|
Business
Plans |
|
| Forms
and/or templates available at all sites in this section.
|
|
American
Express
offers a step-by-step workshop, advice by e-mail, and informative
tips on writing your business plan. |
|
BizPlan
Pro
gives
you a Web-based program and outline to help turn your idea into
a viable business. |
|
Jian
Software
has
published well-respected business planning programs for years, and
many of its tools are free to use online. |
|
Small
Business Association
presents
a good outline and an overview that is well suited for planning
a small businesses. |
 |
|
Directories
|
|
|
Dun
& Bradstreet lists
thousands of vendors, searchable by service, category, and location. |
|
Europages
is an extensive directory of European businesses. |
|
Thomas
Register
helps you identify which tasks to outsource and screen more than 150,000
registered suppliers. |
|
|
|
Employment
Basics |
|
| **
Indicates free forms and/or templates are available.
|
|
U.S.
Department of Labor
helps
you learn about and comply with current federal employment statutes.**
|
|
Winning
Associates, Inc.
provides
an article explaining the essential role of employee handbooks.
|
|
|
|
Expert Guidance |
|
|
Bootstrap Austin is a forum for discovering and propagating the unique path and rules associated with bootstrapping a company. |
|
Idea Cafe covers all the basics for getting your idea off the ground, from e-commerce design to logo-embroidered apparel. |
|
SCORE
offers
free counseling and other insights from a network of retired executives. |
|
Small
Business Development Centers
pool
local, state, and national resources offered by public and private
organizations. |
|
Software
and Information Industry Association,
formerly
SPA, is an excellent trade group serving technology businesses. |
|
|
|
Financing |
|
|
National
Business Incubation Association
helps
young firms survive and grow during the risky start-up period.
|
|
|
|
Franchises |
|
|
Be the Boss
has a partial directory of active franchises, listing basic information
such as minimum investment. |
|
AAFD
offers
membership in a non-profit trade association for franchisees and
dealers. |
|
|
|
Government
Sites
|
|
|
Securities
and Exchange Commission
holds
federal filings on public companies in an online research database.
|
|
Small
Business Administration
is a rich gateway to loans, networking, and other resources.
|
|
U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
offers
data on productivity, compensation, living conditions, and other
labor measures. |
|
U.S.
Census Bureau
gives
you basic demographics on the U.S. population — great for market
research. |
|
U.S.
Department of Commerce
issues
reports on the latest economic indicators. |
|
U.S.
Treasury
features
business and individual tax filing statistics from the IRS. |
|
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
| **
Indicates free forms and/or templates are available.
|
|
Delphion
lets
you search and view patent documents from the U.S. and other major
industrialized nations. |
|
Small
Business Administration
defines
patents, trademarks, and copyrights and their relevance to the entrepreneur.**
|
|
U.S.
Copyright Office
shows
you how to register for protection of your company's original works.**
|
|
U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office
gives
you a detailed and authoritative overview of their application process.**
|
|
Wells,
St. John, Roberts, Gregory & Matkin,
a Washington law firm, provides a layman's overview of the patent
process. |
|
|
|
Laws & Permits |
|
| **
Indicates free forms and/or templates are available.
|
|
California
Trade & Commerce Agency
describes the state's requirements for various business licenses.** |
|
Entrepreneur
Magazine has basic contracts for non-disclosure, work-for-hire, and other
needs.**
|
|
Internal
Revenue Service gives you a wide range of information about your tax responsibilities
as an employer.**
|
|
Quicken
Small Business answers basic questions about which permits you need for doing business
in your state. |
|
|
|
Regional
Resources |
|
|
U.S.
Chamber of Commerce
can
direct you to a chamber in your area for information about local
business concerns. |
|
|
|
Software
& Books |
|
|
Entrepreneur
Magazine
stocks
several popular how-to books for those starting or running a small
business. |
|
Jian
Software
has programs and templates that can help you with everything from employment
contracts to marketing plans. |
|
Nolo
Press is a long-standing leader in books and publications for the do-it-yourselfer
in business and personal matters. |
