ZIP / Location → Verified Local Help Network

Free, confidential one-on-one counseling for new entrepreneurs and existing business owners: startup planning, financial analysis, marketing, market research, and loan packaging assistance. Services available in Spanish.

Connect with City of Columbus non-emergency services, submit service requests, and get routed to city departments.

City of Columbus collection information for trash, recycling, yard waste, and scheduled bulk pickup.

Look up trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection schedules for a Columbus service address.

Drive-up drop-off location for eligible Columbus residents to reuse, recycle, or dispose of a range of household materials.

Drive-up drop-off location for eligible Columbus residents to reuse, recycle, or dispose of a range of household materials.

City business-development resources, small-business support, expansion assistance, and economic-development programs.

Building permits, zoning reviews, code enforcement, contractor and business licensing, engineering, and related development services.

Free legal information, forms, guided help, and connections to legal aid, community services, lawyer referral services, and Ohio courts.

Explore active solid-waste and construction-and-demolition debris facilities across Ohio using the Ohio EPA interactive map, with facility data updated from the agency’s licensing and registration system.

Step-by-step Ohio Secretary of State checklist for starting a business: registering with the state, obtaining a federal EIN, opening a business bank account, state tax registration, and required licenses/permits.

Official Ohio Secretary of State online portal for filing new business entities (including LLCs), UCC filings, and other business registration paperwork.

Official Ohio Secretary of State roadmap covering how to start, maintain, and dissolve a business in Ohio, with links to filing forms, name availability, and business publications.

SBA Ohio District Office providing funding programs, business counseling, federal contracting certifications, and connections to partner organizations and lenders across the state.

Connect to local housing, food, utilities, transportation, health, caregiver, disaster-recovery, and other community assistance through the nationwide 211 network.

Official IRS tool to apply for a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the IRS in minutes. An EIN is issued directly by the IRS. The IRS does not charge an application fee.

Search nearby shelter, food pantry, health clinic, clothing, and homelessness-assistance resources by location.

Find HUD-participating housing counseling agencies for homebuying, foreclosure, rental housing, budgeting, reverse mortgages, homelessness, and other housing needs.

Find treatment facilities for mental health and substance-use needs in your area using the federal treatment locator.

Find Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentors, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, SBA district offices, and other small-business support near you.

Find free in-person employment help, career counseling, job-search workshops, computer access, training guidance, and other workforce services through American Job Centers.

Search short-term training, college, career-school, and eligible training-provider programs in a U.S. location.

Find state and local government services, agencies, elected officials, social-service agencies, consumer offices, health departments, motor-vehicle services, and more.

Find the attorney general for your state or territory for consumer protection, scams, complaints, and other state legal-enforcement matters.

Find government programs and financial assistance for food, housing, health care, utilities, disability, unemployment, Social Security, and other needs.

Use U.S. EPA guidance for common recyclables, batteries, electronics, used oil, household hazardous waste, tires, and other materials, with links to local recycling-location resources.