10 Companies That are Stepping Up with Free Help for SMBs

While I certainly don’t sugarcoat a situation as dire as the current coronavirus pandemic, I do take heart from the fact that it’s not just the government stepping up to aid small businesses right now. We’re seeing more and more private companies (like the ones below) offering free tools and resources, as well as grants and financial assistance.

1. Google

How many of us rely on Google to run our businesses? I know my company, Nav, does. The company recently announced that it would provide more than $800 million in support to small- and medium-sized businesses. This includes $340 million in Google Ads credits available to all small businesses who have had active accounts in the past year.

The company is also offering free digital skills training and certifications on Google products like Ads and Analytics. Even if your business is at a standstill, you can still sharpen your skills for later.

2. Mailchimp

Email marketing service Mailchimp is offering $10 million worth of service to existing customers who aren’t able to continue their subscriptions due to financial hardship right now. Current customers with 25 or fewer employees in categories like restaurants and hospitality, brick and mortar retail, travel and leisure, among others, are eligible for up to three months of free Mailchimp service.

3. Facebook

Facebook has launched its Small Business Grants program, which includes $100 million in cash grants and ad credits.

The social media giant also has COVID-19 resources for small businesses, including free courses and workplace tools to stay connected when working remotely and a resilience toolkit.

4. Nav

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what we’re doing at my company, which works with more than 60 lenders to help small businesses find the financing they need — during a crisis as well as during good times. We’ve launched a Facebook group to answer the many, many questions that small business owners have right now about the Paycheck Protection Program Loan and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

We also have a free SBA loan calculator to help entrepreneurs determine how much they might be eligible to receive through SBA COVID loans.

5. LinkedIn

Here’s another resource to keep you sharp when sales are down: LinkedIn is offering more than 13 hours of free content around working remotely. Its Talent Blog has a collection of articles to help companies navigate COVID-19 challenges.

6. FedEx

FedEx has put together a collection of COVID-19 small business resources. It includes tools to help brick-and-mortar companies get set up to start delivering products, a Small Business Center that provides advice from small business owners and experts, and an E-Commerce Center that helps companies do business online.

7. Kabbage

Kabbage is enabling small businesses to sell gift certificates online to keep revenues flowing. It has partnered with Facebook so that businesses can sell those gift certificates on the social media site.

8. Zapier

Not only has Zapier, an online automation tool, offered free upgrades for businesses dealing directly with COVID-19, it’s also committed $1 million to its Small Business Assistance Program. Paying Zapier customers with 10 or fewer employees are eligible.

9. Amazon

If your business operates near Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, you may qualify for its $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund. It will provide cash grants to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees or less than $7 million in annual revenue, located within a few blocks of its Regrade, South Lake Union, and Bellevue office buildings.

10. Yelp, GoFundMe, & QuickBooks

Yelp, Quickbooks, and GoFundMe have partnered to launch the Small Business Relief Initiative and Fund, which will match funds (up to $500) raised through GoFundMe campaigns specifically for businesses impacted by COVID-19.

These are, quite honestly, just a drop in the bucket of what’s happening out there. Many companies are offering their software totally free or extending free trials to help entrepreneurs. I encourage you to dig to find the resources that can keep you propelling forward, even when it’s anything but business as usual.