Business, Investment, & Money Management

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.' Created for jurors in patent jury trials, this video should be useful to anyone needing to understand the basics of patent law. (Federal Judicial Center)

Invention Promotion Firms new - Advice on dealing with invention promotion firms and avoiding unscrupulous promoters, with links to related resources. (Federal Trade Commission)

Inventors' Digest - Magazine with articles about how to protect and market your inventions. For additional resources, see InventorEd.

Inventor's Handbook - Answers to 'the independent inventor's and aspiring entrepreneur's most frequently asked questions... on the patenting and commercialization processes.' (M.I.T.)

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

Country Briefings - News, forecasts, economic statistics, and more, for countries from Algeria to Vietnam. Full access only for subscribers; from The Economist. For in-depth country studies, see Library of Congress Portals to the World (many useful links for business, commerce, economy and more), U.S. State Department Background Notes, and Global Edge, described 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(E) 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)

Minding Our Manners Internationally - International students write about good manners and changing manners (including a separate discussion on table manners) in their countries. (TOPICS Online Magazine)

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

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 fincance, retirement, consumer information, social security, and estate planning. (AARP)

Affluenza - Do you suffer from affluenza? ('Affluenza: an epidemic of stress, waste, overconsumption and environmental decay.') Tips and resources for a materially simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle will also help those who just need to live more frugally (PBS). See also Simple Living links [UPDATED LINK!] (Simple Living America).

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. For more about your rights under this law, see the FTC's page on Free Credit Reports, described 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 - Explains procedures, pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 (straight bankruptcy) or Chapter 13 (wage earner's bankruptcy); updated to reflect bankruptcy laws which came into effect on October 17, 2005 (American Bar Association). For additional information, see Bankruptcy Basics (Administrative Office of the United States Courts) and Nolo Press's Bankruptcy Resource Center.

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)

Choosing a Credit Counselor new - Advice on finding a reputable credit counseling organization to help you manage your money and debts. (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 checklists & charts and calculators (Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco).

Consumer Reports Personal Finance - Advice on shopping, banking & credit, family finance, home, work, retirement, investing, consumer protection, taxes, and more. Related resources from Consumer Reports include Rebuild Your Finances and Tightwad Tod's Money blog. See also Reader's Digest Ways to Save: Ideas & Tips (commercial site).

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. (Federal Trade Commission)

Debt Advice - Online budgeting tools and financial tips. (National Foundation for Credit Counseling)

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 (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). See also Fair Debt Collection (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, Consumer Protection Assistance, Real Estate & Housing, and more. (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Do It Yourself Finance? - Advice to help you decide whether to tackle time-consuming financial tasks yourself or pay a professional to do them. Examines the pros and cons of managing your retirement portfolio without a financial adviser, selling your house without a real estate agent, writing your will without a lawyer, and doing your taxes without a tax pro. (Consumer Reports)

Early Retirement? - This article from Money Magazine helps you assess whether you are financially and emotionally ready to opt for early retirement.

E-Banking - Explains how to use the internet to do your banking. (Federal Reserve Bank of NY)

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)

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; commercial site). See also Practical Money Skills Calculators (Visa, Inc.), USA Today Personal Finance Calculators, U.S. News & World Report Money and Business Tools, CNN/Money Calculators, and Kiplinger's Tools & Calculators page.

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

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

Forbes Best of the Web: Personal Finance & Careers - A directory of the best websites on credit, debt, estate planning, insurance, job hunting and more.

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) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and other information about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which are designed to help individuals save for future qualified medical expenses on a tax-free basis. (U.S. Treasury Dept.)

Home Equity Loans - If you are thinking of using your home as security for a loan, this site offers advice to help you avoid high-cost and dishonest lenders. (Federal Reserve Bank)

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

Interest Rates: An Introduction - Explains what interest rates are, how they are determined, how they differ for different types of loans, how they effect the economy, the difference between simple and compound interest, and more. (Federal Reserve Bank of NY)

Investing for your Future - This online course teaches basic investment terms and concepts, setting investment goals, different types of investments, and more. (Rutgers Cooperative Extension)

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 (Internal Revenue Service). See also Nine Frequently Asked Questions About IRAs (SmartMoney / Dow Jones).

MSN Money Central - Lots of advice, tools, and info on savings, credit, investment, retirement planning, and more. If you're new to money management, you might want to start with the 5-Minute Guide to Budgeting, a quick introduction explaining the basics of creating a personal or family budget, with links to additional information and helpful tools on the subjects covered. A useful related article is Money Math You Need to Know. (MSN.com)

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.' Includes a quiz to test your financial knowledge, with explanations and links to additional information for each question and answer.

Payday Loans: Consumer Information new - Suggests ways to avoid the high costs of short-term borrowing from payday loan stores. (Consumer Federation of America)

Retirement and Wills - Advice on retirement planning, wills, and related subjects. (MSN).

Secret History of the Credit Card - A 'Frontline' investigative report on the credit industry, including 'Eight Things a Credit Card User Should Know,' plus information on your credit score, the fine print on your credit agreement, where to file a complaint, and more. Or you can watch the full video program online (©2004, PBS). See Fed Cracks Down on Credit-Card Issuers to learn about new regulations governing the credit card industry (December 2008), and more credit card news (commercial site: Smart Money Magazine).

Shop for Credit Cards - How to save money when you choose a credit card by shopping for the best costs and terms (Federal Reserve Bank).

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)

Unclaimed Property Search - 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)

Wills & Estate Planning - Online guide to estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical decisions, and more. (Nolo Press)

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, described below.

Foundation Center - A fundraising resource for nonprofits and community groups. Or go directly to the Foundation Center's 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. (Northern California Community Foundation)

The Fundraising Process - 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)

Non-Profit Grant Guides - Advice and tools for writing grant proposals. (Personal website, author unknown; Seacoast Web Design)

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 N.J. and parts of NY & CT.

Proposal Writer - Extensive collection of tips and resources for applying for grants; use the lefthand menu to choose a topic. (Personal / commercial site, by Deborah Kluge)

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

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 Opportunities new - Information and advice on Franchise & Business Opportunities, as well as Work at Home Schemes. (Federal Trade Commission)

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. (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. (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh)

Business Week: Small Business News, Advice, and Resources - Articles and other resources from Business Week magazine. See also Wall Street Journal: Small Business new section. Includes articles and a collection of How-To Guides for small business. (Commercial sites)

Co-op America Business Network is now Green America Business Network.

Credit Guide for Small Business - Tips for small business owners seeking outside financing. (Federal Reserve Board of NY)

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.com also offers a collection of special lists on a variety of business topics such as 65 Indispensable Websites for Business Owners, Best Startup Markets for 2009, Franchise Rankings, and more.

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

Franchises new - 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 Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise (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 a proposal / grantwriting / development consultant).

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 America Business Network - Practical advice, resources and contacts to help companies turn social responsibility into business success. 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; a related site is Climate Biz (Green Biz / Business for Social Responsibility). See also B Corporation new .

Employment Laws for Workers & Small Business new - 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), Federal Laws Prohibiting Employment Discrimination and New Jersey 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, described below.

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.

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 $35,000. (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. For a brief overview, see Financial Responsibilities for the Self-Employed (Visa Inc.).

N.J. Business Gateway Registry Services - 'One-Stop Shopping' site offers a single point of entry for business registration and for filing and paying gross income tax withheld and other payroll taxes.(New Jersey Division of Revenue)

N.J. Business Registration Requirements - Businesses or individuals contracting to provide goods or services to local governments in New Jersey must comply with registration requirements outlined on this page. You may apply for a Business Registration Certificate online from the Division of Revenue. See N.J. Local Agency Procurement Laws for additional information (N.J. Department of Community Affairs).

N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Information on labor law, benefits, disabilities, safety, and other information useful to both employers and workers. (State of New Jersey)

N.J. Economic Stimulus Programs - Information about two new stimulus programs designed to 'support business growth, job creation and capital investment in New Jersey during the current challenging economic climate': Main Street Business Assistance Program and InvestNJ Business Grant Program.

N.J. Small Business Development Centers - Contact info for regional business development offices offering a wide variety of services designed to help businesses expand, relocate, or retain jobs in the State. (SBA / Rutgers)

SBA: Small Business Administration - Provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. The SBA offers free self-paced online courses on starting a business, planning, management, financing & accounting, marketing, e-commerce, and more; arranged by subject (registration required). See also Business.gov, another SBA website.

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

Small Business How-to Video Seminars and Podcasts [UPDATED LINK!] - More than a dozen free online video seminars for small business, covering topics such as selling strategies, accounting & bookkeeping basics, credit management & credit repair, market research, pricing your product or service, and much more. (©2000-2008, 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 - Online television network aimed at small business owners and managers, with video features offering advice and information on franchising, green business, legal issues, management, marketing, technology, workplace wellness, and more. (Commercial site)

South Plainfield Business Association - Local association to promote the development of local businesses in the borough. Includes member directory and calendar of events. See also Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

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.)

Woman- and Minority-Owned Business

Black Enterprise Magazine - Information for African-Americans on investing, careers, franchising, and more.

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. SITE CANNOT BE VIEWED WITH INTERNET EXPLORER 6.

Minority Business Entrepreneur - A magazine for minority and women business owners. Includes a Resource Directory. In Brief section offering relevant news is available online.

N.J. Association of Women Business Owners - Includes useful resource links for women business owners.

N.J. Minority Business Enterprise Center - 'Connects minority-owned companies to capital, contracts and business advisors... Eligible businesses are those with at least 51% minority, female, or disabled veteran ownership.' (U.S. Department of Commerce and Interracial Council for Business Opportunity)

Online Women's Business Center - Practical information on starting, running, and growing a business; targeted to women business owners. (SBA)

General Business News & Links

Company Information