When you're starting a business, where do you go to get the help, advice and tools you need? There are plenty of resources out there -- so many, in fact, that you might have trouble sorting through them all. We cut through the clutter, selecting 25 essential resources for startup small-business owners.
1. Small Business Administration. Find information, links and resources to help you start and grow your business, including SBA-guaranteed loans.
2. SCORE. Get matched with an experienced SCORE mentor to receive free counseling and advice, in person or online.
3. Small Business Development Centers. Expert business advisors at the SBDC near you can help with all aspects of starting and growing your business -- for free. And don't forget the Women's Business Centers.
4. International Franchise Association. Considering buying a franchise? Start your search at this site, which includes information, resources and links to help you find the right one.
5. BizBuySell. Looking to buy a business? This site includes listings nationwide and helps you find businesses for sale as well as business brokers in your area.
6. Bplans. Learn from 500-plus free business plan templates, read useful articles and buy best-selling business plan software Business Plan Pro.
7. Microsoft Office 2010. Make this essential business suite even better by integrating it with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 for easy collaboration, file sharing and remote data access.
8. The Company Corporation. Make incorporating or forming an LLC easy: This site handles all the filing and paperwork for you.
9. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Need to file for a patent, trademark or copyright? This site has the resources, answers and tools you need.
10. VentureBeat. Described by The New York Times as one of the best blogs on the Web, VentureBeat covers the venture capital industry. VentureBeat keeps those seeking investment capital "in the know" on who got funded from whom, also providing the latest on hot industries like mobile technology, social networking and green business.
11. CharityNavigator. We all realize how important it is to give back, but it's hard to know the best (and most legitimate) causes to donate to. Charity Navigator is the nation's largest charity evaluator, rating and evaluating the financial health of over 5,500 national charities.
12. American FactFinder. Get your market research started with U.S. Census and other demographic data in an easy-to-use form.
13. FedStats. Statistics from more than 100 federal government agencies to help in your market research.
14. IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center. Stay on the right side of the tax code with the latest tax news and forms.
15. FindLaw Small Business Center. Get legal forms, find answers to common legal questions and even search for lawyers at this site.
16. Employment Law Information Network. Information and advice on federal and state employment law, including guidebooks on and sample policies for all aspects of HR.
17. BuyerZone. Ready to equip your startup by buying business products and services? Visit this site to research your options and connect with sellers.
18. TopTenReviews. Before you buy or upgrade your tech tools, read the reviews here.
19. MarketingProfs. Articles, guides and resources covering everything you need to know about marketing, from creating ad copy to attending trade shows.
20. PRLog. Distribute press releases to major search engines for free at this site, which also offers tools and guides to help you write releases that get results.
21. Evernote. Bid bye-bye to Post-it notes with this app that lets you capture notes, ideas, photos and links in the cloud and search and access them quickly from all your devices.
22. Capturengo. No more typing (or losing key data) with this app that captures business cards and receipts on your smartphone and stores them in the cloud.
23. Vlingo. Make driving and working safer with this free voice interface tool that lets you browse the Web, dictate texts, e-mails and actions, or find contacts by speaking into your smartphone.
24. GoPayment. Boost cash flow and convenience by using your smartphone to accept credit cards on the go, whether at a customer's location, trade show or event.
25. FreeDigitalPhotos.net. Whether you need an image for marketing materials, business projects or your website, it's often too expensive to hire a photographer or use a stock photo house. This site boasts thousands of images available for free download and limited use (higher-resolution pictures are extra). Check with the site for any other restrictions.
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Comments:
Great list, thank you!
I have used PRlog and would definitely recommend it whether your site needs initial backlinks and visits other than exposure. After a couple of weeks, it gives about 10,000+ results on phrase match search when your article is approved. Of course it depends on the topic of your press release. Thus, it is an inexpensive way to build publicity or your product or company.
As a SCORE marketing instructor and mentor for over 8 years, I'm glad we made it into the second position. Most SCORE offices around the country, including ours in Seattle, offer some free and many low-cost workshops on a wide variety of small business topics. They can be a great starting point if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the information out there.
As a resource for your startup business I think it is necessary to take a logo that inspire the company activity. A great resources for company logo and business cards at low prices you can find here: http://www.smartylogo.com
SourceLink is also in Tulsa, St. Louis, and other regions throughout the United States. It's great to use when trying to find out what business resources are available. When franchises are set up, SourceLink is a great source to find out what local and state permits are needed, and where to get them. ussourcelink.com
These are all extremely useful resources. Thanks for sharing!
What about Google Docs? Granted I don't use them a ton but I know that it's a great way to share and host documents, calendars, etc. and collaborate if employees are working from separate spaces.
I have to agree - with knowledge comes confidence and of course, inspiration. I read so much and its so nice to be able to offer thoughts/advice to people higher up that don't read or keep up on the newest practices. I feel like this actually very underutilized.
In our town--Kansas City--we also have a local resource called KCSourceLink that helps folks find business resources close to home--local SCORE chapters, SBDCs, incubators, and other nonprofits--and lets them know how they can help their business. If all entrepreneurship is local, then this kind of on-the-ground resource is vital for small businesses and those that serve them.
As Lisa pointed out, learn from those that have come before you. Entrepreneurs genuinely like helping people get started and you will find them to be a great resource for information and advice. Rob www.MileHighBusinessPlans.com
All great, and very specific, resources. In addition, I'd suggest a few generic ones as well. READ, READ, READ! Read like crazy! A couple of great business authors who "get it" that you can start with are Michael E. Gerber and Jim Collins. The Guerilla Marketing books are also good ones. And throw in some Zig Ziglar to keep your motivation up and your perspective straight. I'd also suggest talking with as many small business owners as you know... or don't know, for that matter. I've found that, regardless of the industry, small business owners from across the spectrum can offer universal advice and wisdom about running and owning your own business. Lisa www.StartYourOwnSmallBiz.com
Love your list here and thanks for sharing. I just wonder why you haven't included social networking sites as these can be great ways to do market research if you're bootstrapping.
There is a really interesting website that just launched called Businessmic.com. Essentially, it is a way for entrepreneurs to post their ideas online to tons of investors. Entrepreneurs are allowed to create a short video that showcases their idea, whether it be a brand new technology, a business plan, or an improvement to an existing product. Meanwhile, investors can sort through videos based on criteria such as industry and amount of funding requested. Since it just started, now is a perfect time to get your idea heard first. Also, for a limited time, they are allowing you to upload your video for only one penny!
Great resource here. Can I suggest a funding tool for entrepreneurs? A free Lendio (http://www.lendio.com) membership helps match entrepreneurs with the right business loan.