BUSINESSCompass Your business, one clear next step at a time.
Tell us where your business is headed. Compass builds your roadmap, then walks you through every step with Guides, tools, video lessons and an LAEDC advisor in your corner.
See your roadmap in about two minutes. No cost, ever.
Guides
tools
Three steps from
"where do I start?" to done.
Tell us where you are headed
Enter your ZIP code and answer two quick questions. Getting funded, winning contracts, recovering, expanding: Compass matches you to the route that fits.
Get your roadmap
Your route is laid out in order, waypoint by waypoint, starting with the foundations every lender and buyer expects to see.
Work it, with help
Each step has a Guide, a tool or a document to hand in, and Pathfinder to answer questions. Your advisor is there whenever you want a hand.
Everything you need,
on the step you are on.
A look at what you will work with as you move through your roadmap.
See the whole route.
Compass lays out every waypoint in order, from getting your books right to landing the funding. You always know where you are, what comes next and how far you have to go.
- Built around where your business is headed
- Foundations first, so nothing trips you up later
- Every step at no cost to you
A Guide for every step.
Each step comes with a Guide written for LA County business owners. It tells you why the step matters, what to gather before you start, what good looks like, and what to do if you get stuck.
- 104 Guides, in plain language
- Real examples from businesses like yours
- An advisor ready when you want help
Leave with real numbers.
Calculators and worksheets right on the step turn your figures into an answer: your cash runway, your cash-to-debt ratio, what you can afford to borrow. Short video lessons walk you through the thinking.
- 28 interactive tools
- Short video lessons on many steps
- What you enter is what counts as done
Ask anything, any time.
Pathfinder is your AI guide inside Compass. It knows the step you are on, so you can ask questions in plain language, or attach a PDF or a photo and ask about it.
- Answers in the moment, day or night
- Reads your documents when you attach them
- Never files or submits anything for you
Get it checked by a real person.
When a step needs a document, you hand it in right there. An LAEDC advisor reviews it, and once it is accepted the step is done. We keep a copy for your record.
- Upload a PDF, a photo or a Word file
- Reviewed by your LAEDC advisor
- Your progress saved on your record
Any LA County business with somewhere to go.
Whether you are just getting organized or ready for your next big move, there is a route built for it.
Good to know.
Does it cost anything?
No. Compass is free for LA County businesses, and so is the advising that comes with it.
Do I need an account to start?
No. You can answer the questions and see your roadmap first. To save it and start working through the steps, become a client. It is free and takes a few minutes.
Is there a real person I can talk to?
Yes. Pathfinder answers questions any time, and an LAEDC advisor reviews what you hand in and is there when you want focused help.
What languages does it work in?
Compass works in 15 languages, so you can work through your roadmap in the language you are most comfortable with.
Will anyone file or submit anything for me?
No. Compass and your advisor help you get ready, but you stay in control. We keep a copy of what you hand in for your record and never file or submit anything on your behalf.
Your roadmap is two minutes away. Let's find your next step.
Answer a few questions and see exactly where to start. It is free for every LA County business.