links
This list of Small Business Web Sites is helpful for Consultants, Researchers, and Small Business Owners.
Resources
Sponsors
Partners
Resources
SBDCnet: SBDC National Information Clearing House - Contains an excellent list of World Wide Web resources of particular interest to a small business and entrepreneurs in a variety of subject areas including getting started, Industry Research, Business Plans, Demographics, Finance, Marketing, Company Information, E-Commerce, Government Procurement, Copyright/Trademarks, Home Business, Franchises, International Trade, HR, Tax and Accounting, Veterans, Women, and Minorities.
Entrepreneurial Edge - The Edward Lowe Foundation - The links in this site are among the best on the web. This page not only provides the links, but it also does a paragraph critique of each one. It also is updated frequently.
Census Bureau Home Page - This is a very good resource for research purposes especially focusing on demographics. The information is valuable, but it is directed primarily toward research.
FedStats - A site with a full range of official statistical information available to the public from the Federal Government. Use the Internet's powerful linking and searching capabilities to track economic population trends, health care costs, aviation safety, foreign trade, energy use, farm production, and more. Access official statistics collected and published by more than 70 Federal agencies without having to know in advance which agency produces them.
Pro-Net - A must visit site if you are considering doing business with the government. Pro-Net is an electronic gateway of procurement information -- for and about small businesses. It is a search engine for contracting officers, a marketing tool for small firms and a "link" to procurement opportunities and important information. It is designed to be a "virtual" one-stop-procurement-shop. Check out the opportunities and resources link especially if you are new to government procurement.
Institute for Business & Home Safety - This web page includes a disaster planning toolkit for small businesses which is downloadable from the page or can be requested a no charge for one hard copy or CD ROM.
IRS Home Page - This site contains useful information on topics including personal taxes and business taxes. As the IRS page it is fairly specialized. It is slow, but there is a section that is specifically for businesses which can be helpful to small business owners.
IRS Tax Center- a summary of IRS links specific to Small Business
U.S. Business Advisor - This is another federal government source which attempts to make a great deal of information available in a single location. This is devoted to business and fairly easy to use. The negative point of this site is that it is not updated regularly. It is still a worthwhile site for general information on the federal government in relation to business.
FedWorld Home Page - This page contains links to many federal government resources, and for specific research it can prove to be helpful. It is includes a broad overview of federal government sites but business sites are among them. I would suggest using it for very specific research rather than a general tool. It is also rather slow. A positive characteristic of this site is that it is updated.
National Trade Data Bank - A great source of information on international trade.
Mymoney.gov - From the U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission, providing financial education and resources for all Americans, this link has specific resources targeted to Small Business.
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Dun & Bradstreet Small Business Services - This site contains information and advertisements for information which Dun & Bradstreet sells. As one of the more respected business information brokers, D & B's page provides a listing of the type of information which can be purchased from them. It is an interesting site to visit if you have exhausted much of the free information.
Trade Show Central - This is an excellent site for domestic and international trade shows. It lists over 8,000 trade shows both in the United States and globally. This is a private site, but there is no fee for the person searching for trade shows. You can also e-mail directly to the trade shows and receive further information on that specific show. There are links to the web pages of the trade shows which have their own pages.
USPS Address and Zip Code Information - This is an excellent tool for anyone who sends mail. It can replace hard copies of indexes of zip codes or glancing in the front of the telephone book. You can enter a mailing address in the search box, and the site will find the ZIP + 4 Code. It will also find associated ZIP codes or cities if you enter a city or ZIP Code.
ADA InfoNet - This well-designed site tries to make the ADA more accessible to small businesses by making it less frightening. It also includes a number of links to other more technical sources as well as information that the ADA can help small business by increasing their customer base. It is updated monthly which means the information is not as current as it could be.
Quickbooks - Quickbooks has established an online community of users. It is a good place to look for help with Quickbooks. On the site you will find: Message boards, articles/white papers, archived newsletters, customer success stories, links to other useful websites, Quickbooks Blogs.
Social Security Administration - Social Security offers Business Services online which allows an employer to submit their employee's W-2 forms right on-line at their website. It's easy, fast, and does not require any special software.
Department of Labor - U.S. Department of Labor website
Additional links from Department of Labor website:
Compliance Assistance Web Site
elaws Advisors Web Site
Employment Law Guide Web Site
elaws USERRA Advisor Web site
National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) - The NASE and Small Business Development Centers work together to provide education and training for the self-employed. The resources listed are complimentary offerings to SBDC clients.
Genesis of Innovation - (GOI) Genesis of Innovation for South Dakota is a partnership between private enterprise and public universities within the state, helping entrepreneurs with business development, startup capital, and other assistance.
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Sponsors
Governor's Office of Economic Development- This site contains information on taxes, employment, available property, county statistics, financing options, incentives, business startup and entrepreneurship information, and current information on what's happening in economic development in South Dakota.
Small Business Administration - (SBA) This site is a comprehensive site full of information for small businesses. Information can be found on SBA services including financing, technical assistance and procurement, Check out the online library to download SBA's many business publications for free. SBA forms can be found here too. Online training can be found in the SBA classroom
Additional links from SBA Homepage:
Government Contracts
International Trade
The University of South Dakota - Information on the University of South Dakota
Planning and Development District III - This website lists economic and community development services available in fourteen Southeast/Southcentral South Dakota counties. Planning and Development District III also services as the local sub-host for the Yankton/Mitchell SBDC.
West River Business Service Center- The various services offered at this Rapid City location are described including the Small Business Development Center, Business Information Center, Senior Corps of Retired Executives. It also includes descriptions of several loan programs and links to resources, funding sources, and training opportunities.
Association of Small Business Development Centers - This is an information-filled site with links to business startup information, financing resources, industry information, small business online education courses and even a free business web site offer. There is also a business library and discussion forums on various topics.
Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program - This website lists economic and community development services available in northeast South Dakota. NESDCAP provides a wide variety of programs, including but not limited to, weatherization, housing, computer access, and various low income assistance programs. NESDEC provides funding for new and existing small businesses. NESDCAP serves as the local sub-host for the Aberdeen SBDC.
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Partners
Online Womens Business Center - Sponsored by SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership, this site contains information on local Women's Business Centers a crossed the nation and includes sections on Business Basics (from startup to growing company), Networking, and Hot Topics (such as exporting, e-commerce). Many topics apply to any business.
South Dakota Enterprise Institute - A project of the South Dakota State University Foundation to grow new business in South Dakota through education and research.
South Dakota Office of Tourism - This site contains information about industry marketing programs, industry news, marketing campaigns, and tourism reference tools. *NEW Online Customer Service Training Module now available!
South Dakota Rural Enterprise - South Dakota Rural Enterprise serves South Dakota with financing programs such as the Capital Investment Fund and the South Dakota Community Capital Fund for community development institutions, revolving loan funds and economic development corporations, and by bringing new products and services into the rural economic development market.
Small Business Innovation Research - (SBIR) This program funds research and development of new products and processes by small business, entrepreneurs, faculty, and students. The Small Business Development Act of 1982 created an opportunity for innovative people to utilize a share of the billions of dollars spent annually by the federal government.
Governor's Giant Vision Business Awards Program - The Governor's Giant Vision Business Awards Competition will give you the opportunity to present your ideas, write a business plan and make a formal presentation. A panel of business experts will review all entries and select 16 qualifiers who will attend the final competition. Qualifiers will give presentations and discuss their ideas with seasoned business and financial experts and other invitees. The eight selected semifinalists will give formal presentations to our panel of judges.
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