STARTING A BUSINESS
On the Web:
BizBuySell Search for
businesses for sale in the U.S., search by category and location, post
a "biz wanted" notice, find a business broker.
BPlans.com
Sample business and
marketing plans, articles, and an "Ask an Expert" section. Lots of
information. Lots of free advice and sample plans. Software and other products for sale.
Business@Home Online magazine with
articles for the home-based business owner or telecommuter.
California
Businesses For Sale Online Search by type of business, geographic
location, cost, etc. Provides links to other lists of business
for sale, notices of people who want to buy businesses, news, and
more. Updated weekly.
The Company Employee
Handbook This page by page instructional guide is provided by the Online Women's
Business Center Management Institute in partnership with the SBA and
covers just about
everything the business owner needs in an employee handbook, from general policies such as
dress code to the more specific subjects of compensation and benefits.
Morebusiness.com
Provides articles with practical advice and tips for small-business
owners.
Nolo
Press Publishers of a line of self-help legal books, Nolo
offers plenty of free advice for small business. Just click on
the link "Small Business" on the menu under Free Law
Centers for information on small business, employment law, and
independent contractors. Books and software are for sale on
the site.
Personnel Policy
Manuals Created for the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits, these
suggestions and examples of employee handbooks apply equally well to for profit companies. Covers a wide variety
of topics and provides links to related human resources information.
Small Business Administration
Starting and financing a business, business opportunities,
disaster assistance, outside resources, online library--the SBA
provides a wealth of information for the small business owner. The "Outside Resources" links are especially useful.
State of
California Business Page Click on "Business" in
the sidebar menu for the information you need to do business in
California.
Universal Product Code "The mission of the
Uniform Code Council, Inc., is to take a global leadership role in establishing and
promoting multi-industry standards for product identification and related electronic
communication." Here's where you may obtain a bar code or just find information on bar codes such as bar
code consultants, label printing equipment, coupon printers, etc.
Library resources:
Some recommended reading:
- How to Set Up Your Own Small Business
Basic principles of getting into, and operating a small business written in
clear, simple style. Specific, detailed financial and operating data. Organized by topic
including market research, forecasting purchasing, advertising, site selection, etc.
- Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business by
Fred Steingold
Easy to understand guide that takes you through all
the steps necessary to start your own business. Includes a
variety of business forms.
- Small Business Sourcebook by Gale
Research
Comprehensive guide to
information sources for small business. Profiles of associations, reference works,
educational programs, trade shows and conventions, franchises, Internet databases,
libraries, etc.; lists sources on general business topics such as newspapers and journals,
computer software, consultants; sources of state and federal assistance. Published
annually.
Other titles include the following (click on a title to view the
availability status or to place a hold on the title):
Go to the
Library Catalog
FINANCING THE BUSINESS
On the Web:
America's Business Finance Directory
Database
of lenders and investors; free for businesses looking for capital, fee for lenders to
register.
Direct Stock Market "Provides companies
with immediate access to a community of self-directed, entrepreneurial investors seeking
emerging growth investment opportunities. Utilizing DSM's technology, companies can
evangelize, share company documents, and track and respond immediately to prospective
investors." Also provides services to investors, including learning about and
evaluating new investment opportunities.
Idea Cafe's Financing Your
Business Getting ready for money, financing sources, financing words you need to
know. Much useful information.
InvestorLinks Provides
a list of Web sites that assist business owners in putting together an
IPO. Includes
a brief description of each site. Look under the topic
"Stocks" for the links to "IPO" and "DPO."
Small Business Advisor Information on available
publications and services, links to other business sites.
The Small & Home Based
Business Library The Library states that its
goal "is to provide small & home based business owners a comprehensive business
reference site. It is hoped that any question one might have about small & home based
business can be answered here." The site does a good job fulfilling the
goal. Topics are arranged in alphabetical order (they use a filing cabinet graphic)
with information ranging from how to write a business plan to a venture capital primer for
small business. Information is also presented clearly and simply with appropriate
examples used to illustrate points.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Full service
information on government loan and assistance programs, financing
tutorials, and more.
Venture Associates General information on
financing small businesses; sections on entrepreneurial financing and business planning.
Books and other products are for sale.
Library Resources:
Click on a title to view the availability status
or to place a hold on the title. Suggested titles on business financing and capital include:
- Government giveaways for entrepreneurs
IV by Matthew Lesko
Lists sources of government funding for small
business owners.
- Small Business Sourcebook
Provides information on all aspects of small
business planning including information on
financing the business.
Other titles include the following (click on
the title to view the availability status or to
place a hold on the title):
Go to the
Library Catalog
FRANCHISES AND TELECOMMUTING
On the Web:
American Association of Franchisees and Dealers
Franchising information including a section on selecting a franchise and fair-franchising
standards.
Be the Boss Current franchise opportunities;
listing of franchise opportunities worldwide; in-depth profiles on franchisers and what
they have to offer; in's, out's and how to's of franchising.
Entrepreneur's
Franchise 500 Current rankings of top franchise
opportunities plus "Best of the Best," "Fastest-Growing
Franchises," "Top New Franchises," "Low Investment
Franchises," and "Top 101 Home-based Franchises."
Federal Trade Commission
Legalities
of franchising.
Franchise Solutions
Get a free
custom list of franchises matching your interests and finances; company also sells
services to business owners.
Library resources:
- Franchise Annual
Categorical listing of franchisers with brief company
description and facts (e.g. franchise fee, number of company owned and number of
franchised units, royalty). Also includes sections on the franchising business, checklists for
investigating a potential franchiser, state regulations, and business opportunity fraud.
Other titles include the following (click on
the title to view the availability status or to
place a hold on the title):
Go to the
Library Catalog
MINORITY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
On the Web:
Advancing Women International
Business & Career Network, Strategy, and Employment For Women.
BizWomen Online community for women in
business to communicate, network, exchange ideas, provide support for each other via the
Internet.
The Black Business Association
Founded in Los
Angeles, the BBA works with corporations and government agencies to secure purchasing
opportunities, trains, mentors, and shares information through seminars, workshops, and
newsletters.
Center for Women's
Business Research Excellent source of knowledge about women
business owners and their enterprises worldwide. Includes
research to document economic and social contributions of
women-owned firms plus consulting and public relations services to
maximize the benefits of this knowledge.
Hispanic Business
Well known magazine
that focuses on the Hispanic businessperson. Provides management advice, trend
tracking, and success stories as well as an excellent set of "Business Links" to
the most useful sites for the small business audience.
HispanSource HispanSource says it is "your
one-stop source for information related to the U.S.
Hispanic/Latino community. Use HispanSource to
develop sound business plans, marketing plans, and
sales strategies. Get the latest research, learn the
latest trends, and get the information you need to
"capture" this exciting and growing market."
Registration required to use the resources but it is
free. The source is recommended by Resource Shelf,
an authoritative Website reviewer.
Minority Business Entrepreneur
Magazine for and
about minority and women business owners.
National Association of Women Business Owners, Los
Angeles Chapter Provides business referrals, management assistance, educational
programs, and networking opportunities. Includes a list of resource links.
Office of Minority
and Women Business Enterprise
Help
for financing, loans, and business development from the government.
Library Resources:
- National minority and women-owned
business directory
The comprehensive source for current
information on federally-certified minority and
woman-owned businesses.
- The big book of minority opportunities:
the directory of special programs for minority
group members
Comprehensive listing of minority programs
available, detailing approximately 3500
opportunities. Entries are arranged under three
main headings: (1) programs for minorities in
specific fields of study; (2) programs offering
support for all minorities in any major; and (3)
programs for persons in any field that are
restricted to a single minority group (Hispanic,
African American, etc.). Latest edition is 1997.
Go to the
Library Catalog
BUSINESS PLANS
On the Web:
Bplans.com
Advice on writing a business plan and different
aspects of starting a business.
Center
for Business Planning Business plan
software, sample business plans, guidelines, and web
resources.
SBA Business Plan Basics From the Small
Business Administration, this page provides
information on writing and using the plan as well as
specific training.
Library Resources:
- Anatomy of a business plan: a
step-by-step guide to building a business and
securing your company's future by Linda
Pinson
Provides a step-by-step process for developing a
polished, professional, and results-oriented
business plan.
-
Business plans handbook: a compilation
of actual business plans developed by small
businesses throughout North America
A comprehensive source which lists 33 actual
service, product, high tech, non-profit, food
virtual reality and other business plans. Does
not include worksheets. Includes a glossary of
small business terms and a resource list of 750
Small Business Development Centers in the United
States and an extensive bibliography of
resources for business owners.
- The small business start-up kit
Information on all aspects of starting a
business, including business planning.
Other sources for business plans (click on
the title to view the availability status or to
place a hold on the title):
Go to the
Library catalog
BUSINESS LAW
On the Web:
The Business
Law Site Run by Methven and Associates,
this page provides information and research links to
a wide variety of legal business topics.
BusinessLaw.gov Legal and regulatory
resources for small businesses, information on
starting a business, and a "Plain English Guides"
section that explains the basics of starting a
business.
Business & Legal Forms From the 'Lectric
Law Library; provides business & general forms (Real
Estate, Corporations, Employment, Contracts, Trusts
and Wills) and Legal Practice forms (focusing on Law
Practice Management, Litigation and related
matters).
Nolo Press Small Business Center Provides
information on the legal aspects of small business,
including topics such as "Small Business Legal
Concerns," "Small Business Legal Structures," and
more.
Library Resources:
Recommended reading for the legal requirements of business:
- How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California by Anthony Mancuso
A
complete guide to incorporation in California. Forms included.
- Incorporate Your Business by Anthony Mancuso
Forms and step-by-step instructions
on forming a corporation at low cost and with a minimum of time and effort.
- Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business by Fred
S.
Steingold Raising money, getting licenses and permits, insurance, negotiating
leases, hiring independent contractors, selecting a business name, resolving legal
disputes, understanding tax rules—it's all here in easy to understand language.
Includes ready–to–copy forms.
- Nolo's Quick LLC by Anthony Mancuso
Explains the advantages
and drawbacks of forming a limited liability corporation (LLC), and how
the LLC compares with running a business as a corporation, partnership
or sole proprietorship.
Go to the Library catalog
On the Library network:
-
Infotrac OneFile
Locate articles on small business. Infotrac is a
large periodicals database featuring the full
text and citations for newspaper and magazine
articles, and includes many business related
publications.
-
Business & Company Resource Center
Search for news and articles on small business.
An extensive business, company and industry
database with news, articles, financial
documents, rankings, company histories, industry
reports, and more.
-
Reference USA
Search for U.S. businesses in this extensive business database searchable
by area (city, state, zip code), type of
business, size of business, and other criteria.
Includes many small local businesses not
typically found in larger company directories.
-
Newsbank
Search for full text newspaper articles on small
business. Consists of two databases:
America’s Newspapers, which indexes the full
text of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune,
Christian Science Monitor, Orange County
Register, San Diego Union-Tribune, USA Today,
the Washington Post, and the San Francisco
Chronicle from roughly 1985 to the present; and
Noticias en Español, which provides full
text articles in Spanish.
-
Associations Unlimited
Locate associations and organizations helpful to
business people. This is the online counterpart
to the multivolume Encyclopedia of
Associations.
Go to the Library's
databases |
