Free official support

You do not have to pay for consulting when starting a business in the U.S. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and its partners provide free or low-cost counseling and training; the IRS also offers free tax training and telephone support. On this page, you will find how to locate the nearest center, the addresses and phone numbers of SBA offices in areas with large Turkish communities, and the SBA loan requirements that changed in March 2026.

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): provide one-on-one counseling and technical assistance to existing businesses and people who want to start a business.
  • Topics: access to financing, business plans, strategy, financial management, personnel, marketing, exports, and sales.
• SCORE: is the country's largest volunteer business mentoring network. It is a nonprofit organization.
  • Mentors provide free advice on financing, human resources, and business plans.
  • Meetings can be held by email, phone, and video.
  • Webinars, online workshops, and optional courses are also offered.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC): are a network of centers that support women who want to start and grow businesses.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): provide workshops, training, counseling, and mentoring for veterans, service members, and military spouses.
• SBA district offices: help with SBA programs, financing, federal contracting certifications, and disaster assistance. They refer you to partner organizations, lenders, and community groups.

1. Open the SBA's local assistance search tool.
2. Enter your 5-digit U.S. ZIP Code.
3. Select the type of assistance: SCORE, SBDC, VBOC, or WBC.
4. Select the nearest center from the list and contact it.
5. You can also find the SBA office in your area in the district office directory.

• Metro New York (New York City, Long Island, part of the Hudson Valley)
  • Address: 26 Federal Pl., Suite 3100, New York, NY 10278
  • Phone: +1 212 264 4354
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
• New Jersey (entire state)
  • Address: 2 Gateway Center, Suite 1002, Newark, NJ 07102
  • Phone: +1 973 645 2434
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
• Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties)
  • Address: 312 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • Phone: +1 213 634 3855
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
• Houston (32 counties in southeastern Texas)
  • Address: 8701 S. Gessner Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074
  • Phone: +1 713 773 6500
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30, by appointment only
• Dallas / Fort Worth (72 counties in northeastern Texas)
  • Address: 150 Westpark Way, Suite 130, Euless, TX 76040
  • Phone: +1 817 684 5500
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
• South Florida (Miami headquarters)
  • Address: 51 SW 1st Ave., Suite 201, Miami, FL 33130
  • Phone: +1 305 536 5521
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
• Delaware (entire state)
  • Address: 1105 Market St., Suite 401, Wilmington, DE 19801
  • Phone: +1 302 573 6294
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00
• All offices are closed on federal holidays. Call and make an appointment before you go.

• SBA Answer Desk (general questions): +1 800 827 5722, answerdesk@sba.gov. Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00 (U.S. Eastern Time). Closed on federal holidays.
• Disaster loans: +1 800 659 2955, Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00 (U.S. Eastern Time).
• You can also contact your district office for business planning, formation, and growth.

• 7(a) loans are the SBA's primary loan program. The maximum amount is $5 million. The SBA does not lend money directly; it guarantees the loan to the bank. Applications are submitted to an SBA-approved lending institution.
• The SBA's Lender Match tool matches you with these lending institutions.
• As of March 1, 2026, 100% of the business's direct and indirect owners must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals. These individuals must also have their principal residence in the United States.
• For applications submitted after this date, businesses with any noncitizen owner, including green card holders (LPRs), are not eligible.
• According to the SBA's March 9, 2026 announcement, the rule was also extended to the Microloan and Surety Bond programs. According to the announcement, the new rule took effect 30 days after publication.

• Small business training: The IRS offers online training, a tax calendar, and in-person small business tax seminars. The page also includes a link to the SBA's digital learning platform.
• Free publications: Publication 583 (starting a business and recordkeeping) and Publication 334 (small business tax guide).
• Telephone support:
  • Business line: +1 800 829 4933 (Monday–Friday 07:00–19:00 local time)
  • Individual line: +1 800 829 1040 (Monday–Friday 07:00–19:00 local time)
  • Interpreter line for languages other than Spanish: +1 833 553 9895. An IRS representative will provide an interpreter by phone or schedule an appointment at a local office.
  • International tax line from outside the U.S.: +1 267 941 1000 (fee-based; Monday–Friday 06:00–23:00, U.S. Eastern Time)
• In-person assistance: IRS local offices (Taxpayer Assistance Centers) operate by appointment. Appointment line: +1 844 545 5640.
• Taxpayer Advocate Service: is an independent unit within the IRS that helps resolve problems you have with the IRS. Phone: +1 877 777 4778.

• Paying intermediaries for free processes such as EIN and BOI.
• Applying for an SBA-guaranteed loan with a green card.
• Going to a district office without an appointment. The Houston office operates by appointment only.
• Providing personal information to unofficial websites. See 1.12 Scam warnings.
• Trying to resolve a tax question through social media instead of using the IRS's free interpreter line.

• Does SCORE counseling cost money? No. According to the SBA, SCORE mentors provide free advice; meetings can be held by email, phone, and video.
• What is the difference between SBDC and SCORE? SBDCs provide professional counseling and technical assistance. SCORE is a mentoring network of volunteer, experienced business professionals. Both can be reached through the SBA's search tool.
• I have a green card. Can I get an SBA loan? Since March 1, 2026, all owners for 7(a) and 504 loans must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals. Green card holders cannot apply for these programs.
• Does the SBA's loan restriction also affect counseling? The SBA's March 2026 decisions concern loan programs. Ask your local center about the eligibility requirements for counseling services.
• Can I speak Turkish with the IRS? For languages other than Spanish, the IRS provides a telephone interpreter at +1 833 553 9895 or schedules an appointment at a local office.
• Whom can I consult to choose a business entity? According to the SBA, business advisors, attorneys, and accountants can help with this decision. For free initial assistance, you can contact an SBDC or SCORE. See 14.1 Business entity types for the types.

• SBA – Local assistance search tool (SCORE, SBDC, WBC, VBOC)
• SBA – District office directory
• SBA – Lender Match
• SBA – Digital learning platform
• SBA – Procedural Notice 5000-876626, citizenship requirement (PDF)
• IRS – Small business tax seminars
• IRS – Tax calendar
• IRS – Local office locator
• Publication 583 (PDF)
• Publication 334 (PDF)