Internet Links - Business & Economy
For more resources, see our Business and Money Databases
Small Business Resources
Associations
- National Association of the Self-Employed - This site offers support and information for the self-employed and their families.
Business Plans
- Benefits of a Written Plan
- Preparing to Write a Business Plan
- Writing Your Business Plan
- Business Plans and Profiles Index - "This index lists types of small businesses and a corresponding sample business plan, profile or book about the business with sources provided after each entry. Entries that refer to actual sample plans are in bold print. If the plan or profile is online, a link is provided." From the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Business Organization
- Types of Ownership Structures - From Nolo Press, this site discusses the various types of business structures such as C Corporation, S Corporations, etc.
Business Tools
Businesses for Sale
- Business Resale Network - Free access to thousands of businesses for sale and a variety of other information useful to the small business owner or manager.
Classes & Workshops
- Kentucky Small Business Development Center - The SBDC offers free online classes on a variety of topics.
- Greater Louisville Small Business Development Center - The GLSBDC offers classes for a small fee on a variety of topics.
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Louisville Region - "Opportunity Discovery Training is a workshop designed to help entrepreneurs learn a new process and methodology to more efficiently and effectively generate wealth-building opportunities. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and is facilitated by Dr. Karen Bishop, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship at the University of Louisville. Bishop is a CPA and a consultant with extensive experience on strategic, financial and marketing issues. She specializes in new venture creation, advanced organizational behavior and team dynamics. The workshop consists of four two-hour sessions and will enable entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs to identify the areas of knowledge and skill unique to their personal and professional goals and how to match those attributes to what the marketplace is looking for, whether it's new products, new services, new processes or new markets."
- SCORE- "Louisville SCORE's mission is to become the leading client-driven counselor service for new and established small business owners by providing managerial and operational support through counseling, seminars and workshops."
Entrepreneurship
- BizOffice.com - Small business and home-based business links.
- BizPlus - Internet Small Business Center.
Federal Government Information
- Business.gov - "Business.gov is a collaborative effort managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration." It provides information and links to all aspects of the small business and the U.S. government.
- SCORE:Counselors to America's Small Business - Formerly Service Corps of Retired Executives, SCORE aids the entrepreneur in all areas of developing a small business.
- SBA: Small Business Administration Home Page
- USA.gov - The Business and Nonprofits Gateway is a wonderful source of information on any topic relating to running a business or nonprofit.
Financing your Business
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments of the Federal government.
- SBA Financing your Business
- Obtaining a Business Loan - From the Louisville Department of Economic Development.
Franchises
- Entrepreneur.com - Franchises & Opportunitiesl
- FranchisGator - FranchiseGator is a directory of franchises organized by business category. It also lists businesses for sale.
- Franchise Opportunities.com - A directory of franchise opportunities around the world, it also includes franchise resources and current news about franchises.
- SmallBusinessFranchise.com - Find information about franchises, listed by industry. This site also includes links to small business organizations and consultants.
Home-based Businesses
- National Association of Home Based Businesses
- Greater Louisville Home-Based Business Association - "The Greater Louisville Home-Based Business Association is a new and growing force in our community. Many home-based entrepreneurs in the Louisville area are joining together to create an organization that will serve as a support and networking center. If you are presently operating or considering to startup a home-based business, then you must attend one of our meetings."
Legal Information
- Business.gov - "Business.gov guides you through the maze of government rules and regulations … and provides access to services and resources to help you start, grow, and succeed in business.
Louisville
- Community Ventures Corporation - "Founded in 1982, Community Ventures Corporation (CVC) is a community-based, non-profit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for urban and rural residents throughout central and northern Kentucky. CVC's central mission is to provide individuals and families with the skills, income, and assets, they need to achieve financial independence. CVC helps people increase income and build assets with three main strategies: small business ownership, home ownership, and job creation through business expansion."
- Center for Nonprofit Excellence - The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is a "nonprofit support management organization dedicated to being a resource for the success of the nonprofit sector in the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana metro area."
- Greater Louisville Small Business Development Center - "The mission of the KSBDC (Kentucky Small Business Development Centers) network is to further economic development by fostering the creation and growth of viable small enterprises."
- Greater Louisville Home-Based Business Association - "The Greater Louisville Home-Based Business Association is a new and growing force in our community. Many home-based entrepreneurs in the Louisville area are joining together to create an organization that will serve as a support and networking center. If you are presently operating or considering to startup a home-based business, then you must attend one of our meetings."
- Kentuckiana Minority Supplier Development Council - KMSDC's goal is to increase the amount and quality of business transacted with minority owned and controlled firms throughout the state of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
- Louisville Community Development Bank - LCDB Enterprise Group's Enterprise Development Center provides business owners with a wide range of customized, on-site services to assist them in their company's day-to-day operations.
- Louisville Startups.com - "LouisvilleStartupups.com offers forums and links to local startups and technology companies, and it highlights the work of government officials, business operators and investors involved with the local entrepreneurial community."
- Starting or Expanding a Business in Louisville - Information from the Louisville Department of Economic Development.
- Obtaining a Business Loan - From the Louisville Department of Economic Development.
- SBA Kentucky - Local office site includes workshop schedules.
- Big Talk on Small Business - This is a program on WKJK 1080-AM that focuses on small business. It runs 12pm-3pm Monday-Friday.
- The West Louisville Initiative - The West Louisville Initiative is a program of Greater Louisville, Inc. and works to promote business in West Louisville.
- The Nia Center - "If you want to open some doors for your business, open ours first. The Nia Center is the one place anyone in Louisville can go to find resources ranging from training to transportation. Nia comes from Swahili, meaning purpose. The Nia Center's purpose is to empower people to develop a more meaningful life, for themselves and their business. From starting a business, to getting a job, to finding transportation, you'll find what you and your business need here."
Louisville Business Incubators
- FB3 Development LLC - "FB3 Development was started in 2006 to facilitate product development and manufacturing for a growing food and beverage industry. Our expertise will help you develop and manufacture innovative food and beverage products."
- Metacyte Business Lab - "Breaking free of the traditional health science incubator model, MetaCyte Business Lab actually creates launches and manages its portfolio companies. MetaCyte takes a hands-on, human capital intensive approach to company building."
Kentucky
- Kentucky Small Business Resource Guide - - From the SBA.
- Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development - "This website provides extensive information on the programs and services available to businesses including existing businesses, newly locating companies, start-ups, small and minority businesses and many others."
- The Secretary of State's Office - This site includes information essential to anyone wanting to start a business in Kentucky. Look here for corporate records, the land office, the uniform commercial code, notaries, apostille/authentication, trademarks/service marks, and more.
- Kentucky Small Business Profile - "The Small Business State Profiles provide an overview of the important role small businesses play in each state. They include baseline statistics on each state's small business economy - number of firms, small business income, industrial composition, job growth and data on minority and women-owned businesses."
- Kentucky Small Business Development Center - "Kentucky’s Small Business Development Centers have been assisting the Commonwealth’s small business community for more than 20 years. With 15 service centers statewide and an experienced and knowledgeable staff, KSBDC is a great resource for both existing business owners and potential entrepreneurs."
Magazines
Professional Licensing
- Professional Licensing - "Check here for important information regarding your professional license; some are even available online."
- Renewing Your License - "Get information about renewing your professional license or renew it online where available."
Small Business Centers
- Small Business Development Centers - SBDC's are educational and research resources providing data and analysis generally unavailable in the private sector. All 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have SBDC's.
Statistics
- The Small Business Economy - Statistics on small business from the Small Business Administration. Some files need Adobe Acrobat.
Taxes
- C Corporations
- S Corporations
- Tax Information for Business
- Income Taxes on Business Income in Kentucky
Women
- Women's Business Center - This site is run by the Small Business Administration and is designed to help women entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses.
- WomenBiz.gov - The Small Business Administration runs this site to help women-owned do business with the government. The site also includes a national database of women-owned businesses.
- Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century - This site is a "one-stop federal resource for targeted information, registration for online programs, and networking opportunities to help women entrepreneurs navigate the ever-changing business world and do what they do best: innovate, create jobs, and make a vital contribution to the strength of America." From the Small Business Administration.
- National Association of Women Business Owners Louisville Chapter - "National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) is the voice of America's 10.6 million women-owned businesses . Since 1975, NAWBO has helped women evolve their businesses by sharing resources and providing a single voice to shape economic and public policy. National Association of Women Business Owners is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries."
Last Updated:
03/03/2008
