Library Services

Start-Up

Free registration is required to access this guide to the funding criteria of over 4,000 sources for business loans, venture capital, equipment leasing, and commercial real estate financing.

BizPathways

A project of the Minnesota Rural Partners, this site guides people through the process of setting up a small business. Although registration is required to access some of the tools, there is no charge.

Biz Stats

This is the leading online source for small business statistics, including financial ratios, benchmarks, and information as specific as the safest and riskiest types of small businesses.

Bplans

Owned and operated by Palo Alto Software, Inc. as a free resource to help entrepreneurs plan better businesses, the site contains guidelines for writing business marketing, Web strategy, and advertising plans; it also contains the largest single collection of free (and some for-fee) sample business plans.

California Business Portal

This guide to starting a business in California is maintained by the Secretary of State.

Entrepreneur.com

Maintained by Entrepreneur Magazine to support new business ideas and growing companies, the site contains tips, articles, and online resources on everything for people starting a small business. It is also available in Spanish as Soy Entrepreneur.

Idea Cafe

This site, developed by successful entrepreneurs and authors of guides on forming and running a business, contains a wealth of information on starting a small business in an entertaining, step-by-step manner.

Interactive Business Planner

The IBP is the first business planning software product designed specifically to operate on the World Wide Web, guiding people with questions, answers, and research links as they develop a 3-year business plan. It was a pilot project of the Canada/BC Business Service Centre.

PatentCafe

Guidance and helpful tips on how to market and patent new products.

SBA's Sample Business Plan

Recommended for anyone starting a business, this is a very good general outline for a business plan.

Small Business Startups: Business Plans & Entities

The Microsoft Small Business Center provides links to important issues dealing with business plans & entities: 1) Is LLC the best entity for your business? 2)'Oedipus Wrecks' and other business names to avoid 3) Pick the business entity that's right for you 4) How to write a business plan 5) Start your business partnership off right 6) How to find America's best-paying cities 7) More pros than cons to becoming an S corporation 8) Sole proprietorships: simple, but not very flexible 9) C corporations: Benefits are a big (deductible) benefit 10) Best and worst states to run a small business 11) 7 biggest mistakes of business startups.

Startup Journal

An online resource updated daily by The Wall Street Journal, this site contains practical tools, links to reliable resources, timely news, and information on current business opportunities.

Start-up Kits

These kits offer how-to guides, start-up cost estimates, research tips, and links to associations and franchises for over 40 types of businesses.