ALL THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES YOU NEED TO START YOUR BUSINESS

🚀 Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Business (With Mentors, Tools & Resources)

Whether you’re planning a side hustle, a service business, an online company, or your first LLC — this guide gives you essential steps, expert inspiration, free or cheap tools, and proven mentorship options.

📌 Key Startup Tools You Need First

🧾 1. Get Your Business EIN (Employer Identification Number)

You need an Employer Identification Number to open a business bank account, hire people, or register for taxes.

➡️ Official IRS EIN registration:👉 https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

(This is the official and free government site — don’t pay a third party for this!)

🧑‍💼 Mentorship & Support Programs for Entrepreneurs

📍 1. SCORE Business Mentoring — Trusted + FREE

SCORE is the nation’s largest free business mentoring network — expert volunteers help you with business planning, marketing, financing, licenses, and more.

👉 https://www.score.org➡️ Find a mentor near you or online for free guidance.

SCORE also offers specialized programs like Entrepreneurship Workshops and Immigrant Entrepreneur Programs.

🧠 2. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Often run by universities/government to help entrepreneurs with planning, financing, market research, and training.(Search SBDC near your location for classes & counseling.)

🌎 3. E-Mentor Corps

A U.S. State Department initiative connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors around the world online.

📊 4. Local Economic Development & Entrepreneurial Programs

Every major city offers business mentorship programs, networking workshops, and startup support — like NYC programs for small business owners or minority-owned companies.

🏢 5. Prospera (Florida & Southeast)

A nonprofit supporting entrepreneurs (especially Latino small business owners) with workshops & advising.

👉 https://prosperausa.org

🧠 Influencers + Mentors to Follow for Business Strategy

These thought leaders publish daily business advice, growth tactics, mindset lessons, sales frameworks, and scaling strategies:

💡 Alex Hormozi

✔️ Entrepreneur, author and business operator (Acquisition.com, Gym Launch, “$100M Offers”). 👉 Follow on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn — tons of free frameworks and startup lessons.

💪 Grant Cardone

✔️ Sales & business trainer, author, real-estate investor, founder of Cardone Capital. 👉 Search Grant Cardone 10X content — sales, scaling, closing & revenue growth.

👇 Other Great Influencers & Educators

(While not all are as accessible as free mentors, these provide strong business strategy content)

Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee) — social media, marketing & personal branding
Reid Hoffman (“Masters of Scale”) — startup growth insights & interviews
Leila Hormozi — business development & scaling via podcasts (e.g., Build with Leila Hormozi)
Young and Profiting Podcast (features multiple business icons)
Podcasts like “Masters of Scale,” “My First Million,” “Startup School” – free business lessons from founders.

💸 Best & Cheapest Ways to Form an LLC

When you’re ready to form a legal business structure (like an LLC):

🔒 Option A — DIY (Cheapest)

Choose your state and check fees. (Florida ~ $125+)
File your Articles of Organization online directly with your state’s Secretary of State website — this is the cheapest method.
Apply for your EIN (free) at the IRS link above.

DIY filings save ~$100–$300+ you’d pay through a third-party service.

🧾 Option B — Affordable LLC services

If you want help but still super affordable:

Services like ZenBusiness, Incfile, Northwest Registered Agent — often offer free basic LLC filing (you just pay the state fee).(Prices change, but these are typically the lowest cost options.)

📚 Books & Courses That Inspire + Educate

(Great for self-paced learning + business fundamentals)

📌 Alex Hormozi — $100M Offers — how to build valuable offers customers love. 📌 Masters of Scale (Reid Hoffman) — stories & lessons from top entrepreneurs. 📌 Podcasts like Young and Profiting — actionable business lessons weekly. 📌 Inc.com podcasts + articles — small business tips and founder stories.

🧩 Free Local & Online Community Support

Joining communities, forums, or Facebook groups can give real-world feedback and connection:

👉 Entrepreneur Facebook Groups👉 Reddit’s r/entrepreneur / r/smallbusiness👉 Local Chamber of Commerce networking events

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS AND GET LEGAL HELP AND PROTECTION HERE:

https://cbonilla.legalshieldassociate.com/

🧠 Final Action Plan (7 Step Checklist)