You belong here · Free guide
Start a business as a Hispanic or Latino entrepreneur.
Latino founders are among the fastest-growing groups of business owners in the country, and there is a deep bench of programs built to help. This guide gathers the lenders, agencies, and networks that serve Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs. You belong in this economy, and it is better with you in it.
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This is your economy to build in.
Hispanic and Latino communities carry a long tradition of family enterprise, hard work, and looking out for one another. That foundation is a real advantage when you start a business. Whether your family has been here for generations or you arrived recently, there is a place for your idea here.
Real resources built for you.
These are real, well-established programs, lenders, and networks. Most are free or low-cost to start with, and they exist to help founders like you find capital, mentorship, and a path forward.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) business centers
The MBDA's federal business centers help minority-owned firms access capital, contracts, and new markets at no cost, and Hispanic and Latino founders qualify.
SBA microloans and the 8(a) Business Development program
SBA-backed microloans through nonprofit lenders fund early needs, and the 8(a) program helps eligible minority-owned businesses win federal contracts.
CDFIs and community development lenders
Community Development Financial Institutions lend to founders traditional banks may pass over, often with bilingual coaching, and many focus specifically on Latino communities.
Hispanic chambers of commerce and business networks
Local and national Hispanic chambers of commerce offer mentorship, referrals, and a community of owners who understand your market and often your language.
SBDC and SCORE advising
Free Small Business Development Center advising and SCORE mentorship, many with Spanish-speaking advisors, are open to everyone.
What to keep in mind.
A few honest, practical things that genuinely matter for your journey. This is general guidance, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Bilingual help is a strength, not an afterthought
Many CDFIs, chambers, and SBDCs offer full support in Spanish. If that helps you understand every detail of financing and filings, use it without hesitation.
Separate business and personal money
Open a dedicated business bank account from the start. It protects your LLC's legal separation and keeps your taxes clean and simple.
Formalize to unlock growth
Moving from informal work to a registered business with an EIN opens doors to bank accounts, contracts, and lending that stay closed otherwise. General guidance, but formalizing is often the step that changes everything.
Start with an idea
Every great business starts with an idea.
Not sure which idea to run with? The idea tools on this platform generate and refine business ideas for anyone, tuned to your interests and your local market.
Your first steps.
- 1
Clarify your idea
Start with the problem you want to solve and the people you want to serve. You do not need a perfect plan to begin, just a clear first idea you believe in. If you are still exploring, the idea tools on this platform can help you find and shape one.
- 2
Choose a structure
Most first businesses form as an LLC because it separates the business from your personal finances. A sole proprietorship is simpler but offers no separation, and a corporation fits founders raising outside investment. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so weigh what fits your situation.
- 3
Get your EIN free from the IRS
The Employer Identification Number is your business tax ID. The IRS issues it directly at irs.gov, usually in minutes, at no charge. Never pay a middleman for an EIN alone. Get the EIN at irs.gov ↗
- 4
Tap the resources built for you
Reach out to an MBDA business center, a Latino-serving CDFI, and your local Hispanic chamber of commerce. Many offer support in Spanish, and all are built to help minority founders find capital, contracts, and mentorship.
- 5
Launch and get your first customer
Open a dedicated business bank account, set up a simple way to get paid, and make your first sale. Momentum comes from real customers, not from waiting until everything is perfect. The checklist on this platform walks each of these steps in order.
You belong here. Now let's build it.
Inside the platform, the Checklist walks every step, Kenny (your AI coach) keeps you moving, and everything from the business plan to the brand studio is waiting for you. Start free.
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