Today I applied to receive business counseling from the Small Business Development Center of Alameda County:

It all starts here. Complete the application and submit your request. A member of the SBDC will follow up with you and help you achieve your small business goals -- at no cost to you.

Our Business Advisors are industry experts who provide free, professional business advising in marketing, finance, accessing capital, and more.

I'm someone who is inclined to try to learn as much as I can from reading books and doing my own research. But I'm trying to train myself to get some formal help from seasoned business professionals. I'm looking forward to the counseling.