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Idea Cafe's BizGuide, Links to Business Resources
A business to business directory for online, home-based and other small business owners.
Here's a guide to thousands of service and product resources for your small business, from Art to Worldwide Business Services. Our online business directory is expanding constantly, so check back often if at first you don't see what you're looking for. Add your own free listing to our small business directory, and please take a minute link back to us. Here's a description, link and logo you can use.US Federal Government
Links
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance popular
A searchable data base of both financial and non-financial assistance programs of the Federal government. Includes grants, loans, insurance, mortgage assistance, scholarships, technical assistance, counseling, etc.
Census Bureau Home Page
The Census Bureau provides Data Access Tools on-line that will allow you to create custom data extracts from surveys, including the Current Population Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation, American Housing Survey, etc. Marketers will find on-line access to this information particularily useful in the analysis of populations, housing, geographies and so forth.
Department of Homeland Security -- Business Section
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=37
Scroll down to their "Small Business Resources" listing for information on mentors, assistance, FAQs, and how to do business with the DHS. If your business has been or becomes affected by terrorism, this is the place to go for help as well.
Federal Contracting Made Easy
http://www.mgmtconcepts.com/publications/acquisition/fedcontracting.asp
This book spells out everything you need to know to succeed in the federal marketplace - from the people who oversee the contracting process, to the regulations that govern contracting, to the types of contracts that are awarded...if you're currently working for a business (large or small) or thinking of starting your own, this book is for you!
Federal Employer Identification Number
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is a nine-digit number that the IRS assigns to business entities. The IRS uses this number to identify taxpayers that are required to file various business tax returns. EINs are used by employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, non-profit organizations, trusts and estates, government agencies, certain individuals and other business entities.
FedStats
A researcher's hog heaven! Here's a gateway to more than 100 US federal agencies and their statistics. If you're writing a business or market plan, bookmark this site.
FirstGov.gov -- For Businesses & Nonprofits
http://www.firstgov.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml
Here's the US government's official Web portal. Too many topics to mention, but here's a sampling: exporting, online tax filing, developing a business, financial assistance, self-employed, small businesses, international trade, free newsletters, and online bookstore.
IRS
The Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service -- This site provides online access to Internal Revenue Service tax forms, instructions, publications and FAQs for business and personal use.
National Small Business Association
It is a website for the oldest Small Business advocacy group in the country.
procurement specialist
Free service to women owned businesses, helping them to win federal, state & local gov. contracts. Log on, look up your state and find a PTAC (procurement technical assistance center)
procurement technical assistance centers
helping small business to win federal, state and local government contracts.
SBA Online
General information about the US Small Business Administration and SBA programs, including loan programs. Mostly background info. Includes info on Women's Business programs and loans. Includes list of links to other small business sites.
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) -- Information for Small Business
http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml
How does the SEC apply to small business? Find out how here. If you're considering "going public," this is the place to go for answers and assistance. Learn about pending rules that might affect your business, as well as other federal programs designed to help you succeed as a publicly held company.
Social Security Administration
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer
Social Security offers Business Services Online where employers can prepare and submit their employees W-2's online
The Federal Marketplace
Fedmarket.com is an online community for government buyers and vendors. Launched in January 1996, Fedmarket.com has been singled out as a top government contracting resource by public and private organizations throughout North America. Free site content includes news, expert advice, "how to" articles, a bid search engine and the world’s largest database of U.S-based government vendors.
U.S. Business Advisor
A one-stop electronic link to the information and services government provides for the business community. Their biz menu items include business development, financial assistance, taxes, laws and regulations, international trade and workplace issues.
U.S. Department of Labor
This federal department has a very detailed and well-done website. The DOL is a major player in the small business world with more than 10 agencies that govern how you hire and fire employees, how you keep them safe, and how you pay them and report their earnings.
US Copyright Office
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
The Library of Congress maintains the copyrights for the US Government. Good basic information about copyrights, how to apply, how to search for copyrights. You can NOT search for copyrights here.
US Patent and Trademark Office
Extensive background information on patents and trademarks: including basic information, definitions of patents and trademarks, how to register, fees, list of patent lawyers. Links to searchable databases of software patents and AIDS-related patents.Some links to other patent-related sites. Information on recent patent law of interest to patent professionals. And now, you can search for patents online.