Small Business Resources on the Internet
Federal Government Sites
- Small Business Administration Online - This is an exceptional source of useful information small businesses. Provides news about Small Business Administration (SBA) activities and services to help in business startup, expansion and financing.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Features the United States Chamber of Commerce, based in Washington, D.C. Offers information on affiliated organizations. Highlights information on domestic policy issues, as well as economic and international policies. Discusses the Small Business Center and contains a directory of chambers of commerce and other professional associations in the United States and abroad. Presents information on the services and information for members of the Chamber.
- National SBDC Research Network Homepage - the National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Research Network operated by the New York State SBDC. Notes that the Network is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and administered by the State University of New York (SUNY). Offers access to resources related to business ownership, consumer protection, marketing, standards, technology, and other information of interest to entrepreneurs. Links to electronic publications, search services, government agencies, and Internet directories.
- ADA Information Center - The Small Business Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Information Answer Center. Provides a set of basic and detailed ADA materials from the federal agencies responsible for implementing the ADA, ADA training materials, and a listing of regional and national resources for additional information and assistance on ADA issues. Contains a set of FAQs for each title of the ADA.
- U.S. Business Advisor - Presents the U.S. Business Advisor, a resource providing access to federal government information, services, and transactions. Includes FAQs about exports, OSHA, the U.S. Postal Service, federal jobs, the Small Business Administration (SBA), social security, and taxes. Features tools, guides, and forms for solving problems and for doing business with the government. Provides access to a site search system, an index of topics, and to current business-related news items.
- Consumer Information Center - Features full-text versions of federal consumer publications, a service of the Consumer Information Center (CIC) of Pueblo, Colorado. Offers a keyword search engine for publications in the categories of cars, health, children, housing, employment, environment, small business, federal programs, travel and hobbies, and food and nutrition.
- Minority Business Development Agency - Provides information on the MBDA's programs and events. Provides access to the Phoenix database, a listing of ethnic minority-owned enterprises doing business in the United States. Also has information on the Agency's new Minority Business Electronic Commerce Initiative.
- The Department of Treasury - All about money. Includes information on the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Home Page - Extensive information on patents and trademarks. Includes access to online patent search databases.
- U.S. Copyright Office - Gopher menu of copyright-related articles.
- Small Business Innovation Research Awards - Allows access to the Small Business Innovation Research Grants database, compiled by the Community of Science organization. Includes an overview and history of the grants, awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to small U.S. companies in an effort to promote their growth and development. Gives a breakdown of grants awarded by agency, specific states and amount.
Business Magazines and Publishers
- Entrepreneur Magazine - Presents the online edition of "Entrepreneur Magazine," a weekly publication of Entrepreneur Media Inc., based in Irvine, California. Offers small business news, product information, and seminars. Provides access to a compilation of Entrepreneur Magazine's daily briefs, the SOHO Mall, the Small Business Convention Center, the Small Business Resource Center, and the Small Business Forum. Also allows online searching of 155,000 suppliers through the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.
- Inc. Magazine - Presents Inc. Online, a collection of resources for small businesses. Includes highlights from "Inc." magazine, as well as searchable databases, classified ads, and bulletin boards. Provides information on products, conferences, and consulting services. Profiles small companies and offers access to "Inc.'s" list of the top 500 growing companies in the United States. Allows users to search current and back issues of "Inc." magazine and links to a list of related books, videos, and newsgroups.
- Sales & Marketing Management - Presents the online version of "Sales & Marketing Management Magazine (S&MM), published monthly in New York City by Bill Communications Inc. Includes an article index and subscription information. Provides information on sales tactics and marketing strategies. Contains a monthly contest and executive programs. Offers access to information on upcoming events. Links to resources related to sales, marketing, small business, management, and university sales programs.
- BT Business Connections E-zine - Presents the current month's edition of "BT Business Connections," an electronic magazine devoted to small businesses and published by British Telecommunications PLC. Posts feature articles on small business financing, legal developments, book reviews, news articles from "Home Run Magazine," and an archive of tax and technical advice fact sheets. Provides access to information on products and services available for purchase online and at BT Businessconnections Business Centres throughout Great Britain.
- The Small Business Journal - Presents the online, full-text version of "The Small Business Journal" (TSBJ), published monthly by the Oliver Publishing Group in Lexington, Kentucky. Contains articles from the current issue, plus access to previous issues.
- Nolo Press - Presents a self-help law center, developed by Nolo Press, a publishing company located in Berkeley, California. Offers news and feature stories on subjects including taxes, wills and estate planning, insurance, family law, small business issues, consumer issues, and work-related issues. Offers an online legal encyclopedia. Includes information about books and materials published by Nolo.
General Business Resources
- American Express Small Business Exchange - Provided by the American Express Co., a credit card and financial and travel services company, based in New York City. Provides news of interest to small businesses, plus an extensive library of useful information and tools. Also features an 'Ask an Expert' section for getting answers to your questions from a small business expert.
- SCORE - Service Corps Of Retired Executives - Features the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a Small Business Administration (SBA) resource partner. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business. SCORE members provide free counseling and mentoring to entrepreneurs and provides the SBA with business expertise. Offers information on service provided, the volunteers, and eligibility requirements for clients. Provides access to a counseling request form, a FAQ section, and small business statistics and resources. Contains an e-mail directory of selected members and a list of offices, arranged by state. Links to chapter home pages.
- Business Resource Center - The Business Resource Center offers information on getting a business started, including a small business primer. Highlights information on running a business, such as marketing, management, and finance information. Allows users to download business shareware.
- Business Planning & Resources: Creating an Effective Business Plan - Presents information on creating an effective business plan for a small business, provided by the America Express Co. Includes information on business descriptions, development and production, sales and marketing, management, and financial considerations. Contains a small business advisor section and a FAQ. Provides a search engine and an online classified area.
- InfoLink's Business Disk Online/Home Page - InfoLink's Business Disk Online, the WWW edition of InfoLink's "Ondernemersdisk," a Dutch magazine focusing on news and software for small businesses. Includes articles on management, human resources, government policies, international business affairs, and automation. (in English)
- The Edward Lowe Foundation -- Championing the Entrepreneurial Spirit - Features the Edward Lowe Foundation in Cassopolis, Michigan. Includes information on smallbizNet, an information service from the Foundation for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and assistance organizations. Notes that the Foundation helps independent business through research, representation, education, and information services.
- Small Business Resource Catalog - Online catalog of products from the Small Business Institute of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Features workbooks, audio and video seminars, CD-ROMs and more.
- National Association for the Self-Employed -- Resources for Entrepreneurs - Provides information of use to self-employed workers, with an online version fo the current issue of their magazine, 'Self-Employed America'.
- San Antonio Electronic Commerce Resource Center - Funded by the Defense Logistics Agency, providing free consulting and training to businesses interested in federal contracting.
- MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc. - Provides assistance with new business ventures. The MIT Enterprise Forum has 18 chapters in cities around the US and several other countries. This site provides information on the Forum and its activities and symposia, plus information on new business startup and business plan creation. The chapters of the Forum provide a meeting place for entrepreneurs, top executives, venture capitalists, and others interested in the success of new business startups, especially in the high-tech area. MBA is involved with the Chicago chapter, which we highly recommend for anyone in the area!
- BSN: Business Sources on the Net - A cooperative project in which teams of business librarians organize and evaluate business information sources on the Internet. Offers access to Internet resources related to accounting, taxation, computer science, economics, ethics, corporate banking, real estate, insurance, and business and the environment. Provides access to investment and career information; marketing resources; and information on corporations, organizations, and individuals. Includes information on human resources personnel management, small business, and entrepreneurship.
Finance/Venture Capital
- FinanceHub: Venture Capital on the Web - Presents a directory of venture capital resources on the WWW, provided by InterSoft Solutions, Inc. (ISS). Includes information for investors and those seeking venture capital. Offers a site search engine and provides access to venture capital companies and related articles. Contains information on advertising consulting firms and searching the database.
- Small Business Funding, Venture Capital Directory - Presents an online business funding directory, provided by Business Funding Services, Inc. (BFS). Allows users to search for resources of venture capital, equipment leasing, commercial lending, and government programs. Matches capital requests to lenders and investors free of charge. Offers access to networks of accredited private investors. Includes information of interest to lenders and investors, including summaries from companies running capital funding searches. Provides access to funding guides and business resources on the Internet. Links to small business development centers and venture capital clubs.
- First Virtual - The First Virtual Internet Payment System is a transaction tracking, collections, and settlement system for electronic merchants.
Legal Information
- Court TV Small Business Law Center - Provides legal information of use to small businesses, including an online collection of forms and model documents, plus help in finding and dealing with lawyers.
- Oppedahl & Larson Intellectual Property Law Web Server - Provides information from a leading law firm specializing in patents and intellectual property. Contains information on patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, computer law, and much more.
State/Local Sites
- Big Help for Illinois Small Business - Provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Community Affairs. Contains information on Small Business Development Centers throughout the state, Procurement Centers, Innovation Research Centers, International Trade / NAFTA, Environmental Assistance, Safety & Health Assistance, Financial Assistance, Proposed Legislation & Rules, Women & Minority Business Assistance, Technology Assistance, Permits and Regulations.
- Michigan Small Business Development Centers - Features Michigan Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), business management assistance and training centers that service manufacturing, retail, and service firms with less than 500 employees. Describes counseling, training, and research services offered and provides access to press releases and news items. Offers access to online versions of SBDC publications.
- Illinois Department of Business Services - Provides information on the Department and its Divisions, plus information on incorporation and the needed forms and fees. Also has an online corporate name database.
International Commerce
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