Starting a Business (see also Small Business Resources below)

Business.gov has information about writing a business plan, financing your start up, buying a franchise, getting licenses and permits, applying for patents and copyrights, and much more.  They also have sections on managing, growing, and selling your business.

My Own Business is a non-profit organization that offers no-nonsense advice on starting and managing a new business or franchise.  There is a top 10 list of do's and don'ts when starting a business, a free 12-session online business course, help with taxes, insurance, finance,  finding the right business and location, and expanding your business.

Small Business Resources (see also Starting a Business above)

African American Business Resources on the Web: This list from the Library of Congress features business websites for, by, or of interest to African Americans and some other minorities, covering the basics of starting a business, finding funding sources, as well as management, marketing and demographics, and more.

SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Find information on the laws governing employer/ employee relations, how to apply for a license, and check other businesses and individuals to find if they are licensed.

National Resources

Department of Commerce Provides information and news on the current state of the economy.  Also included is a section on trade in the United States and economic development and analysis.

Library of Congress: Business Reference Services: Although most of the LOC resources are available only offline, they also have an extensive Internet Resources page that covers 75 business topics, including "Accounting," "Labor," "Demographics," "Exporting/Importing," "Legal Resources," "Franchises," "Trade Shows," and "Nonprofit Organizations."

Department of Commerce: Economics and Statistics Administration: The ESA is the bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce where economic and social changes are chronicled and explained. Many political and business decisions are based upon the economic and demographic information produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Census Bureau, and STAT-USA.

Securities and Exchange Commission: EDGAR: All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Anyone can access and download this information for free. Here you'll find links to a complete list of filings available through EDGAR and instructions for searching the EDGAR database.

Business Search Engines and Portals

About.com: Business:  Main categories are "Business Practices," "General Business," "Industry," and "Small Business."  Articles on planning and starting a small business, marketing and managing, technology, logistics, and much more.  Also provides a small business information glossary.

CEO Express:  This site is very busy, but has great links to all sorts of business information and research, newspapers and television news, internet searching suggestions, business magazines, international time and weather, and more. 

BizWiz:  Features numerous online searchable business databases and agents from 150 categories and 3,000 subcategories. Users can search for business news articles, conference information, marketing information, strategic thinking information, business intelligence, and various other types of information. The site also has an extensive market industry sector directory.

Grant Writing

Grants.gov is a great place to start looking for federal grant information.  Search grant opportunities by category or agency, or by keyword.  Download application packets, and find advice in their Customer Support area about applying, get answers to commonly asked questions, and find email and phone contact information.  You can also sign up for their email newsletter if you want to keep up with the latest federal grant information.

International Business Web Sites

Academy of International Business:  The Academy of International Business is the leading global community of scholars for the creation and dissemination of knowledge about international business and policy issues. The AIB transcends the boundaries of single academic disciplines and managerial functions to enhance business education and practice. The objectives of the AIB are to foster education and advance professional standards in the field of international business.

Department of State: Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs:  The EEB formulates and carries out US foreign economic policy, integrating US economic interests with our foreign policy goals so that US firms and investors can compete on an equal basis with their counterparts overseas. It implements American economic policy in cooperation with US companies, US government agencies and other organizations.  The bureau negotiates agreements with foreign governments and advances US positions in such international organizations as the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization.

Center for International Private Enterprise:  (CIPE), an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce, works to build democracy and market economies throughout the world.  One recent grants program supports over 90 indigenous organizations in developing countries. They also offer an award-winning communications strategy, training programs, and technical assistance through field offices. Since its inception in 1983, CIPE has funded more than 700 projects in 80 countries and has conducted management training programs throughout the world.

The Internationalist:  The business directory provided here is extensive; it contains important links to government and legal information. Trade shows, conferences, and leads are a unique feature of this site. Additionally, a venue for communication is provided for business students and executives in the form of message boards; newspapers and airline tickets are also available.

Council for International Business:  Founded in 1945 to promote an open world trading system, now among the premier pro-trade, pro-market liberalization organizations, an active membership base of over 300 multinational companies, law firms, and business associations, provides unparalleled access to international policy makers and regulatory authorities. Over 50 specialized policy committees and working groups. Facilitates international trade through harmonization of commercial practices, issues and guarantees ATA Carnets which allow temporary, duty-free imports overseas for trade shows, commercial samples, and professional equipment.

International Trade Center, ITC, works with developing countries and economies in transition to set up effective trade promotion programs for expanding their exports and improving their import operations. This covers six key areas: product and market development, Development of trade support services, Trade information, Human resource development, International purchasing and supply management, and Needs assessment and program design for trade promotion. In all of these services, ITC gives particular attention to activities with the least developed countries (LDCs).

Country Cultures, Demographics, Maps

Library of Congress: Federal Research Division, Country Studies:  Over 100, mostly small, non-western, countries are covered in this US Army study from 1986-1998.  Information provided for each country varies, and some countries included here no longer exist.  However, there is much more in-depth information provided here than in, for instance, the CIA World Factbook.

Department of State: Background Notes, Countries’ Demographics:  Find out about the current political, social, and economic situation of every country on the planet, as well as its history, people, geography, and more.  Also listed are the US embassy locations and other American posts in that country, and background and contact information for the US Ambassador to each country.

Peace Corps: Cultural Information:  This workbook designed for Peace Corps volunteers addresses commonly held assumptions about our own and other cultures, and provides advice on how to most easily and respectfully communicate with people of other cultures.  Especially helpful to businesses would be chapter four, "Culture in the Workplace."

LII's Business links

Yahoo's Business & Economy Links