Business Research
Facilitator: William Townley
You can also view Magazines, Associations on the Net under this heading.
Free Business Magazines from TradePub.com
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
http://www.allsmallbiz.com/
"This search engine helps you find
documents of interest to the small business community."
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P10_2000.asp
CCH Incorporated provides a brief overview of
financing basics: Debts vs. Equity. The basic types of financing assist users
with understanding which options might be most attractive and realistically
available to their particular business.
http://www.bspage.com/
The Business Start Page is suggested by its
author as a page from which the business owner can launch his work on the
internet, rather than "surfing" around trying to find useful business
information. The page has little original content but is regularly updated and
contains links useful to business people. A section called The Virtual Desk links to phone and
business directories and general reference tools. The Reference Library has links
to business reference sources and other sections are featured with subjects
deemed by the author to be of interest to small business owners.
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/
A resource for small business owners with a guidebook
that covers topics such as starting your business and managing finances.
There's a section of news articles and downloadable business tools, including
forms and model business plans. The section of the site that offers business
reports and trademark/patent searches requires
registration and fees.
http://www.businessplans.org/
"The Center for Business Planning provides
any business manager or entrepreneur with a set of resources to help in
creating a business
or managing a business. Information is provided on every area of planning a
business including: acquire venture capital, define new products, market
analysis, competitive analysis, production management, tax problems, legal
issues, prepare financial statements, write a business plan and much
more."
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/
The main site for U.S. Internal Revenue Service on the
Web. This site contains a great deal of information for both individual and
business taxpayers, as well a downloadable tax forms, instructions and IRS
publications. Individuals can use an interactive tool Tax
Trails to find out the answers to frequently asked questions about
exemptions, deductions and credits. A text-only version is
also available.
ENTERWeb: The Enterprise Development Website
http://www.enterweb.org/
"An annotated meta-index and information
clearinghouse on enterprise development, entrepreneurship, business, finance,
international trade and the economy in this new age of cyberspace and
globalization. The main focus is on micro, small and medium scale enterprises,
cooperatives, community economic development, both in developed and developing
countries. ENTERWeb lists and rates Internet
resources in these areas, and complements search engines by providing shortcuts
in identifying important sources of information. The primary objective of ENTERWeb is to provide to enterprise development
practitioners, policy makers, academics and small business owners an annotated list
of Internet resources giving substantive information on enterprise development
topics including finance and credit, technology and technology transfer,
management training, business centers and advisory services, entrepreneurship
development and incubators, community economic development, credit unions and
cooperatives, education and vocational training, marketing and trade, business
networks and information resources, business law and cyberbusiness,
enterprise development policies, economics, enterprise and environment,
business news, women and enterprises, etc. In addition, ENTERWeb
aims to provide business related information and links on a country by country
basis, mostly for developing countries and emerging markets."
http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/1,5967,,00.html
This site, How-To Guides, give answers to entrepreneurs.
Whether you need help writing a business plan or marketing plan, finding a
franchise or business opportunity, starting a homebased
business or building a better business, the how-tos
will assist users through the process.
http://www.tannedfeet.com/
"This site is designed, created, and
published by a group of young professionals. We put together our skills and
knowledge to publish this site to help out other young people or inexperienced
business people with good ideas and the desire to start their own business.
This web site distributes basic information on legal, financial, and management
issues that commonly affect (or afflict!) people who are just starting up their
businesses." Extensive articles on opening and financing a business. Legal resources on incorporation, intellectual property, taxation,
contracts, and links to legal forms. New content added often.
http://www.EntreWorld.org/
Searchable and browsable
collection of annotated links to Internet resources for entrepreneurs. Sections include: Starting Your Business; Running
Your Business; Rapid Growth; Supporting Entrepreneurship.
http://smallbiz.biz.findlaw.com/
General and legal information relevant to small
businesses. Its
"Self Help Legal Guides" on topics such as "Business
Formation", "Business Planning", "Finance", and
"Human Resources" include articles, web links, FAQs
and forms.
http://www.mapnp.org/library/
The Free Management Library provides extensive
how-to management information to managers -- particularly those with very limited
resources. Items in the library are relevant to both for-profit and nonprofit
organizations unless otherwise marked at the top of the page containing the
item. Organized into 675 different management related categories, the library
provides resources from topics ranging from organizational communication to
e-commerce to risk management.
http://www.inc.com/home/index.html
Inc.com contains resources, handpicked by
Inc.com editors, on specific business-management issues. Use them to discover
strategies for starting, growing, and running your business more effectively
and successfully.
http://www.liraz.com/
This site, from a commercial publisher of business
books and CD-ROMs, has useful articles and tips for small business owners, many
of which are excerpts from the company's products, but are meaty enough to be
useful online. Tips on goal setting, managing people, managing yourself, being an entrepreneur, planning, marketing,
cutting expenses, and more.
Online Women's Business Center
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/
"This interactive business skills training
web site is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial women to realize their goals
and aspirations for their personal and professional development. Our goal is to
provide them with the information and expertise necessary for planning their
economic independence through owning their own business."
PricewaterhouseCoopers' Vision to Reality
http://www.pwcglobal.com/Extweb/industry.nsf/docid/466A775D8620563985256AB2007BEBB5
This page is an entrepreneur resource center provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers. They offer users business plan templates, financial
models and technology sector-specific ratios, benchmarks and more.
Small Business Administration Online
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/
Information on SBA programs and publications on
starting, financing, and expanding a small business.
Small Business Association: Online Women's Business Center
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/
The Online Women's
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/engdoc/main.html
A website about Canadian business put out by the
Minister of Industry. The site has sections on company information,
international business, consumer information, technology, business support,
human resources, small businesses, and more.
U. S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/
The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides
financial, technical and management assistance to
help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.
The SBA also plays a major role in the government's disaster relief efforts by
making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses.
Wall
Street Journal - Startup journal
http://www.bplans.com/contentkit/?affiliate=wsj
Wall Street Journal provides mini-business plan
tool online. Users can make a business plan, view sample plans, calculate
starting costs, and more.
http://www.networksolutions.com/index.jhtml?
Official Web site providing registration of
domain names of .com, .net, and .org. Includes a
series of tutorials on using the
Web for online commerce, safely and efficiently setting up a business' online
presence.
Internet Public Library
The Internet Public Library where
numerous research sources are listed.
Free Demographics.com
http://www.freedemographics.com
An online source
for free and purchasable demographic reports.
Southeartern
A
southeastern
information
and resources.
State of
Multifaceted resource website sponsored
by the State of
resources
and opportunities to register businesses
for bids and networking.
Easi
Demographics
http:/www.easidemographics.com
Source for demographic reports.
Claritas
Source for demographic reports
Other Sources
U of M Research Library
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/mich.html
InfoMine
University of Berkley Search Tutorial
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
Strategic marketing plan template
Strategic Marketing Plan Template
Marketing Plan Calendar Template
Marketing Article explaining advantages of E-mail marketing from PC Magazine