SCOREMaine.org
Your Gateway to Counselling in Maine
SMALL BUSINESS LINKS
This selection contains links found to be useful to clients of SCORE counselors. We'll add to this list as we discover more. The links are arranged by subject. Click on the subject of interest at the right hand side to view these resources.
ACCOUNTING
www.cpadirectory.com CPA Directory. Nationwide directory of Accountants, Bookkeepers & CPAs. CPA license verification, Information on Tax & Accounting issues.
ADVICE & COUNSELLING
www.score.org SCORE Association. E-Mail counseling, E-Mail news. Online Business Toolbox with Small Business Power Links and Learning Center.
www.business.gov US Business Advisor. Links to services provided by the US Government to small businesses.
www.welcomebusiness.com Welcome Business USA. A resource center dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs who are starting or growing a small business.
www.entreworld.org Kauffman Foundation. "The Foundation of Entrepreneurship". The site provides original articles written by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.
www.toolkit.cch.com Business Owner's Toolkit. Provides small business owners an online portfolio of tactical information, news, business forms, advice, checklists, and software
tools.
www.abilitiesfund.org The Abilities Fund. Services are designed specifically for individuals with disabilities interested in business ownership and the organizations that serve them. Services are focused on three primary markets:
1. Entrepreneurs with disabilities.
2. Microenterprise development organizations.
3. Vocational rehabilitation agencies and other disability-related organizations.
www.buzgate.org BUZGate is a business-to-business resource portal. As a portal, BUZGate provides an online network of public and private resource providers offering information, goods and services tailored to the interests and needs of small and medium-sized businesses.
ARBITRATION
www.adr.org The American Arbitration Association (AAA). Provides services to individuals and organizations who wish to resolve conflicts out of court. The AAA role in the dispute resolution process is to administer cases, from filing to closing. The AAA provides administrative services in the U.S., as well as abroad through its International Centre for Dispute Resolution.
BAR CODING
www.uc-council.org GS1 US. A not-for-profit standards organization that administers the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) and develops worldwide standards for identification codes, data carriers and electronic commerce.
BUSINESS PLAN
www.sba.gov Small Business Administration. This page on the SBA site provides "step by step" guides to writing business plans.
www.bplans.com BPlans.com. Contains a large collection of free sample business plans. In addition, it has helpful tools and know-how for managing your business. Bplans.com includes practical advice on planning, interactive tools and a panel of experts who have answered more than 1,400 questions from people like you.
FINANCIAL
www.bizstats.com Business Statistics. A source for small business statistics. The objective is to provide instant access to business statistical information that is useful and meaningful.
www.rmahq.org Risk Management Association. The objective of this association is to assist in the identification, assessment and management of the the impacts of credit risk, operational risk and market risk on their businesses and their customers.
www.bizminer.com Bizminer. Provides detailed industry analysis to small and
large businesses through its Financial Analysis Profiles, Cash low Profiles, local and national Marketing Plan Research Profiles, Local Business Summaries, State Market Indices and Business Risk Index. There is a charge for the use of this company's services.
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Finance" near the top of the page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
FORMS
www.entrepreneur.com Entrepreneur.com A tool designed to save you the time and expense of creating business documents from scratch. You can download and customize each form according to your needs, and immediately put them to work in your business.
FRANCHISING
www.frannet.com Frannet. A large group of experts who specialize in helping people learn about the many franchise choices available and how to select the right one. FranNet will provide guidance, information and support.
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Franchising" near the top of the page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
www.aafd.org American Association of Franchisees and Dealers The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association dedicated to defining and promoting total quality franchising practices. Focused on market driven solutions.
FUNDING
www.sba.gov Small Business Administration. Click on "Services" and choose an item from the drop down menu.
www.nvca.org National Venture Capital Association. The NVCA is a trade association that represents the U.S. venture capital industry. It is a member-based organization, which consists of venture capital firms that manage pools of risk equity capital designated to be invested in high growth companies.
www.rurdev.usda.gov USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service. Offers a variety of programs that help improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America: Financial programs support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Economic development programs support loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. Technical assistance and information is offered to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. Technical assistance is provided to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.
GOVERNMENT
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Government" near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a dozen links to government agencies of interest to small business owners.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
www.govcon.com GovCon. A sourcing site for public sector contracting. In addition, this site keeps up with the latest information in the government contracting community.
www.onvia.com ONVIA. Provides government business intelligence to companies that do business with the government. Helps companies make the right business decisions to win more government business.
HUMAN RESOURCES
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Human Resources " near the top of the page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
INCUBATORS
www.nbia.org National Business Incubator Association. NBIA is an organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. It provides information, education, advocacy and networking resources to assist early stage companies worldwide.
INSURANCE
www.ief.org Insurance Education Institute. The IEI mission is to improve the understanding of insurance and risk management and their role in society.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
www.mitc.com Maine International Trade Center. MITC is Maine's center for international business assistance. Formed in 1996, the Trade Center provides technical assistance and trade counseling, import and export leads, international credit reports, workshops, coordinated trade missions and trade shows and many other useful services to help Maine companies seeking to succeed in international markets. MITC offers global exposure to Maine's small and medium sized businesses.
INTERNET
www.hostcompare.com HostCompare. Educational guide to web hosting.
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Technology & Internet " near the top of the page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
LEGAL INFORMATION
www.Business.gov Business.Gov. A repository of legal and regulatory information for America's small businesses that is maintained by the Small Business Administration.
www.nolo.com NOLO. This site has an extensive array of information and boilerplate legal documents for business and personal situations.
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Legal & Tax " near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
MEDIA & MAGAZINES
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Media & Magazines " near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a selection of business magazines of interest to small business owners.
NON PROFITS
www.usa.gov/Business US Government. Provides comprehensive information about nonprofits.
www.nonprofit.about.com About.Com: Non Profit Charitable Organisations. A comprehensive site to learn about and create non profits.
PATENTS & TRADEMARKS
www.uspto.gov U.S. Patent and Trademark Office This site has a great deal of information that allows you to search and file patents and trademarks.
www.copyright.gov US Copyright Office. This site serves the copyright community of creators and users, as well as the general public.
www.inta.org The International Trademark Association. INTA is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the support and advancement of trademarks and related intellectual property.
www.innovation-institute.com The WIN Innovation Center. An inventor/innovator assistance service that provides inventors, entrepreneurs and product marketing/manufacturing enterprises with an honest and objective third-party analysis of the risks and potential of their ideas, inventions and new products.
PLANNING & MANAGING
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Biz Planning & Managing " near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
www.toolkit.cch.com Business Owner's Toolkit. Click on "Planning Your Business". This web site is from the Commerce Clearing House and contains much information about planning for a small business.
SALES & MARKETING
www.salesforce.com Sales Force. This will offer sales force automation in an online service. It will allow you to securely access, manage and share sales information with no software to buy.
www.findhow.com FindHow. The How-To Search Engine: indexes instructions on everyday topics from "Names You Trust", i.e. corporations, governmental and educational institutions, with a special emphasis on business topics, including startup How-Tos.
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Sales & Marketing " near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
www.sba.gov/localresources Maine District of The Small Business Administration. Items of local interest and importance to small business owners.
START UP
www.sba.gov US SBA Small Business Planner. This site will give you a step by step guide to all the factors in starting your business.
www.toolkit.cch.com Business Owner's Toolkit. Click on "Starting Your Business". This web site is from the Commerce Clearing House and contains a discussion of the various forms of business structures, with pros and cons.
TAXES
www.irs.gov Internal Revenue Service. Need we say more!
www.score.org SCORE Association. Click on "Legal & Tax " near the top of the SCORE Association page to view a selection sites chosen by SCORE.
TECHNOLOGY
www.score.org SCORE Association. There are three areas on this site that provide information about technological issues: "Technology for Your Business", "eCommerce for Your Busines" and "Technology & Internet". These links can be found near the top of this site's Home Page.
VENTURE CAPITAL
www.nvca.org National Venture Capital Association. The NVCA is a trade association that represents the U.S. venture capital industry. It is a member-based organization, which consists of venture capital firms that manage pools of risk equity capital designated to be invested in high growth companies.
WOMEN & BUSINESS
www.wbcmaine.org Women's Business Center - Maine. The Maine Women Business Owners Online Directory to meet other women business owners in the State of Maine and to promote your products and services on the Internet. Also look at the national organization in advice & counselling.
www.sba.gov Women's Business Center - National. Numerous resources aimed specifically at helping women in business.