A collection of useful resources we have compiled over the years.
Local Manasota Business Resources
- The State of Florida has collected their business related sites at: Florida's Business Portal
- A great collection of legal articles related to small business: Nolo's Web Site
- Chambers of Commerce
- My Florida CFO Business and Professional Services: www.myfloridacfo.com
National Small Business Resources
Notice
Some of the sites suggested below are Commercial in nature. They were selected because of the additional content offered such as subject summaries, guides, resource links or forms. In no way is their inclusion to be considered a SCORE endorsement. Please notify us of any links that have become broken.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND SMALL BUSINESS HELP
- National SCORE Site
- SBA (Small Business Administration)
- SBA's Links of Small Business Publications
- Starting Your Own Business (An excellent online SBA Women's Business Center resource)
- Small Business Tools (Good compilation of subjects)
- Federal Business Resources
- Manatee and Sarasota Counties' Entrepreneur Resources Website
GOVERNMENT & UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE DATABASES
- Official US Government Search Site
- State/Local Governments & Associations (Links to all states)
- IRS - Small Business/Self Employed Information (Federal)
BUSINESS PLANS
- SBA Business Plan Model
- Business Plan Components and Sample Plan (Quicken)
- Writing a Business Plan (Nolo)
- WSJ Creating a Business Plan (Wall Street Journal)
- Another step-by-step Business Plan site (Bplans)
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
Online Incorporation
- Business Filings
- My Corporation
- Amerilawyer (Florida based)
- How to Incorporate for Free
LEGAL ISSUES
(Helpful information but client should consult a lawyer before making any important decisions)
- Business Law and Regulations
- (An excellent SBA site)
- Choosing a Business Name
- Small Business Legal Information (Excellent)
- FTC Guide to Mail or Telephone Order Rule
- Independent Contractors (IRS definition and frequently asked questions about independent contractors)
Copyright, Patents, and Trademarks
Copyrights
- US Copyright Office (Copyright Registration)
- US Copyright search
Patents and Trademarks
- US Patent & Trademark Office (Trademark Registrations and Patent Applications)
- Basic Facts About Trademarks
- Generating New Product Ideas
- WIN Innovation Institute (A helpful site for Innovators and Inventors)
- Provisional Patent Application (Inexpensive method for a small business)
- Patents and Trade Secrets
- Patents Without a Lawyer
Business Insurance
- Business Insurance Information
- Insurance: The Protection of Last Resort
- Sarasota Memorial Health Care System - Varsity Health Charter Plan
- US Department of the Treasury: Health Savings Accounts - FAQs
Commercial Leases
FINANCE
SBA and other Loan
Other Options
Venture Capital
Regulation D
Grants
- NEH Grant Program
- Writing a Grant Proposal
- More Grant information
- Govt. Grants/Assistance
- SBA Grants Program
BUYING A SMALL BUSINESS OR ITS ASSETS
MARKETING
Research/Statistics
- Business & Internet Statistics
- Small Business Statistics (A wealth of information from SBA)
- Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan - Very good)
- US Dept of Labor
- Bureau of Economic Stats
- Outline and Resources (a step-by-step guide, with links to industry resources)
- Economic Data (Regional and National)
Food Business
- Starting a Food Business
- How to Start a Restaurant Business
- Starting a Grocery / Convenience Store - A Guide
- Starting a Restaurant - A Guide
Exporting
Other Businesses
Trade Shows
Multi Level Marketing
UPC Bar Codes and SIC Codes
RESOURCES FOR INTERNET BUSINESSES
E-Commerce and E-Business
- Doing Business on the Internet
- SBA E-Business Institute (Online Training Courses,
- Workshops and Guides)
- E-Commerce Guide