Internet Resources for Small Businesses: From Truck Rentals to Venture Funds
SMALL BUSINESS SURFING
Here is a list of Web resources for small-business owners, compiled from online directories, Small Business Administration publications and the Business Journal’s archives.
& #149; www.adgrafix.com
Adgrafix: Web hosting and e-commerce services.
& #149; www.bcentral.com
A Microsoft site offering e-commerce advice and services.
& #149; www.digitaldaze.com
Digital Daze Internet Services: Web site hosting.
& #149; www.ecxweb.com/partners/bizoffice
E-Commerce Exchange: credit-card processing for e-commerce.
& #149; www.itoolbox.com
The Internet Toolbox: search engine for small business services.
& #149; www.netfirms.com
Web hosting targeting the small business market.
& #149; www.qcaffiliate.com/qc/sunshine/index. html
Security for online credit-card transactions.
& #149; www.mlcwebdesigns.com
Small business Web site design and hosting.
& #149; www.smallbizmanager.com
Reviews and recommendations of small business products and services.
& #149; www.technologybackbone.com
Online transaction processing.
& #149; www.vista.com
E-commerce services for small businesses.
& #149; www.all-ink.com
Sells new Epson- and Canon-compatible inkjet cartridges.
& #149; www.dillonchem.com
Sanitary maintenance products and janitorial supplies.
& #149; www.handtech.com
Computer hardware, software, services and supplies.
& #149; www.hookup.com
Equipment leasing, including machine tool, medical, automotive and computers and other office automation equipment.
& #149; www.officemax.com
OfficeMax’s online site for office supplies.
& #149; www.simplexity.com
Telecom products and services broker.
& #149; www.solutions4sure.com
Computers, peripherals, software, office products, cameras and projectors.
& #149; www.stamps.com
Allows users to print U.S.-approved postage for letters, postcards and packages, directly from their desktop.
& #149; www.staples.com
Staples’ online site for office supplies.
& #149; www.warehouseinabox.com/Portal.html
Sells a bar-coding kit designed for small mail-order businesses and entry-level e-commerce users, to record receipt of orders, track shipments and control inventory.
& #149; www.abiworld.org
Archive of more 6,000 research documents on bankruptcy and credit-related topics, written by scholars in the field of bankruptcy law. Also analyses of current trends and legislation.
& #149; www.BetterLending.com
Hundreds of lenders and thousands of plans and programs. Find out about financing options, special programs and “niche” sources of capital, or get personalized advice by e-mail.
& #149; www.bizposter.com
Service to match high-tech entrepreneurs and investors. Also, access to Entrepreneur Weekly news site.
& #149; www.businessfinance.com
America’s Business Funding Directory: list of potential funding sources for business or real estate projects.
& #149; www.entrepreneurmag.com
Click on Money tab: guide to raising money for your small or home-based business.
& #149; www.findingmoney.com
Advice on how to raise venture capital, how to find angel investors and how to obtain bank loans to start or grow a small business.
& #149; www.inc.com
Click on “Guides” tab and scroll down to Finance and Capital section. Topics include angel investors, bootstrapping and venture capital among others.
& #149; www.livecapital.com
A business-to-business e-marketplace for small business financing where businesses can compare, apply for, and secure financing, including loans, lines of credit, equipment leases, credit cards, and more from many of the nation’s best-known financial institutions. Also, systems for extending credit to businesses’ Web customers.
& #149; www.onecore.com
Application service provider offering financial-services software from cash-flow tracking and management to payroll to credit-card processing.
& #149; www.vfinance.com
The Venture Capital Resource Library: directory of venture capital resources and related services.
& #149; www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html
The Code of Federal Regulations is the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the federal government.
& #149; www.business.gov/busadv/index.cfm
Federal government information, services and transactions.
& #149; www.census.gov
Census Bureau: statistical abstracts of U.S., states and regions.
& #149; www.hoaa.com
Home Office Association of America Web site provides information on home-based and small businesses.
& #149; www.irs.ustreas.gov
Internal Revenue Service Web site.
& #149; www.mbda.gov
Minority Business Development Agency Web site.
& #149; www.nawbo.org
National Association of Women Business Owners site.
& #149; www.nfib.com
National Federation of Independent Business Web site: tools and tips for small businesses and tracking and lobbying of legislation.
& #149; www.ocbc.org
Orange County Business Council Web site.
& #149; www.oc.ca.gov
Orange County’s Web site.
& #149; www.pueblo.gsa.gov/smbuss.htm
Federal Consumer Information Center: provides online versions of books on the legal issues involved in starting and running a small business.
& #149; www.sbaonline.sba.gov
U.S. Small Business Administration provides programs, information and financing for small businesses.
& #149; www.wedc.org
Women’s Enterprise Development Corp.: a non-profit group provides training and support for entrepreneurs.
& #149; ehealthinsurance.com
Site for small businesses and individuals to find health insurance, choosing from more than 4,000 plans from major carriers.
& #149; www.employeepolicies.com
Employee policies on disk: can be customized.
& #149; www.trainingcenter.com
Online computer training.
& #149; www.trainonvideo.com
Video training courses, with a range of computing topics in UNIX, C++, Windows NT and Windows applications.
& #149; www.freeadvice.com
Provides free answers to legal questions.
& #149; www.lawhog.com/smallbusiness.shtml
Small-business law site for the non-lawyer. Answers to common questions, without jargon or legalese, plus ask-a-lawyer forums, discussion groups, and more.
& #149; www.lawguru.com
Articles, FAQs and news about legal issues, forms, list of attorneys, Internet law library. A search on more than 500 legal search engines and tools can also be carried out.
& #149; infoonline.com/videos2.htm
Business, professional and special interest videos, CD-ROMs, and audio cassettes.
& #149; www.allsmallbiz.com
Search engine for small business-related Web sites. Also has an e-mail news service with information relevant to small businesses.
& #149; www.bankrate.com/brm/biz_home.asp
Financial information and links on various issues related to starting and running a small business.
& #149; www.bizoffice.com
Web site for small businesses, with links to several sites offering services to small and home-based businesses.
& #149; www.business.com
Portal for business information.
& #149; www.corporate.com
Information on incorporating, forming an LLC and running a business.
& #149; www.entrepreneurmag.com
Site on how to start and run a small business.
& #149; www.ltbn.com
The Let’s Talk Business Network: audio programs, resources, links, FAQs, articles and edutainment.
& #149; www.office.com
Articles and advice on starting and running a small business.
& #149; www.profitbooks.com
Profit Source Publishing: Books, CD-ROMs, links and other offerings for small businesses.
& #149; www.smallbusiness101.com
Resources for first-time entrepreneurs, franchisees and small business owners.
& #149; www2.tsnn.com
The Trade Show News Network operates this database for the trade-show industry.
& #149; www.visi.com/~aisb/index.html
The American Institute of Small Business offers information about writing business plans.
& #149; www.actionplan.com
Action Plan Marketing: information on marketing for service businesses.
& #149; www.allpromotionalproducts.com
Manufacturer’s Direct: imprintable promotional products from low-end giveaways to high-end executive gifts.
& #149; www.bizoffice.com/submit
Submit 100,000: submits Web sites to 100,000-plus search engines and directories.
& #149; www.digitalstore.com/marketing/mstern
Marketing for Small Businesses: a look at traditional media and new media, including the Web, and its effective use by today’s small businesses.
& #149; www.gebbieinc.com
Gebbie Press: publishes the All-In-One Media Directory, listing 23,000 U.S. TV and radio stations, daily and weekly newspapers, trade and consumer magazines, Black and Hispanic media, syndicates, networks and other.
& #149; www.gmarketing.com
Guerrilla Marketing: Help with marketing small or home-based businesses.
& #149; www.labko.com
Labko Web Designs: design, hosting and marketing.
& #149; www.marketingtips.com/tipsltr.html
Marketing tips and strategies for Internet marketing, online advertising and Web site promotion.
& #149; www.marketingtools.com
Magazines devoted to marketing strategies and consumer trends including American Demographics.
& #149; www.messageblaster.com
MessageBlaster.com: send the same message to many people by e-mail, phone, pager, fax, postal mail or overnight delivery.
& #149; www.internetnewsbureau.com
The Internet News Bureau: press release writing and distribution services, targeted modules, international services, and custom media relations.
& #149; www.novaimc.com
Marketing, advertising, retailing, consulting solutions for businesses on the Internet.
& #149; www.platypusmultimedia.com
Platypus Multimedia Solutions: multimedia tools for sales and marketing, including Web site design, promotional CD-ROMs, screen savers and more.
& #149; www.printfellow.com
Printfellow Online Printshop: the site allows visitors to design business cards, bumper stickers, and other materials, which are printed and delivered.
& #149; www.profnet.org
Professional networking specialist teaching online and offline networking techniques.
& #149; www.amacbox.com
Plastic boxes for retail sales, packaging and other uses.
& #149; www.bizfilings.com
Business Filings: service that drafts and submits paperwork to incorporate a business or form a limited liability company or a nonprofit corporation.
& #149; www.digitalwork.com
DigitalWork.com: provides entrepreneurs with several online services, from marketing to human resources to financial services.
& #149; www.discreetresearch.com
Public records search site offering business reports and pre-employment background checks.
& #149; www.inreach.com
Provides dial-up Internet access, web hosting, dedicated connections and business Internet services to consumers and businesses.
& #149; www.netcom.com/~thedares
LiveWire Systems: computer networking consulting for small businesses, including a free online advice section.
& #149; www.paytrust.com
An online bill-payment service.
& #149; www.quickforms.com
Automates the drafting of agreements for computer industry, Internet commerce and general business transactions.
& #149; www.score.org
Service Corps of Retired Executives is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Working and retired executives and business owners donate their time and expertise as volunteer business counselors and provide confidential counseling and mentoring free of charge.
& #149; www.thehartford.com/homebusiness
AARP Home Business Insurance Program from The Hartford.
& #149; www.upshot.com
Internet service for managing sales teams.
& #149; www.usbx.com
Listing of more than 14,000 small businesses for sale. Information and articles. Free to browse, fee for listing.
& #149; www.fedex.com
Federal Express Web site.
& #149; www.fedexground.com
More Federal Express services.
& #149; www.netship.com
Product inventory, fulfillment and distribution to domestic and international online retailers. Online inventory reports, shipment and account history available for clients.
& #149; www.nowdocs.com
Provides the ability to upload files for virtual storage, digital printing, binding and other delivery options.
& #149; www.smartship.com
National shipping and logistics service for online and other businesses.
& #149; www.ups.com
United Parcel Service Web site.
& #149; www.usps.com
U.S. Postal Service Web site.
& #149; www.accutechsys.com
Software packages for job cost estimation and control, service-call management and accounting.
& #149; www.bootguard.com
Computer security software.
& #149; www.camcommerce.com
CAM Commerce Solutions: point-of-sale and e-commerce software.
& #149; www.expertpractice.com
Application service provider of medical practice management software.
& #149; www.mbisoftware.com
General business and medical office management software.
& #149; www.mysoftware.com
Mailing, invoicing, labeling, brochure and business card software that help small businesses create professional-looking materials.
& #149; www.intranets.com
Software that enhances collaboration, productivity and communication on in-house computer networks, as well as security and administrative tools.
& #149; www.openair.com
Business software for sales force automation, project estimating, resource planning, project management, project accounting, knowledge management, time and expense tracking, purchase orders and client billing.
& #149; www.timeslips.com
Time management and billing software for service professionals.
& #149; www.trizetto.com
Medical practice management software.
& #149; www.nameprotect.com
Web site offers trademark research and registration services.
& #149; www.register.com
Register Web site names for individuals and companies.
& #149; www.tmweb.com
Trademark-related information and search service for both American and Canadian federal trademarks.
& #149; www.verisign.com
Register Web site names for individuals and companies
,Compiled and edited by Meenakshi Viswanathan and Mike Mason
