GENERAL BUSINESS GUIDES

BUSINESS ADVICE RESOURCES

Association of Small Business Development Centers More than 1,100 local SBDC offices extend entrepreneurial education to meet small-business needs through individual counseling, training, and research assistance.

American Franchisee Association National trade association of franchisees and dealers that works to improve the industry of franchising while protecting its members’ economic investments in their businesses.

Digital Women Provides online community for business women worldwide and offers business resources, including information about grants and loans for women-owned businesses.

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives Institute FWE&E’s mission is to accelerate opportunities for women to start, build, and invest in market-leading companies by offering educational programs about entrepreneurship, leadership, and investing to women worldwide.

Minority Business Development Agency Helps connect minority entrepreneurs to capital and markets.

National Association for the Self-Employed Provides resources for sole proprietorships and small businesses that employ up to 10 workers.  It lobbies federal legislators on behalf of its members and offers a range of benefits, including health-insurance plans and business training as well as discounts on office products and travel services.

National Association of Women Business Owners Represents the interests of women entrepreneurs across all industries.  Its NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development seeks to expand the educational opportunities for emerging and established women entrepreneurs.

National Federation of Independent Business Nonprofit, nonpartisan organization represents the consensus views of its members in Washington and all 50 state capitals.  It also serves as a buying group by pooling the purchasing power of its members.

SCORE Association A national network based in Washington, D.C., with more than 10,500 volunteer counselors who have more than 600 business skills.  Volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives, and corporate leaders, who give free advice to entrepreneurs.

Small Business Administration Federal agency provides a wide variety of services and funding to entrepreneurs.

Small Business Development Centers The Small Business Administration operates Small Business Development Centers in every state.

The Kauffman Foundation The foundation is based in Kansas City, Missouri.  Their website has information by and for entrepreneurs.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce The world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions.  It includes hundreds of associations, thousands of local chambers, and more than 100 American Chambers of Commerce in 91 countries.

BUSINESS START-UP RESOURCES

Start-Up Basics

New Business Start Up

Kauffman Foundation’s Fast Trac Business-Development Program

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Finding Start-Up Money for Your New Business

Start-Up Business Financing

How To Find Financing For Your Business

Angel-Capital Education Foundation Website offers list of Angel-Investor Groups which take stakes in start ups that more traditional financiers might shun.

vFinance, Inc.

TECHNICAL ADVICE

Inc. Magazine Articles, all geared to small businesses, help you find a clearing in the technology jungle.  Get advice on hiring technical staff, optimizing your Web site for search engines, and more.  The site also features a look at hot technology and its up-and-coming inventors.

Inc.’s How-to-Guides Guides include “Building a Better Web Site,” “Creating a Great Web Site on the Cheap,” and “Setting Up a Small Business Network,” which shows you how to set up and use a local-area network.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Institute offers small-business-computer security workshops.

Interactive Learning Tutor Online program offers Marketing Toolkit to assist small-business owners learn how to market their businesses online.