Selected Small Business Web Sites

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Selected Small Business Websites

by David R. Small, SCORE Chapter 422, Brockton, MA. (revised 02/22/08)

Business Plans:
home3.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness/tool/biz_plan/: This site is authoritative and absolutely complete. In an easy to follow and understand approach, it contains everything needed for planning to start a business, including sample plans and downloadable worksheets for all financials. When you enter the site, be sure you search it completely and open all the active internal links, because it contains so much, one has to be careful not to miss anything. On the home page, go to: "Small Business /Access Information /Starting a Business /Create an Effective Business Plan" and then examine in order, all the connections available at each of the main sections in the table at the bottom of the page.
www./bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness
www.jian.com
www.toolkit.cch.com/
www.Inc.com
www.quicken.com/small_business
smallbusiness.yahoo.com
www.guru.com
www.bizcoach.org/start.htm
www.Bplans.com
www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html
www.sba.gov/sbdc
www.businessplans.org: Particularly clear financials presentations with examples.
www.howstuffworks.com: This site is particularly loaded with all kinds of valuable links to small business interest topics such as Franchising, Business Plans and Patents.
www.BizPlanIt.com
www.office.microsoft.com
www.myownbusiness.org: Excellent free online detailed course in BP writing and everything related.
www.innovateurs.com/models.html: Free complete templates for sophisticated b-plans.
www.caycon.com: Guide for serious advanced business planners.
www.va-interactive.com/score/businessplan/businessplan.html

Not For Profit business: www.benevon.com/ www.idealist.org/
www.lvdv.com
www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/nonprofit.shtml: Enter your own state.
www.nonprofits.org/if/idealist/en/Home/default

www.retailowner.com/
websearch.about.com/od/invisibleweb/a/invisible_web.htm

Starting a Small Business:
www.sba.gov
app1.sba.gov/training/sbprimer/index.html: Primer course for startup from concept to operation
www.score.org
www.isquare.com/
tenonline.org/sref.html
www.nfibonline.com/
www.corporate.com
www.workz.com
www.bizmove.com
www.allbusiness.com
www.members.tripod.com/houbc
www.entreworld.org
www.office.com
www.about.com
www.entrepreneur.com
www.state.ma.us/mobd
www.smbtn.com
www.chamberbiz.com
www.startupjournal.com
www.hud.gov/groups/smallbusiness.cfm
msbdc.som.umass.edu
www.state.MA.US/mobd
ww.smalloffice.com
www.onvia.com
www.sba.gov/library/pubs.html
smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-mainCat-m-1-getting_started-i
smallbusiness.yahoo.com

Record Keeping and Accounting
tenonline.org/art/bsr.html: Excellent series of articles by SCORE counselor Ed Zimmer.
tenonline.org/art/bsr/9712.html: Popular statement of Basic Accounting from above list.
www.office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates
www.edwardlowe.org

General Information Sources:
www.caycon.com/resources.php: Excellent all-inclusive huge resource site.
www.score.org/template_gallery.html: Templates with detailed how-to guides for every conceivable startup activity -- an outstanding resource.
www.Business.com
www.business.gov
www.thomasregister.com
www.directories.com
www.tsnn.com
www.bigstep.com
www.businessEKG.org
www.e-cityhall.com: Zoning Info.
www.bizstats.com: Business statistics of interest to small business startup entrepreneurs.
www.ebmagz.com
www.bbb.com: Better Business Bureau
www.ISORegistered.com
www.lowe.org
www.bcentral.com
www.allbusiness.com: Wide range of small biz information.
www.nifb.org
www.coursejunction.com: Clearing house source of valuable education courses in all formats.
www.itssimple.biz/biz_tools: Another huge source of valuable info, it covers all the bases.
www.businessknowhow.com
www.ripoffreport.com: The name says it all
www.tannedfeet.com
www.infousa.com
www.psmj.com

Marketing, Advertising Sales:
www.score.org/intranet/resources/markaz.html: This is a member's only site that requires their ID and password.
www.score.org/intranet/resources/fundamentals.html
www.score.org/intranet/resources/10comm.html
www.knowthis.com
www.imarketinc.com
www.marketitright.com
www.sprinks.com
www.justsell.com
www.getpress.com
www.yudkin.com
www.gmarketing.com
www.gmarketingcoach.com
www.bcentral.com
www.bizweb2000.com
www.SmallTownMarketing.com
sbs.dnb.com
www.bettermanagement.com
www.marketresearch.com
www.quirks.com
www.marketsegment.com
www.bni.com
www.presentations.com
www.zdnet.com/presentations
www.zoomerang.com
www.supersurvey.com
www.intellicontact.com/index.php
wilsonweb.com: Excellent authoritative source for all e-commerce marketing questions.
www.independent-sales-reps.com/: Source for connecting with sales reps.
www.sellingselling.com
www.marketingprofs.com
www.marketingpower.com
www.gmarketing.com

Suppliers/Purchasing:
www.isquare.com
www.napm.org
www.smallbusiness.com
www.ThomasRegister.com
www.thomasglobal.com

Trade Show Information:
www.globalsources.com/TRADESHW/TRDSHFRM.HTM
www.apparelnews.net/TradeShows/
www.buyerzone.com
www.tsnn.com
www.exhibitions-world.com
www.idgworldexpo.com
www.techweb.com/calendar
www.websiteestates.com/tradeshows.html
www.tradegroup.com/resources/showdirectories.htm
www.tradeshowadvisor.com/resources/directories.html
www.mmaweb.com/meetings/Directory/tradesearchnfr.html
www.arhs.net/related/trade+show+directory
www.pcma.org
www.conventionplanner.com
www.creative-expos.com
www.e3expo.com
www.comnetexpo.com
www.guerrilla-guide.com
www.festivalnet.com: Crafts fairs and events.
www2.tradepub.com/free/fq
www.dmnews.com

Insurance references:
www.iii.org: Click on: Business
www.nfib.com
www.AIG.com
www.EHSmanager.com
www.hiaa.org/consumer/guides.htm: Small-Group Health Insurance Guide.
www.healthinsuranceinfo.net: By States.
www.eHealthInsurance.com: Research, compare, apply and purchase Health Ins.
www.workerscompensation.com/businesscenter

Payroll Outsourcing:
www.paychex.com
www.ebs.adp.com
www.wellsfargo.com/biz
www.surepayroll.com
www.paymaxx.com
www.payroll.com/services

Lists Sources:
www.GreatLists.com
www.hdml.com
www.caldwell-list.com
www.mnileads.com
www.infousa.com

Manufacturing Business & Manufacturers Representatives:
www.mep.nist.gov
www.independent-sales-reps.com
www.unitedsalesagents.org
www.greatrep.com
www.MANAonline.org
www.Replink.com
www.mrpusa.com

Women's Business Sites; Center for Women & Enterprise:
www.onlinewbc.org
www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wbcs.html
www.sba.gov/services/specialaudiences
www.cweboston.org
www.discoverbusiness.com
www.nawbo.org
www.springboardenterprises.org
www.nwbc.gov
www.wfn.com
www.womensventurefund.org
www.wtc-sf.org

Minority and Disadvantaged Business Assistance:
www.mbda.gov
www.ushcc.com
www.website1.com/aamb

Find Competition:
froogle.google.com: Look for competitor's products and pricing.

Financing Sites:
www.inc.com/guides
www.score.org/workshops/business_angel.html
www.inc.com/articles/details
www.sba.gov/financing/frprequal.html
www.sba.gov/financing/frcdc504.html
tenonline.org/sref/jg2.html
www.workingcapital.org
www.seedcorp.com: Applies to SE MA area users.
massdevelopment.com
www.BankRate.com
www.capital-connection.com
www.livecapital.com
www.businessfinance.com
www.garage.com
www.businessekg.org
www.bankofamerica.com
www.wellsfargo.com
www.fdncenter.org: About foundations.
www.blxonline.com
www.innovativebank.com

Leasing:
www.elaonline.com
www.GEsmallbusiness.com
www.TrinityBusinessGroup.com

Research and Development:
sba.gov/sbir
www.sba.gov/advo/research

Franchising Sites:
www.howstuffworks.com/franchising.htm
www.frandata.com
www.startupjournal.com
www.bizstats.com
www.franchiseregistry.com

Franchises for Sale:
www.franchise.org
www.bison1.com/acad/acad-assoc.html
www.frannet.com
www.franchisehandbook.com/directory/
www.entrepreneur.com/Franchise_Zone/FZ_FrontDoor/0,4670,,00.html
www.score.org/cgi/third_party.cgi?url=http%3A/franchiseemporium.com

Venture Capital
www.garage.com
ace-net.sr.unh.edu/pub
vfinance.com
www.venturereporter.net
www.dfi.com
www.focusventures.com
www.3i.com
www.humwin.com
www.battery.com
www.jafco.com
www.trinityventures.com
www.atv.com

Grant Application Guide Sites:
www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/
www.cfda.gov: Wonderful guide to government programs.
www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html: SBA grant programs
12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html
www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm
www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/
www.fdncenter.org
www.escus.org
www.guidestar.org/
www.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr.html
govbenefits.gov/govbenefits/index.jhtml
www.kauffman.org
www.moneyfunding.com: Lots about grants but some links are off topic.
agwa.us
www.grantwriters.org/resources/ethics.htm
www.stellargrants.com
www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/
www.learnerassociates/net/proposal/">
www.proposalwrite.com/grants.html
www.lindasanchez.house.gov/index.cfm?section=services&service=grants
www.un.org/Depts/dhl/sflib/libmgnt/grantproposals.htm
foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/
www.research.ku.edu/kucr/howto/writing.shtml
tigger.nic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/proposals/
www.willamette.edu/dept/saga/carson/tips.htm
www.umass.edu/research/ora/dev.html
research.microsoft.com/Users/simonpj/papers/Proposal.html
www.scorepdx.org/pdf_4/BRC_4_Ha.pdf

Human Resources and Employment:
aipb.org: Evaluating prospective bookkeepers.
www.hrzone.com
www.sba.gov/library/pubs/pm-2.txt
www.acinet.org/acinet/licensedoccupations: Occupation licensing directory for all states

Patents, Trademarks and Inventions:
tenonline.org/sref/jp1.html
www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm
uspto.gov
www.ftc.gov
www.loc.gov: Click on Copyright Office.
www.patentcafe.com
www.willitsell.com
www.iplex.com
www.pl-x.com
www.aipla.org
www.howstuffworks.com/patent.htm
www.micropatent.com
www.trademark.com
www.nolo.com
www.patentpending.com
www.cpl.lib.uic.edu
www.cpl.li.uic.edu/cpl.html
www.patents.com/copyright.htm
www.patents.com/weblaw.htm
www.fplc.edu/tfield/copynet.htm - TOC
www.les.org
tenonline.org/art/0402.html
www.loc.gov/copyright
www.gettyimages.com/
www.inventorsalliance.org/index.cgi?ba

Consulting Business:
tenonline.org/sref/ap3.html
tenonline.org/sref/ap2.html
www.escus.org/flash/index.html: Non-profits consulting.
www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/research
www.Intranets.com
www.CPAdirectory.com

Buying and Selling a Business:
www.freeman-assoc.com
www.mergernetwork.com
www.usbx.com
www.nationalist.com
www.lycos.diomo.com/index.asp?.cat=View
www.scorepdx.org/pdf_4/BRC_4_K.pdf: Comprehensive SCORE chapter reference for this topic
www.bizbuysell.com

Real Estate Sites:
www.icsc.org
www.boma.org
www.naiop.org

Federal and State Government Procurement, Contracts and Subcontracts, Compliance, Regulations:
pro-net.sba.gov
web.sba.gov/subnet
www.mac.doc.gov
www.sba.gov/hubzone
www.sba.gov/library/pubs.html
www.sba.gov/library/forms.html
www.comm-pass.com
www.state.ma.us: Substitute any state letters to access that state's central info.
www.business.gov: Links to all Federal Government business services.
www.rcacwv.com/home.html
www.firstgov.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml
www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm: Local Government Directory
www.ccr.gov/: Central contractor register National Registration
www.dnb.com/us/: DUNS number free registration
www.fedbizopps.gov/: E posting for government bids
www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home: General services site for doing govt. biz
www.sba.gov/subnet: SBA subcontracting network
www.neco.navy.mil/: Electronic contracting navy
www.gsa.gov/: Buying from and selling to the government
www.govcon.com: If a minority, get status certified by the government--SBA can help
www.tsn.wes.army.mil/: Services e bid site for tri services
www.exostar.com/: Internet based procurement
www.ccr.gov/: Government/Central Contract Register
www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home/: General services admin.. guide to doing govt. biz
www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html: NAICS look up guide
www.govcon.com/
www.sba.gov/GC/whatwedo.html
www.nwbc.gov/
www.nwbc.gov/
www.womenbiz.gov/
www.usa.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml
www.mbda.gov/?section_id=4&bucket_id=150&content_id=2362&well=entire_page: For small minority and woman business access to GSA National Procurement Activities,
www.gsa.gov/oed

Small, Disadvantaged Business:
www.hud.gov/offices/osdbu/index.cfm
www.sba.gov/sdb/

Small Business Size Standards:
www.sba.gov/size

Taxes:
www.tax.gov
www.irs.ustreas.gov/business/: Click on Small Business/Self Employed
www.irs.gov/formspubs/: IRS forms and publications
www.payrolltaxes.com
www.dor.state.ma.us/: MA state withholding taxes
www.smbiz.com
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p531.pdf
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8027.pdf
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1875.pdf

Publications:
www.sba.gov/library/pubs.html

Statistical Reports:
www.sba.gov/advo
www.fedstats.gov

Export:
Export.gov
USAtrade.gov
www.tda.gov
www.SBA.gov/oit
www.globalpg.com
www.state.ma.us/export
www.Exporthotline.com
www.sbea.com
www.exportsbdc.org

Legal Information References:
www.findlaw.com
www.corporate.com
www.willitsell.com
www.BusinessLaw.gov
www.nolo.com
www.Freeadvice.com
www.SmartAgreements.com
www.legalzoom.com: Complete standard legal services on-line including fixed pricing lists
www.insiderreports.com/LEGALFRM/B10193.htm
www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/englib/pdf/C-410-02a.pdf
virginiadot.org/business/const/forms-main.asp
store.construction-businessforms.com/coprfocobidf.html
www.smallbizresource.com/finance-legal
www.abanet.org: American Bar Association home page--References to legal profession
www.acinet.org/acinet/licensedoccupations
www.acinet.org/acinet/licensedoccupations: All States Occupation Licensing Information)

E-Commerce (entry level):
www.bigstep.com
www.freemerchant.com
store.yahoo.com
www.gobizgo.com
www.vastweb.com
www.swapsmarts.com/home.asp
www.elance.com
www.wilsonweb.com/art/ecomm/window-display.htm

Full Service Host Providers for E-Commerce:
www.powweb.com
www.ipservices.att.com/sbh23
www.dellhost.com
www.ibm.com/services/webhosting
www.interland.com
www.hostcentric.com
www.verio.com
www.Yet2.com
www.icdsoft.com/hosting.php
www.hostglobal.com
www.hottesthosts.com
www.tophosts.com
www.globalhosting.com
www.ipowerweb.com

Website Services including Credit Card Services:
www.1and1.com
www.netmechanics.com
www.zdnet.com/enterprise
www.techweb.com/netbiz
www.builder.com
searchenginewatch.com/webmasters
www.networksolutions.com
www.godaddy.com
buildit.sitesell.com/main/home.html
gobigstep.com
www.2checkout.com: All these credit card sites need individual checking for fees and successful references.
www.chexelle.com
www.biz-cashflow.com
www.nase.org/
www.paypal.com/
www.shoppingcart.com
www.cybercash.com
www.vanserv.com
intellepay.com
www.paymenttech.com
www.hitslink.com
websitebuildermagazine.com

Website Hosting Services Directory (and Low Cost Hosting Sites):
thewhir.com: The Web Host Industry Review, a magazine of the industry.
www.register.com/hosting/
www.icdsoft.com
www.racknebula.com
www.pair.com
www.dreamhost.com

Website Enabled Database Software:
www.weboffice.com/EN/Home/
www.dbqwiksite.com/
www.quickbase.com/p/home.asp
www.server-technology.com/index.jsp: Professional
www.callcentermagazine.com/: Overall Information Source
www.salesprocrm.com/

General E-Commerce:
www.IBM.com/smallbusiness
www.fedexecommerce.com
www.ec.ups.com
www.e-commerce.com
www.howstuffworks.com
www.internet.com
www.wilsonweb.com: Excellent all-inclusive web marketing and e-commerce guide.
sbdcnet.utsa.edu/SBIC/e-com.htm: Very detailed listing of e-commerce reference sites.
www.dirtyworksolutions.com/: Very interesting traffic building aid.
adwords.google.com

Shipping:
www.stamps.com

Payment:
www.paypal.com
www.shoppingcartindex.com

Returns and Replacements:
www.thereturnexchange.com

Note:
The above list has enough content and internal links to make anyone knowing all of it ready for an instant MBA degree!! The references are for information only without implied endorsement by the compiler. Any user should explore the sites and decide independently which seem suitable for a specific application. There are numerous links associated with each site that should not be overlooked because they provide very valuable additional related information.

Inclusion here in no way implies site endorsement by compiler or SCORE. This is just a compilation for users to look through and make their own judgments as to whether the content is valuable and the site providers are reliable. (It is always possible that a few of the sites may have been withdrawn since this list was begun, but the vast majority is still active. New sites are constantly being added. In the compiler's opinion, they collectively offer tons of valuable information, ideas, suggestions and guidance for users to browse through and use as they see fit.)

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