Government Sites:
www.co.blue-earth.mn.us
Learn all about Blue Earth County government administration, programs, services, and department news that serves the citizens of Blue Earth County.
Learn about opportunities in Martin County, government administration, programs, services, and department news that serves the citizens of Martin County.
The U.S. Business Advisor giving official positions on government issues with information affecting business.
Dept. of Commerce (MN) for licenses, regulatory requirements, services of Dept. of Commerce, and weights and measures info.
www.sos.state.mn.us
The Secretary of State (MN) for tax info, services to help start up a business, forms and procedures for starting a business.
www.dted.state.mn.us
Dept. of Trade and Economic Development (MN) on business assistance and financial assistance programs in the State.
www.taxes.state.mn.us
Find out what taxes are required to operate your business and how to satisfy the State of Minnesota requirements.
http://www.epa.gov/smallbusiness
When a small business needs to get the regulations and information about environmental protection concerns and how to satisfy the EPA.
www.sbaonline.sba.gov
For existing businesses or start-ups and the location of respective SBDC’s across the U.S., plus links to the SCORE program.
www.SCORE.org
The Senior Corps of Retired Executives site to help anyone with their issues on small business operations and establish a mentorship with experts
on any issue in business.
www.uspto.gov
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with procedures on how to obtain proprietary protection for products, search
for patents, and apply for patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
www.loc.gov/copyright
To search copyrights, and receive forms and information on how to apply for copyrights.
www.onlinewbc.org
The Women In Business Center with affliation to the SBA to help woman entrepreneurs with issues, funding, and advice.
www.census.gov
The U.S. Bureau of Census on secondary market information useful to existing businesses for market plans and for start
ups to help mitigate risks in the market place.
Non-Governmental Sites:
www.nolo.com
Law center encyclopedia with legal topics and strategies on how to handle legal issues in small business.
Society for human resource management includes all topics necessary to ensure a first class human resource program in business.
www.ewin.com
Employee handbooks and labor management issues and solutions.
www.workingsolo.com
Starting a business with 20 employees or less as self-employed, as a free agent, e-lancers, telecommuters, or independent
contractors and home based businesses.
www.entreworld.org
Entrepreneurs search engine for getting organized and how to use resources wisely for entrepreneurial ventures.
www.lowe.org
“Champions the entrepreneurial spirit” by providing information, research, and articles on all topics of business.
www.hoaa.com
Small Office/Home Office is the official page for Home Office Assoc. of America with industry
statistics, trends, income tex tips and more.
www.lk-usa.com
Start up incorporation help site for all types of corporations.
www.stthomas.edu/business/centers/morrison
Morrison Center for Entrepreneurism discussing the entire world of entrepreneurism.
www.franchise1.com
The franchise directory and articles concerning how to run a franchise as well as the respective associations and business opportunities.
www.entremkt.com/index.html
The franchise directory.
www.angelinvestors.infopoint.org
All the information you ever wanted to know about how to operate and start up a franchise along with training and investments.
www.greatermankato.com
The Mankato/North Mankato Chamber of Commerce site to inform citizens and business about events, services, and organizations.
www.mncn.org/howto.htm
The Minnesota resource on how to start up a non-profit organization.
www.yourbusinesstoday.com
Running an effcient business.
www.patentcafe.com
How to license a technology, get a trademark, patent, copyright and other inventors resources for information and ‘how to’ advice.
www.businesslaw.gov
Legal issues for any type or size of business.
www.inventorfraud.com
Learn about scams, felonious ventures, fraud promoters across America.
www.hoovers.com/industry/resources.html
Gives info concerning various industries and their competitiveness.
www.maritz.com/mmri/apoll
Learn what consumers say about issues across America.
www.thomasregister.com
For manufacturers and OEM’s across the United States and Canada. What they manufacture, and how they distribute.
www.bigyellow.com
The NYNEX Interactive Yellow Pages that allows you to search by company or by product while conducting your secondary market research.
www.trainingforum.com/assoc.html
The online listings of professional associations that are applicable to your business and industry with services to help you with business
issues and strategies.
http://clickcity.com/index2.htm
Is the listing of all chambers of commerce by city and then you can see what businesses are present in respective cities.
www.entrepreneurmag.com
The Entrepreneur Magazine site for small business resources, articles, and advice for entrepreneurs.
www.inc.com
INC magazine for small business issues and articles of advice.
www.smartbiz.com
Industry and business issues and information searchable in depth to help with existing businesses and start up operations.
www.nbia.org
National Business Incubation Association.
http://www.bplans.com/sp
A free website by Business Plan Pro and other business planning software products for online access to over 50
sample business and marketing plans.
http://www.pwcmoneytree.com
For quarterly study of equity investments by venture capital companies.
http://www.vfinance.com
Website on venture capital resources and related services but membership is required.
Professional Research Assistance:
The James J. Hill Reference Library has resources for you to write a successful business plan. They provide a guide with samples and you can get their catalog at www.jjhill.org (click on ‘Business Collection’ and then click on ‘Search our Library Catalog’ or call reference line at 651-265-5500 and talk with a Business information Specialist.