Resources for Small Business

Taxes

Internal Revenue Service
Offers IRS tax forms, tax preparation information and educational documents that can be downloaded.


Associations and Organizations

Entrepreneurial Edge
The Edward Lowe Foundation's Web site. Provides information, research and educational opportunities to help entrepreneurs grow their companies, especially after start-up.

RiseBusiness
Web site of the Washington, D.C.-based Research Institute for Small and Emerging Businesses Inc. Offers executive summaries of its research projects, copies of its online newsletter and links to other sites.

Small Business Law Center
Offers legal discussions and resources for small businesses, as well as help finding a lawyer by location and specialty. Court TV operates the site as a public service.

U.S. Council for International Business
Site aims to help businesses involved in international trade, import/export and other foreign transactions. Provides practical information on policy and regulatory issues affecting trade and investment abroad, including customs, trade facilitation, labor issues, taxation and e-commerce.


General Resources

National Association for the Self-Employed

National Association for Women Business Owners

Bay Area BusinessWoman
A news and events magazine for Bay Area businesswomen.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

San Francisco Small Business Network
News and resources for Bay Area entrepreneurs.

San Francisco Small Business Development Center

National Federation of Independent Business
Posts recent news of interest to small and independent businesses, NFIB testimony to Congress, background on policy issues and daily headlines. Also features an online library of educational information pertinent to small businesses.

National Small Business United
An advocacy and lobbying group that works on legal and regulatory issues important to small businesses and works to help shape public policy in their favor. Offers online news, a discussion forum and a small job marketplace.

STAT-USA
A service of the U.S. Department of Commerce that is a resource for international trade, business and economic information. Offers reports and news releases from more than 40 federal agencies online for a subscription fee.

U.S. Business Advisor
Provides small businesses with one-stop access to government information, services and transactions. Can search online for resources and regulations; posts daily news of interest to small businesses.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Market Access and Compliance
Contains the text of more than 200 trade agreements plus detailed market access information for nearly 200 countries. Allows U.S. exporters - especially small and mid-sized companies - to file market access and trade agreement complaints online.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Allows online searches of the organization's patent and trademark databases.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (better known as Edgar) is the fastest way to get federal filings for thousands of public companies.

U.S. Small Business Administration Online
Offers a comprehensive explanation of the SBA's programs and services, as well as links to its field offices across the country, the White House, Congress and other small business resources.

Idea Cafe Inc.
Serves up a fun approach to serious business, with hearty advice on how to start, finance and run a small business. "Cyberschmooz Forums" give virtual peer feedback on business ideas and questions. Free advice from experts, plus stress-busting diversions.

Inc.com
Offers information and resources for small business owners. Includes a service for owners to list businesses for sale, opportunities to connect with peers and find new suppliers, online discussion groups on many topics, research and more. Back articles from Inc. magazine also are available.

International Small Business Consortium
A free resource for small-to-medium-sized businesses interested in developing international business. Specializes in networking and discussion groups to link potential customers and suppliers.

MoreBusiness.com
Offers tools and information to help entrepreneurs start, manage and grow small businesses. Includes sample business and marketing plans, templates for writing news releases, sample contracts, financing sources and an e-mail marketing and newsletter service.

NetPad Business Resource Center
Contains hundreds of links to Web sites globally, with listings of interest to small business, including small business resource centers, university marketing departments, sales management, advertising and marketing Web sites.

Small Business Help Center Inc.
Offers free articles and information on buying and selling a business, international business, marketing, management, finance, personnel and taxes. Features links to government, trade association and business incubator sites geared to small businesses.