National Business Sites

Government-sponsored Sites

Business.gov

http://www.business.gov
This site is the official business link to the U.S. Government. It will guide you through the maze of government rules and regulations and provides access to services and resources to help you start, grow, and succeed in business. The site offers federal forms, workplace posters, business data and statistics.
Key topic areas include:

• Compliance guides
• Industry-specific Information
• Special sections for minority-owned businesses, non-profits, self-employed, small business, veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses.
• An FAQ for regulations and programs
• A link to the SBA’s Small Business Planner

Federal Citizen Information Center: Small Business Section

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov
There are free publications covering small business publications (download for free or pay $1.00 for shipping/handling).  To access, just click on the Small Business menu on the left side of the home page. You can even sign up for updates via email.  Topics vary, but examples of publications include:

• Advance Fee Business Scams
• Copyright Basics
• Employment Law Guide
• Guide to Business Credit for Women, Minorities, and Small Businesses
• Small Business Resource Guide
• Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop

Internal Revenue Service—IRS

http://irs.gov/businesses/index.html
The IRS has a section devoted just to businesses, offering tax information for the small business owner and the self-employed.  Topics include employer ID numbers, starting a business, operating a business, closing a business, employment taxes, forms and publications, and more.  This is the go-to site for businesses wanted to avoid tax headaches later.  Here are the selections for the topic: What New Business Owners Need to Know About Federal Taxes:

• Is it a Business or a Hobby?
• Selecting a Business Structure
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Business Taxes
• Recordkeeping
• When Do I Start My Tax Year?
• Selecting an Accounting Method
• Checklist for Starting a Business
• Establishing a Retirement Plan
• Small Business Publications

Small Business Administration

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov
This site offers hundreds of publications including a Small Business Planner with articles on planning your business, starting your business, managing your business, and getting out of business. There is also a great section on SBA services, including SBA loan programs (Alaska Pacific can help with this), contract opportunities, disaster assistance, online training, counseling and assistance, and more

Small Business Development Center

http://www.asbdc-us.org
America’s Small Business Development Center Network is the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States. It offers an amazing number of articles, and you can sign up for monthly email newsletters, each focusing on a different type of business (or go to the archives). The mission of the network is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership, and assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. Their “Small Business Information Center” (www.sbdcnet.org) can provide your business with resources covering many topics.  Here is a partial list:

• Business Plans (many for specific types of businesses)
• Company Information
• Demographics
• E-Commerce
• Finance
• Franchise
• Getting started
• Home Business
• Human Resources
• Industry Research
• International Trade
• Inventing
• Marketing
• Procurement
• Small Business Trends
• Taxes and Accounting
• Veterans
• Women and Minorities

USA.gov for Nonprofits

http://www.usa.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml
This is the U.S. Government's official web portal for nonprofit organizations. Here's a summary of the main categories that you’ll find on this site.  Each has its own list of topics:

• Grants, Loans, and Other Assistance
• Management and Operations
• Tax Information for Nonprofits
• Charitable Activities—State Forms and Information

Business Resources from the Private Sector

AllBusiness.com

http://www.allbusiness.com
This all-around great business site offers a variety of resources including business advice, a business directory, how-to articles, expert advice, blogs, business news, product comparisons, business guides, a small business association, and more. Why re-invent the wheel when you can purchase reasonably-priced templates for employee handbooks, sample privacy guides, due diligence checklists, forms and agreements (500 forms are available), and more.  Here are the main categories of the forms they offer for purchase:

• Starting a Business
• Hiring & Firing
• Sales & Marketing
• Money & Fundraising
• Real Estate/Landlord-Tenant
• Intellectual Property
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Internet & Technology
• Business Guides & Forms Kits
• Legal Forms

BusinessTown.com

http://www.businesstown.com
Their motto says it all—start and run a small business without losing your shirt, your sleep, or your sanity! They’ve got straight-to-the-point directory of the many articles they offer, free of charge.  While the full list of topics is too long to list here (over 25), here is a sampling: 

• Accounting (Budget, credit, projections)
• Associations (Business groups to join)
• Book Store (Small business resources)
• Consulting
• Finance (Find, manage, plan)
• Letters & Forms
• Home Business (Ideas, setup, starting)
• Legal (Contracts, employee, property)
• Managing People (Benefits, motivate, review)
• Presentations
• Valuing a Business

Inc.com: The Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs

http://www.inc.com/guides/
This site includes advice and ideas for starting and managing a business—writing a business plan, marketing, law and taxation, setting up an office, developing a web site, writing a business plan, buying a franchise, recruiting employees… the list goes on.  There are also lots of articles from industry experts on a variety of business-related issues. Here is a sampling of topics in their how-to guide:

• Internet in Business
• Business Travel
• Sales
• Marketing and Advertising
• Women in Business
• Personal and Professional Growth
• Human Resources
• Starting a Business
• Global Business
• Finance and Capital
• Writing a Business Plan
• Buying a Business or Franchise
• Running a One-person Business

Business Sites Offered by Nonprofit Organizations

SCORE: "Counselors to America's Small Business"

http://www.score.org/
The Service Corps Of Retired Executives offers counseling for new and established businesses at little or no cost. SCORE has thousands of working and retired executives and business owners who volunteer their time to advise on a variety of business-related subjects.   They offer free online workshops, and they offer over 25 online courses.  Their site also offers hundreds of business how-to articles and tips.  Categories include:

• Starting Your Business
• Growing Your Business
• Managing Your Business
• Technology for Your Business
• Financing Your Business
• 60-second Guides
• Top 5 Business Tips (on a variety of business topics)

National Federation of Independent Businesses

http://www.nfib.com
This web site is home to the largest advocacy organization representing small and independent businesses in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. NFIB's mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. NFIB also gives its members a power in the marketplace. By pooling the purchasing power of its members, the National Federation of Independent Business gives members access to many business products and services at discounted costs. NFIB also provides timely information designed to help small businesses succeed.  They over a “Tools and Tips” section and Ask an Expert online advice.

Small Business Technology Council

http://www.sbtc.org
The Small Business Technology Council is a non-partisan, non-profit industry association of companies dedicated to promoting the creation and growth of research-intensive, technology-based U.S. small business. SBTC is involved in educational activities which include conferences and seminars on government procurement and other education activities for small business, government officials and officials of large companies. SBTC encourages the exchanges of ideas and information on improving the transitioning of research and development (R&D) and technology into the commercial marketplace.

Sites Focused on Helping Minority-owned Businesses

Hispanic Business

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com
This site focuses on serving the special needs of Hispanic business, with a focus on key issues within the news.  There’s a useful “Research” section with access to a variety of research studies pertinent to the Hispanic market and Hispanic-owned businesses.  The “Marketplace” section provides links to Hispanic businesses and services focused on serving Hispanic businesses.

Latin Business Association

http://www.lbausa.com
This is the web site for the largest organization in the United States that represents and promotes the welfare of Latino business owners. Formed in 1976, the organization has members from a wide range of businesses, including financial, manufacturing, professional, and technical industries. The web site includes an online directory of member businesses.

Minority Business Network Services “MBNet.com"

http://www.mbnet.com
This award-winning site offers numerous services to the minority business community, including an online database of over 6,700 minority-owned businesses, a listserv, monthly newsletters, and web visibility for member businesses.

Minority Business Development Agency

http://www.mbda.gov/
MBDA is an entrepreneurially focused and innovative organization committed to wealth creation in minority communities. The agency's mission is to actively promote the growth and competitiveness of large, medium, and small minority business enterprises (MBEs). MBDA actively coordinates and leverages public and private-sector resources that facilitate strategic alliances in support of its mission. This agency provides funding for a network of Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Native American Business Development Centers (NABDCs), and Business Resource Centers (BRCs) located throughout the Nation. The centers provide minority entrepreneurs with one-on-one assistance in writing business plans, marketing, management and technical assistance and financial planning to assure adequate financing for business ventures. The centers are staffed by business specialists who have the knowledge and practical experience needed to run successful and profitable businesses. Business referral services are provided free of charge; however, the network generally charges nominal fees for specific management and technical assistance services. They offer a “Capital and Resource Locator” and a “Business Plan Writer” template as well as a variety of special events. To access most of the services, you must register on their site.

National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

http://www.ncaied.org
Founded in 1969, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is the first national non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation created and directed by American Indians, solely dedicated to developing American Indian economic self-sufficiency through business ownership. The group supplies technical assistance and consulting services in all areas of business development to American Indian owned small businesses and tribal enterprise operations. This site offers information and links for American Indian business owners and entrepreneurs.

NetNoir: Resources for the Black Community

http://www.netnoir.com
This site, which compiles general news and Internet resources for the black community, professionals, entrepreneurs and students, also features a small business channel, which includes a directory of small businesses nationwide and a library of articles.

Small Business Development Center, En Espanol

http://sbdcnet.org/docx/espanol.php
America’s Small Business Development Center Network is the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States. The mission of the network is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership, and assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. They offer an amazing number of business articles—and you can share and exchange tools and documents in Spanish.  There is a search tool for searching in Spanish.

Sites Focused on Helping Women-owned Businesses

Ladies Who Launch

http://www.ladieswholaunch.com
This web site is geared toward women: encouraging entrepreneurship and creativity as a lifestyle.  They offer business incubators in many areas of the country and business workshops.  They even have a section focused on women who want to create and sustain a successful online home business. Here is what they have to say:  Whether you are launching a business, creative hobby, passion or artistic endeavor, Ladies Who Launch gives you the tools, inspiration and network of like-minded, lifestyle-oriented women to make any dream a reality, or take anything you've already launched to new heights. Through our online and in-person incubator programs around the country, Ladies Who Launch harnesses this energy and drops it on your doorstep.

National Association of Women Business Owners

http://www.nawbo.org
The National Association of Women Business Owners propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social, and political spheres of power worldwide.
Business Resource Links include:

• Government Resources
• Growing Your Business
• Legal and Finance
• Build Your Team
• Marketing
• General Info
• Doing Business Internationally

WomanOwned.com

http://www.womenowned.com
This site provides online business information and networking assistance as well as a number of resources for setting up/running/growing businesses.  Another feature is an online search engine of women business owners from every type of industry and from almost every country around the world!  If you’re thinking of starting a business, they offer a start-up quiz to see if you’re ready.  And, you can find out if you’re really ready to be an entrepreneur with another quiz they offer.  One of their most helpful sections is under the “Growing” menu, with a variety of topics including:

• The Business Plan
• Government Resources
• Hiring and Managing Employees
• Funding for Your Business
• Successful Networking
• Upgrading Your Office
• Researching New Markets
• About Internet Legislation
• Managing Your Business
• Promoting Your Business