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The Asees Foundation helps immigrant families, small business owners, and low-income residents across NYC build economic power and digital confidence — no red tape, no jargon.
Not because of a lack of drive — because of a lack of access. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems, digital gaps, and limited business support leave talented people behind every day.
The Asees Foundation was built to close that gap. We build real tools, run free workshops, and connect business owners to the resources they qualify for — all five boroughs.
A blessing is not just what you receive — it's what you are able to pass on.
The meaning behind Asees
One program. Three connected areas of support.
Free one-on-one coaching for micro-entrepreneurs, vendors, and immigrant-owned businesses ready to formalize and grow.
Hands-on workshops from device basics to job applications, government portals, and essential digital tools.
Practical training on AI tools like ChatGPT for job searching, business writing, and everyday tasks — in plain language.
All tools work without an account. Join free to save your progress across sessions and receive personalized resources, workshop invites, and funding alerts for your industry.
Built by and for New York's hardest-working communities
The Asees Foundation strengthens immigrant families, small business owners, and low-income residents across New York City with the economic tools, digital skills, and human connections they need to thrive — on their own terms.
Asees (ਅਸੀਸ) means blessing — and a blessing, in our understanding, is not something you keep. It's something you pass on. That belief is the foundation of everything we do.
The people we serve understand their own needs. We listen first, build second, and never assume we have all the answers.
Economic tools, digital skills, and professional support shouldn't depend on where you were born or what language you speak.
No one should have to prove they deserve help. We treat every person with full respect, without conditions.
We focus on outcomes, not optics. If something doesn't actually help our community, we don't do it.
The Asees Foundation was founded in New York City — one of the most linguistically diverse, entrepreneurially driven places on earth, and one of the hardest places to build economic security without the right networks and knowledge.
We saw immigrant families running businesses with no idea how to formalize them. We saw residents who couldn't navigate government benefit portals. We saw talented people left behind not because they lacked drive, but because they lacked access.
So we started with what we could do: coaching, workshops, free tools, and connections. One program. Real people. All five boroughs.
Our flagship program — free, integrated, built for the communities that need it most. Business coaching, digital skills, and AI literacy working together.
Program at a glance
Location
All five boroughs, New York City
Cost
Always free
Languages
English + more as we grow
Format
Workshops, 1-on-1 coaching, cohorts
Designed to work together — a business owner learning to register also needs digital skills and AI tools to compete.
Free one-on-one sessions: business registration in NY, taxes, banking, connecting to SBDC, SCORE, and city programs.
Group sessions on formalizing a business, pricing, bookkeeping, and accessing grants available to NYC owners.
Devices, email, job portals, government benefits, telehealth — the digital basics modern life depends on.
Use ChatGPT for job searching, writing, and business tasks. No tech background needed — ever.
"You don't need a business degree or a computer science background. You just need to show up. We'll take it from there."
Create a free account and we'll match you with the right program, workshops, and resources.
Interactive simulators and trackers — not forms. Play with numbers, see real outcomes, download your data anytime.
Adjust sliders to see your financial picture in real time. Try scenarios to understand what could go wrong — before it does.
Try a scenario
Monthly profit
$1,400
after all costs
Profit margin
28%
industry avg: 10–20%
Break-even
$3,600
revenue needed to cover costs
Find your real margin, ideal price, and see what happens when you charge more — or less.
| Price | Margin | Monthly profit | Verdict |
|---|
Track every relationship. See your pipeline health. Know exactly who to follow up with — and when.
Your business projects in one board. Add tasks, track completion, move projects forward.
Plain-language walkthroughs — one step at a time. Click any guide to expand it.
Track every relationship and never miss a follow-up — even with 200 contacts.
Even just a name and phone number is enough. The habit matters more than the data at first.
Lead = interested but hasn't bought yet. Active = current customer. Follow-up = you need to reach out. Closed = done for now.
"Asked about bulk pricing," "prefers texts," "comes in on Saturdays." These details are what turn transactions into relationships.
Every Monday, check who's marked Follow-up. Reach out to 3 of them. This one habit alone will grow your business.
When you add a dollar amount to each contact, you can see which relationships are worth the most — and make smarter decisions about your time.
💡 Consultant tip: 80% of revenue comes from 20% of customers. Your CRM helps you find that 20% and never lose them.
From informal to official — what you actually need to do, in order.
Sole Proprietorship = simplest, just you, no filing fee. LLC = more protection for your personal assets, ~$200 to file. Most small businesses should start as an LLC.
Search at dos.ny.gov to confirm your name is available. LLCs must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" in the name.
File Articles of Organization online at dos.ny.gov for $200. You'll get a confirmation the same day. For a sole proprietor DBA, file with your county clerk (~$25).
Apply at irs.gov/ein — takes 15 minutes, free, and you get your number immediately. You need this to open a business bank account.
Bring your EIN + registration docs. This single step makes taxes, grants, and loans dramatically easier. It also makes you look more professional to customers and suppliers.
💡 Consultant tip: Even if you've been operating informally for years, it's never too late to formalize. Many grants and SBA loans require registration — it unlocks real money.
Know if you're making money before the rent is due — not after.
Break-even = fixed costs ÷ gross margin. This is the minimum revenue you need every month to not lose money. If you don't know this number, you're flying blind.
Every sale, every payment received — log it the day it happens, not when you think you'll remember. Use our Cash Flow Simulator to see what your real income looks like.
Supplies, packaging, rent, phone, transportation — all of it counts. Most owners underestimate expenses by 20–30%.
What months are slow? What big expenses are coming? Knowing in advance means you can prepare — save in good months, cut in lean ones. Use the simulator to project forward.
The #1 business killer is running out of cash during a slow month. A cushion equal to one month of expenses is the safety net that keeps businesses alive.
💡 Consultant tip: Profit and cash flow are not the same thing. You can be profitable on paper and still run out of money. Cash timing is everything.
Stop guessing. Price based on real numbers — and charge what you're worth.
Cost of materials + your labor time (at a fair hourly rate) + a share of your overhead. Most owners forget labor and overhead entirely — then wonder why they're not making money.
If your cost is $20, your price should be at least $29–$40. A 30% margin means you have room to pay yourself and absorb surprises. Below 20% is danger territory.
You don't have to be cheapest — you have to be worth it. If competitors charge $60 and you charge $35, you're leaving money on the table and attracting price-sensitive customers who don't come back.
Most business owners are underpriced. Try raising your price by 10–15% on new customers. If the volume barely changes, you just increased your profit significantly.
Your costs go up. Your skills improve. Your prices should reflect that. Schedule a pricing review twice a year — put it in your calendar right now.
💡 Consultant tip: The biggest pricing mistake isn't charging too much — it's charging too little. Underpricing signals low quality and attracts the wrong customers.
Daily updates on grants, loans, and policy changes that affect your business — all in one place.
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with the right support — free, always.
One-on-one sessions to help you start, register, or grow your business. In person and remote.
Free group sessions on business, digital tools, taxes, and AI. Open to all NYC residents.
Not sure where to start? We'll connect you to city programs, legal aid, benefits, and more.
Takes about 2 minutes. We'll follow up within a few business days.
Whether you need help, want to partner, or just have a question — we're here.
We typically respond within 1–2 business days. If you need urgent help, please note that in your message.
Based in
New York City
General
info@aseesfoundation.org
Partnerships & funders
partners@aseesfoundation.org