where can i find free help in getting my automotive business on the map. I have absolutely no money.

Start by doing your homework and the development of your business plan. First step in attracting funding is being able to reasonably prove your concept has a good chance of succeeding. When doing your plan you will need to get as many third part validations as possible. If you are doing re-po then a letter from a financial institution saying they will utilize your services.  Once your plan is completed then start approaching local business people who could benefit from your new venture.

I like Jeff's answer to this and already voted it up. But I have a couple of points to add:

First, the amount of free help that's sitting on the web is amazing. Obviously this website is a good example, but this website competes with hundreds of other good sites offering substantial small business information. Tips on how to start a business, how to sell, how to market, how to plan? Just google it. There's an amazing array of expertise available. So much so that it's impossible to even narrow it down. You're on my favorite free site for this already.

Second, no offense, but I can't help point out that this question is an example of a great number of questions in which people are assuming that there are some kind of entitlement programs around, if you just know where to look, so that some institution gives somebody money to start a business.

Maybe the problem is the television commercials talking about the government giving people free money to start their business. That guy is trying to sell a database of government grants. And while there's some truth to that idea, the government and some large foundations to occasionally help entrepreneurs, these are rare cases where the new business meets some social or political or economic criteria established as a goal. For example, some people get grants for developing in special development zones, or for developing some kinds of technology. And there are organizations that will occasionally grant funds for some deserving business. These are exceptions, not the rule.

For the rest of us, the average types, owning your own business is a good thing, yes; but nobody has any need or interest in giving their resources to help you build your business.

There may be an occasional free lunch, but only for very well defined special cases.

in this world nothing is free. you need to pay what you owe, in the future. but if you really want it for  free? then start digging deeper on yourself... your "natural resources" this may be crazy but you can start earning money by selling something you already have. slowly but surely... in business starting with a debt? or  CREDIT? is not a good practice

I agree with Tim Berry.

There are hundreds of websites offering substantial advice on how to start a Business or write a Business Plan.

I will now put my head on the block by saying that 90 % of these websites are just "come-ons" to make some money out of you.

Once you have accessed one of these websites, they send you a "special offer", "exclusive offer" etc etc, at a cost of course.  This is just about on a daily basis.

Even the Universities are now getting in on the act. They offer their graduates' work at ridiculous prices.

Bplans.com is one of the few sites that does offer good advice without trying to influence you to buy one of their products.

I congratulate Business Plans Pro

Aubrey
leseding@mail.com
South Africa