(MONEY Magazine) – Seven out of 10 Americans fantasize about starting their own business (often after a bad day with the boss), and many act on that dream: More than 550,000 small businesses are launched each year. Unfortunately, a third of these start-ups fold within two years. You could pay thousands of dollars for workshops to help improve your odds of success. Or you could reserve that money for your venture and instead get great advice, for free, from these resources.

• Best for One-Stop Shopping

The Small Business Administration sba.gov; 800-827-5722

• WHAT IT IS The SBA is best known for its loan guarantee programs, but its website is also a font of information on everything from assessing whether you're suited to the entrepreneurial life ("Can you face six or seven 12-hour work days every week?") to how to market your new business.

• WHAT YOU GET You can download more than 200 free publications and e-books. For info on start-ups click on Starting from the home page for a link to the SBA's Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

• DON'T MISS The site's Small Business Training Network is a virtual campus of free courses on subjects such as identifying your target market, building your website, and business accounting.

• Best for One-on-One Counseling

SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives score.org; 800-634-0245

• WHAT IT IS A network of more than 10,000 volunteers (mostly retired business execs and entrepreneurs) who mentor wannabe moguls in one-on-one sessions.

• WHAT YOU GET SCORE matches you to someone with experience in your area of interest, so you get relevant, personal advice. Over half the volunteers have started their own successful small business.

• DON'T MISS On the Ask SCORE page, volunteers answer individual questions.

• Best for Raising Money from Family and Friends

Circle Lending circlelending.com; 800-805-2472

• WHAT IT IS Half of entrepreneurs turn to family and friends for seed money. Circle Lending handles services like electronic billing and payment processing on these so-called interpersonal loans.

• WHAT YOU GET Skip the fees (Circle Lending charges between $199 and $549 for its services) and download the free guide on structuring a private loan between two people instead. Also included in the guide is advice on how to borrow money from friends or family without ruining those relationships.

• DON'T MISS If someone's hitting you up for dough, check out Circle Lending's guide to private loans from the lender's point of view.

• Best for Finding Daddy Warbucks

Angel Capital Association angelcapitalassociation.org; 913-523-5543

• WHAT IT IS A professional association for angel investor groups. Angels are typically affluent people who fund early-stage start-ups in exchange for an equity stake. They can provide important contacts and business expertise as well. Not surprisingly, they're often difficult to find.

• WHAT YOU GET ACA provides a directory of more than 200 angel groups, as well as links to organizations that provide matching services for entrepreneurs and angels.

• RUNNER-UP Also check out the site eVenturing.org., aimed at entrepreneurs hoping to build high-growth businesses. The site's series of articles on pitching angel investors is a must-read for budding biz owners, no matter how big or small your venture may be.

• Best for Female Entrepreneurs Looking for Money

Springboard Enterprises springboardenterprises.org; 202-242-6282

• WHAT IT IS This national nonprofit organization has helped female entrepreneurs--who often find it harder to secure financing than men do--raise more than $3 billion.

• WHAT YOU GET Coaching, education and connections to a network of business owners, investors and executives.

• DON'T MISS Springboard has online classes on tapping equity markets, developing a pitch and evaluating whether you are a good candidate for equity financing.

• Best Place to Gather Inspiration

Entrepreneur.com entrepreneur.com/bizoppzone

• WHAT IT IS This site, sponsored by the publisher of Entrepreneur, lists hundreds of business ideas, including franchises, home-based start-ups and part-time ventures.

• WHAT YOU GET Head to the BizOpp Zone to find detailed descriptions, contact information and start-up costs for 400 nonfranchise businesses in a wide range of categories, from apparel to financial services and pet care.

• DON'T MISS A 15-point checklist tells how to evaluate a business opportunity--before you put your money at risk.