We work with corporate and community partners to build a network of skill-based professionals who provide free finance, legal and marketing services for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow a sustainable business.
At the heart of Start Small Think Big, Inc. lies a deep commitment to fostering an environment of diversity, equity, integrity, acceptance, and inclusion. We proudly stand with small business owners who embrace a wide spectrum of customers, clients, and employees, celebrating all identities. These core principles not only shape our approach to entrepreneurship but also define our collaborative work ethos.
LEGAL
ASSISTANCE
Discover how our pro bono Legal Program connects entrepreneurs with legal experts. Our experts specialize in helping entrepreneurs choose the proper entity structure, or review commercial leases. They can advise on intellectual property and employment issues, review and draft contracts, and other legal issues. We can only provide legal services in New York and California in 2024.
Legal volunteers meet with entrepreneurs who seek advice or assistance with formalizing the legal structure of their businesses, including for example, by forming legal entities (e.g., LLCs or corporations); drafting operating agreements or bylaws; and creating partnership terms between business partners. Volunteers will also provide entrepreneurs with general advice and information concerning ongoing corporate governance obligations and responsibilities. Legal volunteers will assist entrepreneurs with drafting the appropriate corporate document and/or preparing and filing appropriate documents with the applicable authority.
Legal volunteers will conduct a “knockout” search of client’s business / product name, logo, and/or slogan; review the results with the client; and provide basic advice on trademark registration advantages and process—including a non-binding estimate of the likelihood of successful registration, generally focused on questions related to the level of similarity to existing marks and/or “mere descriptiveness” of the proposed marks.
Legal volunteers will review clients’ websites and edit existing or template Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for use on clients' websites. The templates include extensive practice notes for the attorneys which, in conjunction with a training, allow virtually any corporate counsel to ask the client questions and determine from their responses what the appropriate edits are and explain the resulting contracts to the clients.
Legal volunteers review/update a client’s existing contracts or assist them with drafting new agreements. If the client has an existing agreement, each volunteer team will receive the agreement in advance of any client consultation, and during the consultation, will review the agreements with the client, explain key terms, and, where appropriate, provide suggested revisions or flag areas for potential negotiation. If the client needs a new agreement drafted (e.g., a wholesale agreement), the legal volunteers will meet with the client to discuss their contract needs and proposed business arrangement, and assist with drafting an agreement that the client can use going forward.
Small business entrepreneurs often face challenging legal decisions related to their first hires. Legal volunteers will provide one-on-one counsel to businesses facing these decisions. Most consultations will focus on the appropriate classification of the business’s current or prospective workers, and may also include counseling clients on threshold issues regarding their obligations and responsibilities as an employer—including with respect to wages and benefits.
MARKETING
CONSULTING
Discover how our Marketing Program empowers entrepreneurs to generate leads, cultivate connections, and effectively communicate with their customers and supporters to drive sales. Our experts specialize in tailored email and social media marketing strategies; leveraging brand identity and messaging and a host of other invaluable marketing services. Elevate your brand's visibility with our comprehensive marketing support.
By the end of the session, you'll have the insights needed to refine your website's user experience, copy, and branding, ensuring your digital presence is effectively aligned with your business goals.
During the consultation you will review the efficiency of your brand's voice and visual identity by assessing your branding from your target audience's point of view and receive recommendations for improvement.
Review the efficiency of your current email, social media, and other miscellaneous digital mediums in order to maximize your online awareness and improve consumer targeting & lead conversions.
FINANCE
SERVICES
Discover how our Finance Program connects entrepreneurs with professionals who will share their expertise so small business owners can increase their financial literacy. They can provide guidance for entrepreneurs who need help setting up solid economic systems, bookkeeping, growth planning, projections, and cost analysis. *We cannot assist with taxes or provide specific tax advice
Assistance calculating the cost of production (Cost of Goods/Services Sold) and understanding how much a product or service contributes to paying overhead and/or owner’s salary at various price and sales levels.
Assistance understanding whether the business can afford a new expense (e.g. hiring, loan, new commercial lease.)
Assistance setting prices and understanding which existing or proposed revenue streams are the most profitable.
Assistance developing 1-3 year financial forecasts for a business plan/raising capital.
Assistance developing 12 month financial forecasts that align with income goals.
Assistance choosing an appropriate system, support to implement the system, and training to understand how to classify financial transactions.
Assistance getting business financial records organized and up-to-date.