Entrepreneur Resources

Business Links

Starting and managing a business requires more than just motivation and talent. It also takes research and planning. The resource links below will provide information that can help you reach your goals.

Business Plans

• About.com Business Plans & Business Plan Writing
  Includes tools and resources needed to write a money attracting business plan.
• Bplans.com
  Includes how to write a business plan, sample plans (many of them free), business plan software and business calculators.
• CCH’s Business Owner’s Toolkit
  Includes business plans case studies, how to write a business plan, preparation, and how to put a complete plan to use.
• Entrepreneur.com
  Site includes business plan tutorial, information on personalizing your business plan, writing and presentation tips, and mistakes to avoid during start-up ventures.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  Overview of programs to support existing and new businesses in Indiana.
• Indiana Small Business Development Center
  Information for start-ups: including feasibility assessment, management, marketing, money issues and legalities.
• SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives
  Counselor’s to America’s Small Business – Includes templates for business: A Business Plan for Start-up Business, Bank Loan Request for Small Business, Break-even Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Financial History & Ratios, Opening Day Balance Sheet, Projected Balance Sheet, Start-up Expenses, Profit Projections and Sales Forecast.
• US Business Advisor
  The government provides a wealth of business information and this link connects you to all the resources offered, including multiple federal agencies.
• Small Business Development Center, National Information Clearinghouse
  Provides resources to small businesses on a variety of topics including but not limited to business plan development, home businesses, financing, marketing and tax issues.
• US Chambers Online Small Business Center
  Provides tips on how to write your business plan, including audience, planning period, information sources and making assumptions.
• US Small Business Administration
  Site dedicated to starting, financing and managing your small business

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Finances/Venture Capital

• Financing Articles, Guides and Resources
  Online guides and links to venture sources.
• Loan Prequalification Programs
  Assists prospective borrowers to develop viable loan application packages.
• National Venture Capital Association
  Provides links to regional venture capital organizations and other related resources.
• Venture Capital Resource Library
  Includes links and listings of venture capitalists.
• Venture Wire
  News releases on the activities of venture capital firms.
• The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
  Access database of all Federal programs available to public and private organizations.
• Business Funding Directory
  Over 4000 funding sources, free searchable databases and how to workbooks.

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Human Resources

• Richmond Workforce Development Center
• Eastern Indiana Human Resources Association
• HR Zone
  Source of information on fundamental human resource topics.
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
  Employee safety and health information
• US Department of Labor
  Federal employment laws and regulations and employment statistics and data.

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International Business

• Global Edge
  International Business Center at Michigan State University, offering a wealth of international business information, statistics, directories and resources.
• US Department of State
  Office of Commercial & Business Affairs includes information on foreign markets, trends and investment climate.

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Legal

• Legal & Regulatory
  Comprehensive resource for legal requirements and issues.
• Legal Concerns of Small Business
  Articles and guides on legal issues.
• E-Laws
  Answers to legal questions provided by the US Department of Labor.
• Nolo Small Business Encyclopedia
  A wealth of advice, legal and otherwise, on operating a business.
• Taxes & Accounting
  A starting point to access numerous web sites relating to taxes and accounting issues.
• US Patent & Trademark Office
  Facts about patents and trademarks, pricing and fee information, patent and trademark searches.
• Liability
  Web site of the Consumer Product Safety Commission includes industry guidelines, regulations and more.

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Marketing

• Library of Marketing Resources
  Access dozens of marketing topics and resources.
• Marketing Guides
  Marketing dictionary, marketing services directory, free guides and webcasts.
• Business Marketing Resources
  Site of the Business Marketing Association with news, resources, articles and white paper.
• American List Council
  Full service mailing list and database broker, manager and compiler.
• US Postal Service
  A wealth of direct mail information, tips and guidelines.
• The Direct Marketing Association
  Site of the Direct Marketing Association with news resources, articles and white papers.

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Patents, Trademarks & Inventions

• US Patent & Trademark Office
  Facts about patents and trademarks, pricing and fee information, patent and trademark searches.
• Federal Trade Commission
  Business publications, guide to anti-trust laws, and labeling.
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
  Association of over 15000 members involved in the practice of patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition law.
• The Entrepreneur Network
  Provides information, contacts and counsel to inventors and entrepreneurs.
• United Inventors Association
  Provides support and services to inventor support groups and independent inventors.

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Publicity

• Internet Press Guild
  A guide for press relations.
• The PR Academy
  Classes on public relations.
• Finder Binder
  News media directories.
• Public Relations Society of America
  Advice and assistance in public relations and publicity.
• Wire Services
  http://www.businesswire.com
  http://www.prnewswire.com
  http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com
  http://www.internetnewsbureau.com
  Services that will disseminate releases electronically.

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Research

• National Business Incubation Association (NBIA)
• Thomas Register
  Directory of manufacturers and products.
• Public Registers Annual Report Service
  Access to thousands of annual reports.
• Verizon Superpages
  National interactive yellow page directory.
• Current Industrial Reports
  US Census Bureau reports on manufacturing activities in select industries.
• Market Research Reports
  Access to reports for sale by several hundred sources.
• Technology Markets
  Reports on technology markets from Frost and Sullivan.
• Calculate Survey Sample
  Free calculator to arrive at desired research sample size.
• IT Market Research
  Resources for marketing research and survey.
• Population Research
  Census Bureau site for population statistics by zip code.
• Office of Technology
  US Small Business Administration partnership programs, workshops and conferences.

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Local, State of Indiana and Federal Sites

• Purdue Technical Assistance Program
  Technical assistance for Indiana businesses.
• USDA/Rural Development
  US Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
• US Small Business Administration
  Site dedicated to starting, financing and managing your small business.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  Overview of programs to support existing and new businesses in Indiana.
• Indiana Small Business Development Center
  Information for start-ups: including feasibility assessment, management, marketing, money issues and legalities.
• Indiana Department of Transportation
  Contains information about road construction projects, details on doing business with INDOT, publications, maps, new project studies, and more.
• Economic Development Administration
  The EDA leads the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management
  Overview of programs available to assist with protecting, preserving and improving the quality of Indiana air, water and land.
• Richmond Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
• City of Richmond
• State Budget Agency
  Overview of the office charged with the duty and responsibility of serving as fiscal analyst, administrative budget officer, fiscal forecaster, and fiscal policy adviser to the Governor.
• Indiana Department of Workforce Development
  Resources for job seekers, employers and education providers.
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture
• Access Indiana Information Network
  The Access Indiana Information Network provides a wealth of information about the Hoosier state.

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Statistics

• United States Government Resources
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US Department of Commerce
  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Economic Analysis
  • US National Center for Education Statistics
  • FedWorld
• Bank Rate Monitor
  Check rates for many types of loans.
• BizStats.com
  Compare business statistics for many types of businesses and industries.
• Statistical Abstract of the United States
  United States Government’s official statistical resource.
• Economic Statistics and Research
  Statistical research on a wide range of subjects provided by the SBA Office of Advocacy.

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Colleges & Universities

• Earlham College
• Indiana University East
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Ivy Tech Community College
• Purdue University

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