Business Information Sites
60 Sample Business Plans
The SBA and Palo Alto Software have compiled Sample Business Plans, which are available for review online and revision with Business Plan Pro Software. Business Plan Pro is available for order through this site and the includes over 400 other sample plans.
Business Growth Resources
Managing Your Business
The United States Small Business Administration's webpage for managing your business provides comprehensive information on topics including management for growth, leadership, marketing and sales, financing, strategic planning, technology, special iterests and taxes. With links to online courses, libraries, online universities and colleges, online help and national training event days, the US SBA site is a practical tool for small business owners at any level.
Business owner's toolkit
This toolkit is a comprehensive answer to the small business ownerÞ²s questions and concerns. The site provides top business headlines, free downloads, an advice columnist, free e-mail based training courses, a monthly newsletter and links to more detailed sites on specific topics from controlling your taxes to understanding the financial statement.Â
Idea Cafe
The Cafe hosts active forums, free templates, relevant FAQs, business outlines and technical explanations for business terms and procedures. The site addresses topics as specific as how to start a wedding planning business to as general as how to successfully work at home. Idea Café provides insight into breaking technology, links to free publications, ideas for how to relax and be more productive at work, and links to hundreds of other resources.
Smart Biz
Smart Biz has a broad archive of in depth articles on topics from marketing to management, profiles on successful business owners and how they got to the top, interactive forums, a technology center and helpful web links. The highlight of this site is an extensive list of sample business forms in free downloadable format.
Marketing
AllBusiness
From office leasing to dealing with personal and family matters when mixed with business, the site offers detailed articles that address common business issues. AllBusiness lists extensive directories of online resources for business aid. Business forms for purchase are also available from this site.
Market Research on the Web
Wilsonweb has links to scores of publications and thousands of articles on the web; some articles are fee based or require registration, others are free. With thousands of links and articles, the site is searchable by topic and keyword for assisted navigation.
Employee Management
Human Resources
The Small Business Development Center's Human Resources page is a helpful tool for orienting a small business owner in employee management and the how to obtain the services one must provide for employees. This site also acts as a reference page for those familiar with employee management, as it contains links to handbooks, competative salary listings for various markets and occupations and publications containing breaking trends and developments in human resources. Employee Handbook
The SBA's Employee Handbook is full of policy suggestions and examples of handbook pages. The site lists dozens of scenarios and ideas for your consideration in planning the rules and regulations of your employee management.
Business Opportunities
Selling Goods and Services to the Government
Selling goods and services to the government has special regulations and rules that business owners must be aware of upon bidding for a contract. This site helps business owner become aware of and understand the basics, the rules, opportunities, size standards, contract proposals and special interest initiatives the government has to offer.