You belong here · Free guide
Start a business as a refugee or new American.
You have already crossed oceans of change to be here, and that same resilience can build a business and a livelihood. This guide gathers the real programs designed for refugees and new Americans, including microenterprise support built specifically for people who resettled here. You belong here, and there is help made for exactly this moment.
Start free →You belong here
This is your economy to build in.
Rebuilding a life in a new country is one of the most demanding things a person can do, and you are doing it. The strength, patience, and adaptability that carried you here are the same strengths a business owner needs every day. You are not starting from nothing. You are starting from everything you have already survived and learned.
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.
The ORR Microenterprise Development program
The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) funds Microenterprise Development programs that help refugees and eligible new Americans start and grow small businesses, offering training, coaching, and access to small loans through local partner agencies.
Refugee resettlement agencies and their business programs
Local resettlement agencies often run or connect you to business training, financial coaching, and startup support designed for people who arrived as refugees. Groups such as Afghan and Ukrainian new arrivals are among those eligible for these programs.
Forming a business and getting an EIN with an ITIN
If you do not yet have a Social Security number, you can often form an LLC and get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The EIN is free from the IRS.
CDFIs and community development lenders
Community Development Financial Institutions lend to founders that traditional banks overlook, frequently pairing small loans with coaching and welcoming new Americans.
SBDC and SCORE advising
Free Small Business Development Center advising and SCORE mentorship, often with multilingual support, are open to everyone rebuilding here.
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.
Start with your resettlement agency
The caseworkers and partners who helped you resettle can often connect you directly to the ORR-funded microenterprise program and to lenders who understand your situation. Ask them first.
You can begin with an ITIN
Forming a business and getting an EIN with an ITIN is a well-established path while your status and paperwork settle. Confirm current requirements with the IRS or a qualified professional, since immigration and tax rules are separate matters and this is general guidance only.
Lean on translation and coaching
You do not have to understand every form alone. Microenterprise programs and many CDFIs offer coaching and translated help so you can make decisions with full understanding.
Start with an idea
Every great business starts with an idea.
Still deciding what to build? The idea tools on this platform generate and refine business ideas for anyone, matched to your skills, your interests, and the market around you.
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
Ask your resettlement agency to connect you with the ORR Microenterprise Development program, which offers training, coaching, and small loans built for new Americans. Pair that with a local CDFI and free SBDC advising as you launch.
- 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.
Start free →