SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE LINKS

 Notice
Some of the sites suggested below are Commercial in nature. They were selected because of the additional content offered such as subject summaries, guides, resource links or forms. In no way is their inclusion to be considered a SCORE endorsement.  Please notify us of any links that have become broken.
 


GENERAL INFORMATION AND SMALL BUSINESS HELP

National SCORE Site
SBA (Small Business Administration)
SBA's Links of Small Business Publications

Starting Your Own Business (An excellent online SBA Women's Business Center resource)
Small Business Tools
(Good compilation of subjects)
Federal Business Resources

Manatee and Sarasota Counties' Entrepreneur Resources Website

 


GOVERNMENT & UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE DATABASES

Official US Government Search Site
State/Local Governments & Associations  (Links to all states)
IRS - Small Business/Self Employed Information (Federal)


BUSINESS PLANS

SBA Business Plan Model
Business Plan Components and Sample Plan (Quicken)
Writing a Business Plan (Nolo)

WSJ Creating a Business Plan (Wall Street Journal)
Another step-by-step Business Plan site (Bplans)


BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES

Choosing an Organization Structure
Small Business Legal Structures
 

Online Incorporation
          Business Filings
          My Corporation

          Amerilawyer (Florida based)
          How to Incorporate for Free
 

LEGAL ISSUES
(Helpful information but client should consult a lawyer before making any important decisions)
           

Business Law and Regulations 
(An excellent SBA site)
Choosing a Business Name

Small Business Legal Information (Excellent)
FTC Guide to Mail or Telephone Order Rule

Independent Contractors
  (IRS definition and frequently asked questions about independent contractors)

Copyright, Patents, and Trademarks

          Copyrights

US Copyright Office (Copyright Registration)
US Copyright search

Patents and Trademarks

US Patent & Trademark Office (Trademark Registrations and Patent Applications)

Basic Facts About Trademarks
Generating New Product Ideas
WIN Innovation Institute (A helpful site for Innovators and Inventors)

Provisional Patent Application
(Inexpensive method for a small business)
Patents and Trade Secrets
Patents Without a Lawyer

Business Insurance

Business Insurance Information
Insurance: The Protection of Last Resort
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System - Varsity Health Charter Plan
US Department of the Treasury: Health Savings Accounts - FAQs


Commercial Leases         

Real Estate Leasing Tips

 

          FINANCE

                    SBA  and other Loan
                             

                              SBA Loan Programs
                              SBA 504 Loans
                              SBA Bank Lending Study
                              More Financing Sources
                              Financing Basics

                             

                               

                    Other Options
                                
Venture Capital

                                        A Regulation D Primer
                                        Angel-Investors Networks (All areas)

                                 Regulation D
                                       
A Regulation D Primer

                                        Regulation D Resources   

                                 Grants
                                      

                                        NEH Grant Program
                                        Writing a Grant Proposal

                                        More Grant information
                                        Govt. Grants/Assistance
                                        SBA Grants Program

           BUYING A SMALL BUSINESS or it's ASSETS

                                        Buying a Business
                                        Things to watch out for
                                  

 

MARKETING                               

                              Research/Statistics

                                       
Business & Internet Statistics
                                        Small Business Statistics (A wealth of information from SBA)
                                        Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan - Very good)
                                      
  US Dept of Labor
                                        Bureau of Economic Stats
                                        Outline and Resources (a step-by-step guide, with links to industry resources)
                                        Economic Data (Regional and National)

                         

Food Business

Starting a Food Business
How to Start a Restaurant Business

Starting a Grocery / Convenience Store - A Guide
Starting a Restaurant - A Guide

Exporting

A Basic Guide
Global Business Information

Other Businesses

Cosmetics-FDA Regulations

Trade Shows

All about Trade Shows

                              Multi Level Marketing

                                         Is it legal or not?

UPC Bar Codes and SIC Codes

All about UPC Bar Codes
SIC Codes

        


RESOURCES FOR INTERNET BUSINESSES

E-Commerce and E-Business         

Doing Business on the Internet
SBA E-Business Institute (Online Training Courses,
Workshops and Guides)
E-Commerce Guide

 

 

                                                                                                                                    

Last revised 04/22/2010