Online Small Business Tools
The Top Links for Your Business
Alternative Funding
Alternative funding venue allows you to structure a business loan from family, friends or associates in a way that is cost effective, flexible, serves to establish strong business credit and provides benefits for all involved - an ideal approach for start-up business funding, growth funding and commercial real estate funding.
Link: www.VirginMoneyUS.com
Business Counseling
Tap an experienced and confidential network of small business advisors available at no charge to anyone looking to start, expand or succeed in business.
Link: www.SCORE.org
Business Credit and Charge Card
Discover how business credit and business charge cards may be utilized to manage cash flow, track business expenses and support a range of business reward incentives including earning points redeemable for dining, shopping, entertainment, travel, purchase discounts and automatic savings opportunities.
Link: AmericanExpress.com
Business Credit Builder
Build your credit history and credit score through a vendor relationship with a provider that offers Lines of Credit as payment terms for purchases of eBooks, eMusic, eCertificate programs and other eProducts. Your line of credit and payment practices are routinely reported to Business Credit Bureaus, which drive your credit score and build your credit capacity for pursuing other forms of financing.
Link: Business Credit Builder
Cash Management
Improve your company's cash flow by managing your credit profile. Your business credit affects the payment terms you receive from suppliers, the interest rates you pay on loans, and the insurance premiums you pay for worker's compensation.
Link: Dunn & Bradstreet
Business Census Data
To search for demographic data, start with the US Census Bureau. Here you will find detailed data on private population demographics, and a variety of business statistics such as, how many and what type of business are located in a particular community area.
Link: quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
Business Competitive Research
One of the best ways to find industry data on size, trends, and competition, is through the annual and quarterly filings required by the US Securities Exchange of all publicly traded companies. This information, known as 10k or 10q, is detailed and voluminous. Read what you want, but be aware that the SEC requires these firms to be as honest as possible.
Link: www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
Link: www.freeedgar.com/Search/BeginSearch.asp
Data Backup Solution
Don't lose your business data - Protect against losing all your business data with a safe, reliable, automated process for backing up important files, accounting records, contact databases, photos, financial documents, music, email and other computer-based data via the Internet.
Link: www.Mozy.com
Debt Restructuring
In financial trouble? Innovative debt restructuring service helps to avoid business bankruptcy by satisfying creditors based on what you can afford rather than unrealistic collection demands.
Link: www.DontDeclare.us
Document Management
Learn how to turn piles of receipts, business cards and other documents into efficient, secure digital files to manage less paper, improve productivity and streamline data management and retrieval. Integrated scanner software/hardware solution converts documents into digital formats including searchable spreadsheets, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook files.
Link: The Neat Company
Domain Name Registration
There are a variety of on line resources where you can register a domain name, learn if a domain name is available, or even learn who owns a particular domain name. A couple of reliable and cost-effective options include GoDaddy.com and Gandi.net.
Link: www.GoDaddy.com
Link: www.Gandi.net
Employee Background Checks
Avoid costly hiring mistakes - Hire right the first time. Easy to use, pay as you go online Employment Background Check solutions provider cost-effectively helps to minimize hiring the wrong candidate, reduce employment related liability, legally meet contractual obligations and keep insurance costs down.
Link: www.HireRightExpress.com
Financing Solutions
Speed up cash flow - Finance growth without borrowing or giving up equity by expediting payment of invoices through a process called factoring. A factor buys your invoice(s), paying you up front upon validating the creditworthiness of your customers and you get your cash right away. There is no limit to the amount of capital available and all your resources can be focused on sales and customer service.
Link: www.cfgroup.net
FreeColorPrinters Program
Learn about FREE color printer/copier/scanner program from industry leader offers networked, color printer that supports 2-sided color printing, scanning and copying. Program includes minimum monthly usage and reporting requirements and online purchasing of supplies.
Link: www.freecolorprinters.com/application/apply.cfm
Health Insurance Marketplace
Secure the right health insurance coverage at the right price using a convenient on-line marketplace to find, compare and buy Individual Health Insurance, Family Health Insurance, Small Business Health Insurance, Self Employed Health Insurance, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Link: www.eHealthInsurance.com
Media Contact Service
Generate free publicity with a quality media directory service that will help you to cost-effectively build sales through building public relations. Detailed media contact profiles are available in print, digital and online interactive platforms to allow you to establish and maintain productive relationships with newspaper, radio, television, specialty niche, trade and consumer magazine representatives.
Link: www.GebbieInc.com
Office Space On-Demand
Maintain a professional business address while working at home; utilize facilities while on the road; contract for temporary space or set-up for growth; - - all with cost-effective access to world class business support services including mail processing and call handling services, videoconferencing, purchasing discounts and more "when you need them, and how you need them".
Link: www.Regus.com
Online Business Store
Set up the online store you really need to do the right job. Reach more customers and grow sales globally with robust ecommerce software and professional design and support services that deliver a scalable, easy to use platform for managing orders, inventories, processing payments and online marketing. Synchronize with QuickBooks for efficient accounting and reporting.
Link: www.MivaMerchant.com
Performance Management
Get more from your employees with a solid performance review and goal alignment process that achieves measurable results and drives increased profitability. Web-based, automated performance management application provides easy access to HR best practices making this process efficient, affordable and reliable with built-in features for engaging workers and measuring outcomes.
Link: www.SuccessFactors.com
Printing for Small Business and SOHO
Differentiate your marketing outreach with hard copy materials. Print is a critical component to any small business marketing strategy giving customers and prospects something to see, touch and feel. Make it count by connecting with an online printing company that offers competitive pricing, design templates, online live support, total satisfaction guarantee, green friendly practices and over 85 years of experience.
Link: Conquest Graphics
Remote Employee Access
Learn more about how your company could benefit by giving your employees secure, remote access to needed business systems applications while working from home, in the field, traveling, or other locations outside the main office.
Link: www.citrix.com/cae/buzgate
Sales Proposal and Business Document Templates
Build sales, protect business interests, minimize legal costs and negotiate better terms with access to over 1,500 document templates for common business policies and procedures in areas of business management, human resources, law, finance, accounting, real estate, sales, marketing, sub-contracting, consulting and more. Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, home office entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. Documents are available in Spanish, Chinese, French and English.
Link: Biztree
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques to build your small business brand, customer-base and revenues. SEO is a high value, low-cost component of a successful Internet marketing strategy and offers a proven approach to building business buzz and sales.
Link: YouCanBeFound.com
Small Business Loan
Does your business accept credit cards? If so, get the money you need when you need it by turning future credit card sales into a business cash advance today for working capital. Unlike a bank small business loan, funding is advanced based on projected credit card sales volumes and related business history. You re-pay only as you get paid.
Link: Business Cash Advance
Business Tax Help
Discover help for Self-employed businesses, workshops, tax tools, forms and publications.
Link: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
Teens & Entrepreneurship
Review five (5) steps to business ownership including Explore, Decide, Build, Connect and Succeed, as well as resources such as a student activities guide, a volunteer guide, and an assessment tool, at a website launched in collaboration between the US Small Business Administration and Junior Achievement Worldwide.
Link: www.mindyourownbiz.org
Trademark Filing
To file a trademark or service mark, to check availability of a name or phrase, or even to find out what the terms mean, go directly to the US Patent Office. Here you will find a search option and a filing option. If you choose to file on line, you can use a credit card in a secure transaction. A month or so later, you will receive hard copy confirmation of your filing.
Link: www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
Unlimited Conferencing
Use low-cost, high-value audio conferencing and web conferencing services to improve communications, cut travel costs, save time and improve performance. High quality, easy to use online interface supports sales, training and remote worker needs when used for Sales Presentations, Sales Demos, Global Collaborations, Online Training, Remote Worker Communications and other relationship building applications.
Link: UnlimitedConferencing.com
Veterans in Business
Connect with the tools needed to be successful as a Veteran in business including access to capital, entrepreneurial education, access to markets, access to services and business networking opportunities.
Link: www.veteranscorp.org
Virtual Business Incubator
Find free help to start and grow your venture and connect with a membership-based Business Success System that provides a blueprint for how to build your business efficiently and profitably one step at a time, each month and over the long term.
Link: www.myvbi.org
Voice & Data Solutions
Transform your business with the power of today's telecommunication technologies. Small business success depends highly on the Internet for communication and access to information, voice, graphics and video. Knowing what's available, how it works and who has it offers a competitive edge and value to the bottom line.
Link: www.verizonmarketing.com/bsg/
Website Design and Development
Make your Website work for you - Website design, development and maintenance services made easy, affordable and reliable for small business as an outsourced option. Secure the marketing expertise, technical know-how and customized solutions that your business requires to maintain a web presence that offers competitive advantages, increased sales and improved profitability.
Link: www.RazorIT.com