Free Resources for Small Business Owners

Not every small business can afford to invest a lot of money up front. But small business owners need access to certain resources if they hope to reach more customers and grow their brands. Here is a list of free resources you can use today to strengthen your business.

Canva

This free resource seems to be everywhere these days, but many people still don’t know much about it. Canva is a website that allows you to create easy, drag-and-drop designs for your social media, brochures, business cards and more. Free templates and the ability to create and save your own templates make consistently looking good a snap. For the DIY business owner, this is an invaluable resource. They offer a premium membership for advanced features but for the average business owner the free membership would be more than enough to get them off the ground.

Google My Business

This free service from Google allows anyone to set up a listing on Google for their business – even if they don’t have a physical storefront. Help customers find you by setting up your profile, adding images, linking your website, adding a phone number and more. Customers can even leave reviews and there is a section for Questions & Answers. Google Search is the number 1 search engine in the world so why not go where all the people are looking?

Library Books & Resources

We may live in a digital world but that doesn’t mean your local library can’t be a modern-day resource for your business. Many libraries across the country are allowing patrons to check-out physical books as well as digital copies of books. There are many wonderful books and resources available to help with running small businesses, getting organized, refining your finances, team management, and more.

Free Lynda.com Membership

With many library memberships, not only do you have access to thousands of books, but you often also have access to free online courses. I have personally taken many courses from Lynda.com and it has really helped my personal and professional development reach new heights. There are courses on many topics including website SEO, bookkeeping, software, productivity, and more.

Asana

Things can get out of control if you have a lot going on in your growing business. Between new projects, everyday tasks and the occasional fire to put out it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With a free, online time management tool like Asana, you can get your projects and tasks in order. You can collaborate with team members to manage your project workflow, monitor your progress, and even assign work to others. Set up deadlines to keep your projects moving forward. The visual style of the interface is clean, sleek, and easy to read.

Do you know of any additional free resources for small business owners? What helps you the most? Share in the comments below!