THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026 55 Identify Your Strengths: O*NET OnLine https://www.onetonline.org This free tool from the U.S. Department of Labor can help to identify your most marketable skills. Find Related Jobs: mySkills myFuture https://www.myskillsmyfuture.org Their tool prompts you to enter a past or current job to view a list of career options that require similar skills. Learn the Legal Ropes: U.S. Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/ The official, step-by-step guide to business setup can be found on the SBA website—a free government resource that walks you through the most critical foundational steps, including: How to incorporate: It has detailed, easy-to-understand guides comparing Sole Proprietorships, LLCs, and Corporations so you can decide what’s right for you. Local and state registrations: It provides a road map for what you need to do, including directing you to your specific state’s Secretary of State website, where you can register your business name (e.g., as an LLC). Set up Your EIN: Internal Revenue Service https://www.irs.gov/ An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a Social Security number for your business, and you’ll need it to open a business bank account and file your business taxes. This is the only official website where you can get your EIN. The online application is free, fast, and provides your new EIN immediately upon completion. Do not pay a third-party service for this. Design a Logo: Canva https://www.canva.com/ This all-in-one visual design platform makes it easy to create a professional brand from scratch. Use their Logo Maker tool to generate a logo in minutes. Their brand kit helps set your brand’s colors, fonts, and logos in one place to ensure all your materials—from proposals to social media posts—look consistent and professional. Build an Online Presence: Squarespace https://www.squarespace.com/ Your website is your digital storefront. Squarespace can help build a beautiful, professional consultant website (with no coding required). Your new site will include your domain name, hosting, and even client scheduling tools so your clients can book and pay directly on your site. Launch Your Business: IndeCollective https://www.indecollective.co/ This site offers a structured program and community for launching your consulting practice. Their comprehensive platform was built specifically to help professionals become successful independent consultants, coaches, and fractional leaders. It provides detailed “playbooks” (on pricing, marketing, sales), expert coaching, AI-powered tools, and a high-trust peer community to help you skip the trial-and-error phase and build a profitable practice. Grow Your PR Skills: Five Minutes to Famous https://fiveminutestofamous.com/ Getting featured in media outlets builds credibility and thirdparty validation. This course and community teaches entrepreneurs and consultants how to become their own publicist by landing guest posts and features in publications to grow their authority. You’ll find a process for creating pitches, finding media contacts, and leveraging media wins to establish yourself as an expert. Get Smart on Money: Wave https://www.waveapps.com/ Designed for freelancers and small business owners, this financial software tool offers simple accounting and invoicing to help manage your money. Its free plan includes unlimited invoicing, expense, and income tracking. Connect with Female Entrepreneurs: Dreamers & Doers https://www.dreamersdoers.com/ This private, curated collective for female founders and leaders moves beyond networking and focuses on amplifying the work of its members. Membership provides access to a powerful peer network and what they call their “PR Hype Machine™,” which helps you gain visibility, thought leadership opportunities, and press engagement. Find a Mentor: SCORE https://www.score.org/ SCORE is a nonprofit organization (supported by the SBA) that provides a nationwide network of free, volunteer business mentors. You could be matched with a retired executive or an experienced business owner who provides confidential advice on everything from your pricing strategy to your business plan. —Eileen Smith Useful Resources to Get You Started Below is a short list of sites that may help as you start your new career journey. (Note that AFSA does not endorse these sites.)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=