Business, Investment, & Money Management

Local & State Business Resources
(South Plainfield / Middlesex County / New Jersey)

Computers, Technology, & E-Business

Introduction to the Patent System - This video explains 'what patents are, why they are needed, how inventors get them, the role of the Patent and Trademark Office, and why disputes over patents arise.' Though it was created for jurors in patent jury trials, this video should be useful to anyone needing to understand the basics of patent law. (2002, Federal Judicial Center)

Invention Promotion Firms [UPDATED LINK] - Advice on dealing with invention promotion firms and avoiding unscrupulous promoters; includes links to related resources. (2011, Federal Trade Commission)

Inventors' Digest - Magazine with articles about how to protect and market your inventions. For additional resources, see InventorEd (by inventor / entrepreneur Ronald J. Riley).

Inventor's Handbook - Answers to 'the independent inventor's and aspiring entrepreneur's most frequently asked questions... on the patenting and commercialization processes.' (2007 - 2012, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

U.S. Copyright Office - The place to register and protect your 'original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.' Also covers copyright basics, FAQ, and related information.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - All kinds of information on U.S. patents and trademarks, including options for online filing of patent or trademark applications, as well as printable forms. U.S. PTO Patent Search offers a full-text and image database of U.S. patents and published applications, searchable by patent title, number, inventor name, application date, or other terms. The Delphion Intellectual Property Network includes U.S., European, and other patents and patent applications, but registration is required for access and fees are charged for full service. See also Google Patent Search.

International Business

Business Travel (New York Times) - 'Advice on getting the best fares, dealing with the inevitable hassles, and getting the most out of the trips you take.'

Country & Region Profiles - Brief profiles provide background on the history, politics and economics of countries and territories, plus links to recent news stories (British Broadcasting System). For more information on countries and regions, see Background Notes: Countries A - Z (U.S. State Department; frequently updated), World Factbook (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency; updated bi-weekly), Times Topics : Places (New York Times), and Global Edge, below.

Cultural Savvy - Useful tips for communicating with people of different cultures, particularly Asian cultures (by a cross-cultural training consultant).

Everything International - Links to a wide variety of the best international business, education, and research internet sites, covering Country & Regional Data, Company & Industry Data, Product Classification Systems, Market Entry (Export) Assistance, International Organizations, and more. Updated regularly. (Lloyd C. Russow, Philadelphia University)

Export.gov - Learn about Export Basics here, or register to access market research and trade leads. Trade Specialists are also available to help plan your international business. Call 1-800-USA-TRAD [1-800-872-8723] to find a trade specialist and get answers to your export questions. (U.S. Department of Commerce et al.)

Global Edge™ - A wealth of information, insights, and learning resources on global business activities: industry profiles, country profiles, state profiles, business statistics, diagnostic tools, and more. (Michigan State University)

JuriGlobe - A multilingual online data bank containing general information about the different legal systems in the world, the different official languages, and important international commercial conventions, as well as other multilateral commercial tools. Covers civil law, common law, Muslim law, customary law, and mixed systems. (University of Ottawa)

Minding Our Manners Internationally - International students write about traditional good manners and changing manners (including a separate discussion on table manners) in their countries (TOPICS Online Magazine). See also Emily Post Around the World.

World Bank : Doing Business - Offers statistics on the time and costs involved in starting and running a business in 175 countries around the world, plus tax rates, laws, and other information. (World Bank)

Investment

Money Management

FINANCIAL CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Need help? Start here: call 211 Call 2-1-1 when you need to find state or local resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns, including health & mental health services, food banks, shelter, rental or utility assistance, adult day care, Meals on Wheels, transportation, childcare, crisis intervention services, job training, education, and more. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, multi-lingual, confidential, TTY accessible, and available 24/7 2-1-1 resource specialists will guide callers to the most helpful available resources. Visit the website for more information. NOTE: 2-1-1 calls are generally toll-free; however, if you are calling 2-1-1 from your cell phone, please check with your cell phone service provider first to find out whether you will be charged for the call. (United Way, in partnership with the State of New Jersey)

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy - Money management articles, tools, and FAQ for the different stages of your life, including childhood, college, career, couples & marriage, parenthood, home ownership, entrepreneurship, retirement, life crisis, and others. Also offers a section just for women, an online Financial Guidance Book, and an 'Ask The Money Doctor' feature. (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants)

AARP : Money - Comprehensive site offering financial advice on a wide variety of topics related to work, personal finance, retirement, consumer information, social security, and estate planning (AARP). For more resources on personal finance for seniors and retirees, see our SITES FOR SENIORS : Money Management & Consumer Info links.

Affluenza - Do you suffer from affluenza? ('Affluenza: an epidemic of stress, waste, overconsumption and environmental decay.') This site offers tips and resources for a materially simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle will also help those who just need to live more frugally (PBS). See also Postconsumers (formerly Simple Living America) and Spendster, an online resource for people struggling with impulsive and wasteful spending (National Endowment for Financial Education).

Annual Credit Reports - Federal law now gives you the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies; this site tells you how to request your free report online, by phone, or by mail. For more about your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, see the Federal Trade Commission's page on free Credit Reports, below.

BankRate.com - Information / comparisons on interest rates for mortgages, auto loans, CDs, credit cards, and more. Also offers articles on money management and related topics.

Bankruptcy Basics - Basic information on different aspects of federal bankruptcy laws, including a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy case may be filed and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the bankruptcy process. Covers bankruptcy both before and after the October 2005 changes to the bankruptcy code. (Administrative Office of the United States Courts). For additional information, see Nolo Press's Bankruptcy Resource Center. [REMEMBER : Websites providing legal information are intended to supplement, not substitute for, professional advice. Please consult an attorney about your legal concerns.]

Building Wealth - This interactive site will help you set financial goals, live on a budget, track expenses, and save and invest your money. (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

Can One of You Afford to Quit? - If you are currently a two-income family considering or planning to live on only one income, this interactive worksheet will give you a snapshot of potential changes to your income, expenses and savings. (Kiplinger)

Can You Afford to Retire? - Online TV program examining issues and problems relating to retirement, plus FAQ, articles, and interviews with experts. (2006, PBS Frontline)

Choosing a Credit Counselor - Advice on finding a reputable credit counseling organization to help you manage your money and debts. (2011, Federal Trade Commission)

College Planning : Financial Aid & Scholarship Info - Selected links to information on how to finance a college education. (South Plainfield Public Library)

Consumer Credit Counseling - Tips on dealing with the current financial crisis, online publications on money management, credit and debt, housing, identity theft & fraud, and more, plus helpful calculators and checklists & charts. Related sites include Homeowner Track, (step-by-step tutorials on many different aspects of personal financial management), Personal Finance Worksheets (printable worksheets for budgeting, debt managment, expense tracking, financial goals, & net worth), and personal finance podcast . All from Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco.

Consumer Reports : Money / Personal Finance - Advice on shopping, banking & credit, family finance, home, work, retirement, investing, consumer protection, taxes, and more.

Credit Cards - A basic guide to navigating the credit card process, including understand the terms and fees, reading & understanding your statement, paying off your balance, and more. (2010, Federal Reserve Bank)

Credit Reports - Explains your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to obtain a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies. For more on managing credit cards, loans, and other consumer debt, visit the FTC Website on Credit & Loans [UPDATED LINK!]. (Federal Trade Commission)

Debt Collection Practices - Information about how to stop calls from collectors, how to correspond with them about your account or dispute a collection action. Explains your legal rights, and how debt collection efforts may affect your job, your credit report, even information in your medical files (2011, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). See also Debt Collection [UPDATED LINK!] (2009, Federal Trade Commission).

Deposit Insurance - Use this site to find out if your bank is insured; to find out if your bank has merged or been acquired; to find out how FDIC deposit insurance works; to determine which investments are not insured by the FDIC; and more. Includes EDIE, Electronic Deposit Insurance Calculator , an interactive tool to help you determine in a few minutes whether the money you have in deposit accounts at FDIC-insured banks is fully protected. See FDIC Quick Links for additional information on Deposit Insurance, as well as Banking Tools & Resources, Financial Education, Identity Theft & Privacy, Foreclosure, Consumer Protection Assistance, Real Estate & Housing, and more. (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

E-Banking [UPDATED LINK!] - Explains how to use the internet to do your banking. Also includes information about debit & gift cards, direct depost, and other related topics. (Federal Reserve Bank)

Financial and Tax Records - Explains how long you should keep important financial and tax documents, and how to dispose of them safely when you no longer need them (University of Illinois Extension; date unknown). See also Recordkeeping for Individuals (2011, Internal Revenue Service) and Conquer the Paper Piles. NOTE: If you have trouble displaying Page 2 of this article, view it all on one page in the print version (2010, Consumer Reports).

Financial Calculators - Should I refinance my mortgage? Rent or buy? How much do I need to save for my child's college education? How much for retirement? These interactive financial calculators and other tools will help you with some of the day-to-day financial questions and concerns that may arise in your life or business (KJE Computer Solutions, LLC). Financial calculators are also available at Practical Money Skills Calculators (Visa, Inc.), CNN Money Calculators, and Kiplinger's Tools & Calculators page.

Financial Crisis and Individuals - A collection of articles to help you deal with the practical and emotional aspects of a financial crisis. See also Financial Crisis and Families. (From extension.org, an educational partnership of 74 U.S. universities)

Financial Education - Financial tips and information on money management & savings, housing, credit, retirement, insurance, and bankruptcy, as well as videos, calculators, and other resources. (National Foundation for Credit Counseling)

Financial Information for Consumers - Selected links to advice on bank accounts and services, consumer credit, identity theft, leasing, mortgages, and personal finance. (Federal Reserve Board)

Financial Planning [UPDATED LINK!] - Advice on setting and achieving your financial goals. Includes a searchable directory of Certified Financial Planners. (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.)

Government Benefits - A free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool to help you find out whether you qualify for government benefits. (U.S. Government website)

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) - Information about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which are designed to help individuals save for future qualified medical expenses on a tax-free basis. (Internal Revenue Service)

Home Equity Loans [UPDATED LINK!] [Link opens a PDF] - 'Learn how to shop for home equity plans, and advantages and disadvantages of home equity lines of credit.' (Federal Reserve Bank)

Homes : Buying, Selling, & Renting - Selected links to information on buying, selling, renting, and financing a home. (South Plainfield Public Library)

IRA Resource Guide - Information for individuals and businesses on traditional & Roth IRAs (Individual Retirement Arrangements ), and IRA-Funded Plans (SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, SARSEPs, and Payroll Deduction IRAs), with links to relevant tax forms, publications, and other resources (2011, Internal Revenue Service).

Money Matters - Consumer tips and resources on scams, credit cards, managing your money, dealing with debt, your home, and jobs. (Federal Trade Commission)

My Money - 'The U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.' Topics include life events (birth/adoption of a child, going to college, marriage/divorce, home ownership, retirement, etc.), spending, saving & investing, managing debt & credit, mortgages, loans, retirement, insurance, consumer rights, and scams & fraud. Also includes helpful calculators, budgeting worksheets, and checklists, as well as a toll-free hotline - call 1-888-MyMoney to hear recorded financial tips on a range of topics, including identity theft, protecting your home from foreclosure, and avoiding predatory lending; available in English and Spanish. You can also order a My Money tool kit, a package of printed financial materials from government agencies, also available in English and Spanish.

Pay Down Debt - 'Caught in the traffic jam of too much debt? Want to save more so your dreams and goals become reality?' This website offers basic advice and resources to help you cut expenses, earn more income, and manage debt. (University of Nebraska)

Planet Money - Informative and entertaining reports to help you make sense of the current economic picture (National Public Radio).

Retirement Planning (MSN) [UPDATED LINK!] - Advice on retirement planning and related subjects. For more resources on retirement, see CNN Money : Retirement and Early Retirement Calculator (CNN Money). See also SITES FOR SENIORS (South Plainfield Public Library).

Smart About Money - 'Practical articles, worksheets, tips and valuable resources from across the Web to help you understand and manage your money.' Covers a wide range of circumstances throughout adult life, including education & career, marriage/partnership, children, savings, insurance, taxes, credit & debt, buying a home, retirement, estate planning, re-marriage, child support issues, unemployment, military service, major purchases, and various emergency situations. (National Endowment for Financial Education, an independent, nonprofit foundation)

Social Security Retirement Planner - Provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law and points out things you may want to consider as you prepare for the future. Includes calculators to test out different retirement ages or different future earnings amounts. (Social Security Administration)

Student Debt Repayment Assistant - Advice on what options you have if you are falling behind on your student loan payments. (CFPB, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Ultimate Cheapskate - Tips for thrifty living, by Jeff Yeager, author of the Ultimate Cheapskate books. (AARP)

Unclaimed Property Search (MissingMoney.org) - Use this free tool to search state records and find out whether any unclaimed property is being held in your name, such as bank accounts and safe deposit box contents; stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends; uncashed checks and wages; insurance policies, CD's, trust funds; utility deposits and escrow accounts. Does not include real estate. (Sponsored by state governments and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.)

Unfair Lending : Consumer Resources - Explains how to recognize unfair lending practices (including predatory mortgage lending and payday loans), and offers tips on finding alternatives (Center for Responsible Lending). Payday Loans : Consumer Information suggests ways to avoid the high costs of short-term borrowing from payday loan stores (Consumer Federation of America).

Wills & Estate Planning - Online guide to estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical decisions, and more. (Nolo Press) [REMEMBER : Websites providing legal information are intended to supplement, not substitute for, professional advice. Please consult an attorney about your legal concerns.]

Wi$eUp : Financial Planning for Generation X & Y Women - A free online financial education course, plus Q & A, forms & worksheets, and more; tailored for women born circa 1965 or later. Free registration required. (U.S. Department of Labor and Texas AgriLife Extension Service)

POPULAR MONEY SITES:

Nonprofits, Grants & Charitable Giving

For DONORS
For NON-PROFITS

For NON-PROFITS:

Board of Directors' Toolkit - A wealth of information for both profit- and non-profit boards, this website covers board roles and responsibilities, legal considerations, staffing, committees, meetings, evaluations, and more. Part of the MAP Management Library (below).

Center for Non-Profit Corporations (N.J.) - Management, advocacy, legal, and fundraising resources for New Jersey nonprofits.

Federal Assistance - A catalog of links to federal agencies offering grants, with tips on writing grant proposals. For current federal grant information, see Grants.gov, below.

Foundation Center - A fundraising resource for nonprofits and community groups. Includes an online course for writing grant proposals, available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese.

Foundations and Grantmakers Directory - Links to dozens of foundations and other grantmakers. Arranged alphabetically. Site does not appear to be updated frequently, so expect some broken links. (Northern California Community Foundation)

GrantCraft - Free downloadable guides based on the actual experiences of grantmakers and grant users, as well as case studies, videos, and more. Free registration is required to download guides. (Foundation Center and European Foundation Centre)

Grantseeker's Toolbox - A step-by-step guide to obtaining grant funds. (Donors Forum of Chicago)

Grants.gov - 'THE single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.' (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

MAP Management Library - A free resource for non-profit and business managers (especially those with very limited resources), with basic and practical information about business, management and organizations. Arranged by subject, from 'Advertising & Promotion' through 'Volunteers'. (Authenticity Consulting, LLC.)

NonProfit Good Practice Guide - Tips on every aspect of running a nonprofit, including fundraising, governance, staff development, volunteer management, grantmaking, and more. (Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership)

On Philanthropy - Articles about fundraising, marketing, government, foundations, corporate giving, and more (Changing Our World, Inc., a philanthropic & fundraising consulting firm).

Pro Bono Partnership - A legal resource center for nonprofit organizations, providing free legal services to community-based nonprofits that serve poor and disadvantaged populations in New Jersey and parts of New York & Connecticut.

Proposal Writing - An annotated directory of recommended books and selected websites offering advice on writing grant proposals. (University of Wisconsin)

Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits [UPDATED LINK!] - News and information about filing & reporting, tax-exempt status, and more. (Internal Revenue Service)

Volunteer Match, All for Good and Network for Good - Volunteer work can be personally rewarding, and can also provide job hunters with opportunities to learn new skills and make professional contacts! Enter your zip code to locate organizations looking for volunteers within commuting distance from your home. There will be some common listings on these sites, but many unique listings for each site, so you may want to search all three to find the best volunteer opportunity for you. See Volunteer.gov for volunteer opportunities with federal agencies such as the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Veterans Administration.

Small Business Resources

Business Owner's Idea Cafe - Critical info on starting and running a business, 'served fast, fresh, friendly and for real.' (Francie Marks Ward, founder; now part of the DevStart Network, an online provider of content and tools for the web hosting, website promotion, and domain name registration industries.)

Business Owner's Toolkit - An extensive Small Business Guide to starting, running and growing your business, plus a variety of useful business tools, including downloadable checklists, model business plans, forms and other documents. Now also includes a podcast. (Formerly CCH Business Owner's Toolkit from Commerce Clearinghouse, now a division of Wolters Kluwer, an international multimedia company)

Business Plans and Profiles Index - This index lists sample business plans and related information for different types of small businesses. Scroll down the page to the alphabetical list of business types; links are provided to plans which are available online. Also provides selected links to additional helpful small business resources and a bibliography of related books (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh). How to Create Business Plans is an online guide that provides time-saving research strategies and resources used in successful business plan writing. [CHOOSE A TOPIC FROM THE TABS (Idea Generation, Industry Research, Market Research, Financial Data, Resources) to navigate.] (2011, Cornell University).

Business Week : Small Business News, Advice, and Resources - Articles and other resources from Business Week magazine. See also New York Times Small Business Adviser and Wall Street Journal : Small Business section. Includes articles and a collection of Tools & How-To Guides for small business.

Commerce Connect is now Business USA, above.

Credit Cards for Small Business new - 'Guidelines that will help you make wise decisions on small-business credit cards and identify strategies to help you take charge of your business's financial situation.' (Better Business Bureau)

Credit Guide for Small Business [UPDATED LINK!] - Tips for small business owners seeking outside financing. (Federal Reserve Board)

Employment Laws for Workers & Small Business - Information about U.S. wage laws, safety & health standards, equal opportunity compliance, and other workplace requirements for employers (U.S. Department of Labor). See also Federal Employment Discrimination & Harassment Laws (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), New Jersey and Federal Laws Prohibiting Employment Discrimination (N.J. Civil Service Commission). More information for N.J. employers may be found at N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development, above. For information on hiring people with disabilities, see Think Beyond the Label, above. E-Verify is 'an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work [legally] in the United States. E-Verify is fast, free and easy to use - and it's the best way employers can ensure a legal workforce' (U.S. Department of Homeland Security).

Entrepreneurship Corner - 'A free collection of over 1600 videos and podcasts, featuring lectures by today's Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders.' You can browse by topic or speaker, or search by keyword. Topics include creativity & innovation, opportunity recognition, product development, marketing & sales, finance & venture capital, social entrepreneurship, career & life balance, and more. (Stanford University)

Entrepreneur Start-Up Kit - Start-up advice for 20 popular small businesses, including Child Care Services, Cleaning Services, Event Planning Service, Import / Export Business, Information Consultant, Medical Claims Billing, and Personal Concierge. Entrepreneur also offers many other small business resources on a variety of business topics such as start-ups, running & growing your business, finance, marketing, technology, franchises & other opportunities, and 65 Indispensable Websites for Business Owners (2009).

Entrepreneurship - A collection of resources on topics related to managing and growing a business, including products & services, finance & accounting, human resources, sales & marketing, operations, and more. (Kauffman Foundation)

FormNet - Templates for over 1,000 business forms and documents, such as marketing & communication plans, packing lists, inventory reports, accounting statements, performance evaluations, bills of sale, office management forms, and much more. Forms are either in Microsoft Word, Excel or PDF. Many of these forms are free to download, but forms marked as 'Premium' must be purchased (Entrepreneur.com). For more free legal forms & documents, see Law Depot Do-It-Yourself Legal Forms and Information.

Franchise.org - Provides an introduction to acquiring and operating a franchise business, plus a large directory of franchise opportunities and related resources (International Franchise Association). See also Entrepreneur : Franchise Zone, Wall Street Journal : Franchising News, Franchises, Business Opportunities, & Investments new and Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise [UPDATED LINK!] (Federal Trade Commission).

Government Contracts - Information for small businesses on obtaining procurement contracts with the Federal Government (U.S. Small Business Administration et al.). See also Federal Business Opportunities, a 'one stop virtual marketplace' where you can search, monitor, and retrieve federal government contracting opportunities; includes recovery programs (U.S. government site).

Government Contracting - Extensive information on government procurement contracts. (By Deborah Kluge, a proposal / grantwriting / development consultant).

Government Sales - 'Each year the federal government sells billions of dollars of surplus, seized, forfeited and exchange/sale assets. GovSales is a centralized, citizen-centered website that was created to make it easy for people and businesses to locate government assets for sale.' (U.S. General Services Administration)

Grants.gov - 'THE single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.' Includes small business grants. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Green Business Network - Practical advice, resources and contacts to help companies turn social responsibility into business success (formerly Co-op America). Another great site is the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation's Green Biz Toolbox, with lots of useful resources to help you make your business environmentally responsible as well as profitable (Green Biz / Business for Social Responsibility). See also Starting a Green Business new , B Corporation and Small Business Sustainability News (New York Times).

Home-Based Business - Links to a wealth of online resources that will help you learn more about working out of your house, starting a home-based business, and managing your business within the law (Small Business Administration). For tips on avoiding work-at-home scams, see Work at Home Businesses (Federal Trade Commission).

Inc. Magazine - Online articles, how-to guides, Q & A, videos, and podcasts, on all aspects of running a small business, including start-up, marketing, finance & capital, e-commerce, 'small retail', franchising, human resources, law & taxation, office operation, technology, women in business, and other resources for entrepreneurs. Inc. also offers a large collection of Small Business Tools, such as sample forms, job description templates, interactive worksheets, spreadsheets, and contracts.

It's Your Biz is now Small Business TV, below.

MAP Management Library - A free community resource providing basic and practical information about business, management and organizations. Arranged by subject.

Microloans - The MicroLoan Program provides small loans to start-up, newly-established, or growing small businesses, in amounts up to $50,000. (SBA)

National Association for the Self-Employed - Advice and resources for the self-employed and small business owner, covering taxes, finance, health care, and more; some resources are available only to members. For a brief overview, see Financial Responsibilities for the Self-Employed (Visa Inc.).

SBA : Small Business Administration - Provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. The SBA offers free online small business training on starting a business, managing a business, financing, contracting, and more; arranged by subject (registration required).

SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a nonprofit organization providing free expert counseling, advice, and mentoring services to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Small Business, Job & Career Video Seminars - Free online video seminars for small business. (New York Public Library)

Small Business Toolkits - A collection of useful resources to help you run your business. Covers startup, finance, marketing, hiring, security, office management, and much more. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Small Business TV - Aimed at small business owners and managers, this site offers articles and video features with advice and information on franchising, green business, legal issues, management, marketing, technology, workplace wellness, and more.

StartUp Nation - Articles, podcasts, and other resources to help you start your business, grow your business, or market your invention. (By Rich & Jeff Sloan, authors / entrepreneurs.)

Tax Information : Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center - Tax forms, publications, and a wealth of information for self-employed and small businesses with assets under $10 million. (Internal Revenue Service)

Woman- and Minority-Owned Business

Credit Guide for Lenders and Women Owners of Small Businesses new [Link opens a PDF] - 'Describes issues and recommendations in successful lending practices and credit financing for women owners of small businesses.' Includes advice both for lenders and for women business owners. (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago)

Hot Topics : Women Executives and Career Tracks - 'Resources that discuss women executives' career choices; some target women who ''step out'' and ''step back in'' the corporate world.' Includes links to recent articles, video, & websites, plus a list of relevant books. (Stanford Graduate School of Business)

Make Mine A Million $ Business - The first online microlender, this organization promotes women's economic independence by providing access to business loans, consultation and education.

Minority Business Entrepreneur - A magazine for minority and women business owners. Includes a Resource Directory (2012).

Minority-Owned Businesses new - Information on federal government programs and services that help members of minority groups start their own businesses, as well as resources for financing, training and assistance. (Small Business Administration)

U.S. Black Chamber - 'An association of Black Chambers and nationwide small business associations committed to developing and growing Black enterprises.'

Women Entrepreneur - Articles, columns, blogs, and success stories for women business owners. Part of Entrepreneur.com.

Women-Owned Businesses - Practical information on starting, running, and growing a business, targeted to women business owners. (Small Business Administration)

General Business News & Links