Here are some helpful links to business resources for your business and marketing plan.
Best Business Web Sites: Small Business
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee
Small Business Maintained by
Penny Scott
University of San Francisco
plscott at usfca.edu
For a resource guide about answering basic reference questions related to this topic, see the BRASS Core Competencies for Business Reference web page on Small Business.
Business Week: SmallBiz
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/index.html
A section of the Business Week web site, this resource offers tips, advice, and encouragement to small business owners in the form of articles in a number of categories, including Getting Started, Sales and Marketing, Success Stories, and more. Also includes the content of the larger Business Week site.
Entrepreneur.Com: The Online Small Business Authority
http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizstartups/index.html
Maintained by Entrepreneur Magazine to support new business ideas and growing companies, it contains selected articles from the publication and resources for business developers. EntrepreneurAssist is a free tool for new business owners to use to save articles, download forms, and more.
Edward Lowe Peerspectives
http://www.edwardlowe.org/index.elf
Homepage of the Edward Lowe Foundation, devoted to championing the entrepreneurial spirit. Lowe, the inventor of Kitty Litter, established the foundation to promote his philosophy of fostering and nurturing the American entrepreneur. This treasure chest contains a "quick search" area for finance, human resources, leadership and management, legal issues, marketing, operations and technology. Information resources area includes business builders and best business links.
Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/guide/guide2/
The 3rd edition of a guide compiled by the staff of the Business Reference Services' Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress. Contents include: "Introduction, Getting Started, Raising Capital, Managing Your Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Doing Business with Government, International Opportunities, Research and Information Gathering, Looking At the Numbers, Handbooks and Guides, Information about Companies, Indexes, Databases, Other Information Sources, Keeping Current, and Index."
Entrepreneurship
Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership http://www.entrepreneurship.org/
This site is a collaboration between the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), and consists of information and resources on best practices in global entrepreneurial leadership.
Fambiz.Com
http://fambiz.com
"The Web's Leading Resource for Family Business Executives & Owners." This site tailors its information to family-controlled companies. The Family Business Search Engine provides 300 family business articles covering such topics as Inter-Generational Issues, Sibling Rivalry, Strategic Planning and Non-Family Managers/Employees. It also links to other family business sites and "Best of the Web" articles.
Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com
A fun approach to serious business. Developed by successful entrepreneurs and authors of published guides on forming and running a business, they include resources, ideas, practical advice, business news, and humor to make an entertaining site. Business site links are summarized and reviewed. There are serious, yet informative sections (e.g., "Y2K and Small Business"), as well as your "Biz Horoscope."
Online Women's Business Center
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html
Created in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership, this is an interactive business training web site for entrepreneurial women dedicated to the development of professional and personal skills. Content sections are marketing, finance, management, technology and procurement.
Patent Cafe
http://www.patentcafe.com
A menu approach from Patent Cafe: World's Gateway to Inventor's Resources. Selections include patents and trademarks, resources for invention and innovation, manufacturers and suppliers, U.S. Government Offices, international inventors, and a link to Inventive Kids Cafe for science research. Includes a search engine and FAQ link for guidance and helpful tips on how market new products and inventions.
The Riley Guide: Steps in Starting Your Own Business
http://www.rileyguide.com/steps.html
The Riley Guide, by Margaret F. Dikel, is a great resource for all things employment related. This site deals with small business concerns, and Dikel speaks from experience, since she is self-employed. Includes links on funding, legal concerns, getting started, and getting help.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
http://www.score.org
The SCORE organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. The organization offers counseling and workshops to business owners.
StartupNation
http://www.startupnation.com/index.asp
A great site for entrepreneurs and would-be business owners, this site has it all; community space, articles, podcasts, online seminars and other information on all things small business.
U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov
Official starting point for resources and programs offered by the SBA. Begins with Starting Your Business, Financing Your Business, and, Expanding Your Business. Includes links to most frequently asked startup questions (FAQs), informative articles, a startup kit, and locations of Small Business Development Centers throughout the U.S. The primary destination for seeking financing. BusinessLINC ("Learning, Information, Networking, Collaboration") site contains business plans and a mentors network.
U.S. Business Administration
http://www.business.gov
A government site devoted to supporting small business concerns. Provides the basics, such as starting your business, hiring employees, legal and tax considerations, and other information. Provides a section for minority- and women-owned small businesspeople. Also includes a topical section on small business issues, such as disaster recovery, and a section on getting out, for those who want to make a change.
Last updated: 03/09/09
List originally compiled by Glenda Neely, University of Louisville
Previously maintained by Doug Highsmith, California State University, Hayward
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee
Best Business Web Sites: Small Business
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee
Small Business Maintained by
Penny Scott
University of San Francisco
plscott at usfca.edu
For a resource guide about answering basic reference questions related to this topic, see the BRASS Core Competencies for Business Reference web page on Small Business.
Business Week: SmallBiz
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/index.html
A section of the Business Week web site, this resource offers tips, advice, and encouragement to small business owners in the form of articles in a number of categories, including Getting Started, Sales and Marketing, Success Stories, and more. Also includes the content of the larger Business Week site.
Entrepreneur.Com: The Online Small Business Authority
http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizstartups/index.html
Maintained by Entrepreneur Magazine to support new business ideas and growing companies, it contains selected articles from the publication and resources for business developers. EntrepreneurAssist is a free tool for new business owners to use to save articles, download forms, and more.
Edward Lowe Peerspectives
http://www.edwardlowe.org/index.elf
Homepage of the Edward Lowe Foundation, devoted to championing the entrepreneurial spirit. Lowe, the inventor of Kitty Litter, established the foundation to promote his philosophy of fostering and nurturing the American entrepreneur. This treasure chest contains a "quick search" area for finance, human resources, leadership and management, legal issues, marketing, operations and technology. Information resources area includes business builders and best business links.
Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/guide/guide2/
The 3rd edition of a guide compiled by the staff of the Business Reference Services' Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress. Contents include: "Introduction, Getting Started, Raising Capital, Managing Your Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Doing Business with Government, International Opportunities, Research and Information Gathering, Looking At the Numbers, Handbooks and Guides, Information about Companies, Indexes, Databases, Other Information Sources, Keeping Current, and Index."
Entrepreneurship
Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership http://www.entrepreneurship.org/
This site is a collaboration between the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), and consists of information and resources on best practices in global entrepreneurial leadership.
Fambiz.Com
http://fambiz.com
"The Web's Leading Resource for Family Business Executives & Owners." This site tailors its information to family-controlled companies. The Family Business Search Engine provides 300 family business articles covering such topics as Inter-Generational Issues, Sibling Rivalry, Strategic Planning and Non-Family Managers/Employees. It also links to other family business sites and "Best of the Web" articles.
Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com
A fun approach to serious business. Developed by successful entrepreneurs and authors of published guides on forming and running a business, they include resources, ideas, practical advice, business news, and humor to make an entertaining site. Business site links are summarized and reviewed. There are serious, yet informative sections (e.g., "Y2K and Small Business"), as well as your "Biz Horoscope."
Online Women's Business Center
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html
Created in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership, this is an interactive business training web site for entrepreneurial women dedicated to the development of professional and personal skills. Content sections are marketing, finance, management, technology and procurement.
Patent Cafe
http://www.patentcafe.com
A menu approach from Patent Cafe: World's Gateway to Inventor's Resources. Selections include patents and trademarks, resources for invention and innovation, manufacturers and suppliers, U.S. Government Offices, international inventors, and a link to Inventive Kids Cafe for science research. Includes a search engine and FAQ link for guidance and helpful tips on how market new products and inventions.
The Riley Guide: Steps in Starting Your Own Business
http://www.rileyguide.com/steps.html
The Riley Guide, by Margaret F. Dikel, is a great resource for all things employment related. This site deals with small business concerns, and Dikel speaks from experience, since she is self-employed. Includes links on funding, legal concerns, getting started, and getting help.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
http://www.score.org
The SCORE organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. The organization offers counseling and workshops to business owners.
StartupNation
http://www.startupnation.com/index.asp
A great site for entrepreneurs and would-be business owners, this site has it all; community space, articles, podcasts, online seminars and other information on all things small business.
U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov
Official starting point for resources and programs offered by the SBA. Begins with Starting Your Business, Financing Your Business, and, Expanding Your Business. Includes links to most frequently asked startup questions (FAQs), informative articles, a startup kit, and locations of Small Business Development Centers throughout the U.S. The primary destination for seeking financing. BusinessLINC ("Learning, Information, Networking, Collaboration") site contains business plans and a mentors network.
U.S. Business Administration
http://www.business.gov
A government site devoted to supporting small business concerns. Provides the basics, such as starting your business, hiring employees, legal and tax considerations, and other information. Provides a section for minority- and women-owned small businesspeople. Also includes a topical section on small business issues, such as disaster recovery, and a section on getting out, for those who want to make a change.
Last updated: 03/09/09
List originally compiled by Glenda Neely, University of Louisville
Previously maintained by Doug Highsmith, California State University, Hayward
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee