

4. Marketing Plan Template SCORE

   Do this: Fill in a one-page plan with three goals for the next 90 days.

5. Canva essentials Canva Design School

   Do this: Make a reusable template for your weekly social post or flyer.

6. CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

   Do this: Before your first email, add your mailing address and an unsubscribe link, and set a routine to honor opt-outs.

You’ll be able to: Keep reliable books, read your financial statements, plan cash month by month, and price for profit.
Time: About 3.5 hours of recorded webinars (1 hr + 1.5 hr + 1 hr), plus time for the templates.

1. Bookkeeping Essentials Every Small Business Owner Needs SCORE (sponsored by Block Advisors by H&R Block)

   Do this: Choose cash or accrual and set a weekly 30-minute bookkeeping time.

2. 2026/08/08 – Demystifying Financial Foundations: Income, Assets & Cash Flow SCORE Kansas City

   Do this: Pull your latest profit and loss statement and find your three largest expenses.

3. 12 Month Cash Flow Statement SCORE

   Do this: Enter 12 months of expected income and bills and circle any month that goes negative.

4. Bulletin #3000, Home-Based Business Fact Sheets Series: Basic Pricing Strategies for Small Businesses University of Maine Cooperative Extension

   Do this: Recalculate the price of your top-selling item or service using the guide's method.

5. Loans: From Green Lights to Red Flags | 3/5/26 SCORE Greater Seattle

   Do this: If you may borrow, list which loan-package items you already have and which you are missing.

You’ll be able to: Find a few practical uses for AI and simple automation, and protect your business while you do it.
Time: About 2.5 hours of recordings (1 hr + 1.5 hr), plus short videos and toolkit steps.

1. Manage your business (AI for small business section) U.S. Small Business Administration

   Do this: Read the SBA's AI section and write down two tasks you repeat every week.

2. AI for Small Business: Find Opportunities and Take Action SCORE (National Small Business Week Learning Lab; sponsored by Consulting IQ)

   Do this: Use the workshop's method to rank your ideas and pick one to test this week.

3. Make AI Work for You Grow with Google (YouTube)

   Do this: Watch the videos that match your chosen task and try it once with real (non-sensitive) work.

4. Simple Systems to Save 10+ Hours a Week in Your Business SCORE Twin Cities

   Do this: Write a simple checklist for one routine task so someone else, or a tool, can do it.

5. Scams and Your Small Business: A Guide for Business Federal Trade Commission

   Do this: Share the warning signs with anyone who pays bills or answers the phone.

6. Indiana Small Business Cybersecurity Portal - GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit Global Cyber Alliance, sponsored by Indiana SBDC / Indiana Economic Development Corporation

   Do this: Complete the toolkit's first steps: turn on two-step login for email and banking and set up backups.