Are you interested in starting your own business? This guide will help you locate information about starting a business and running it, including business plans, marketing plans, franchises, and legal issues. If you need assistance, please feel free to ask a library staff member or e-mail ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.
1.What key words will help me find information about small business & entrepreneurship?
To find books that can be checked out, choose the SUBJECT search inPamCat, our online catalog, and type (one at a time) these subjects (links open in a separate window):
You may also want to browse subjects: when in the catalog, choose BROWSE and type in “small business”. This will allow you to browse narrower subjects related to starting your own business.
2.Where can I find print resources on small business in the library?
Most of the books will be shelved according to their Dewey Decimal Classification number in non-fiction at:
332
Financial Economics
338
Production
346
Private Law
381
Commerce
382
International Commerce
384
Communications; telecommunication
650
Business
658
General Management
Juvenile non-fiction is not separated from the Adult non-fiction.
When you are doing research, consider books in the reference area. Unlike our general collection, these books cannot be checked out, but contain valuable information. Some reference books which may interest you include the following (links open in a separate window):
R 332.6 VAL
The Value Line investment survey
Available at Ashland, Atlee, Goochland, and Mechanicsville
Available at Ashland, Atlee, Hanover, Montpelier, and Rockville.
Your library may not have all these reference books available, but there will be books, magazines, and newspapers that you can check out — when in doubt, just ask the Library staff.
3.What are some good internet sites on starting or growing your own business?
The library provides free access to several business related databases.
Business Economics & Theory Collection (in the Library) or (Work, Home, or School) Perfect for business classes, this collection has more than 150 full-text journals to support research in economics, with a strong emphasis on titles covered in the EconLit database.
Insurance & Liability Collection(in the Library) or (Work, Home, or School) This collection takes a broad view of the insurance industry, covering such topics as labor relations, mortgage banking, legal issues, and more.
Small Business Collection(in the Library) or (Work, Home, or School) This collection provides insights, tips, strategies, and success stories from over 280 subject-appropriate full-text periodicals. Perfect for business schools and entrepreneurs.
(Some of our patrons have asked about access to ReferenceUSA, a collection of databases which provide statistical and informational data for businesses, residential areas, law enforcement and more. Currently, the Library doesn't subscribe to ReferenceUSA (Although it is available nearby at the County of Henrico Public Library.). E-mail ask@pamunkeylibrary.org to find out how you can get a Henrico library card for free by showing a PRL card or see below for an alternative list of links for ReferenceUSA information.)
There are also a variety of excellent resources about small business and entrepreneurship on the Internet, including sites on the following topics:
This commercial portal offers a host of resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including expert advice, online tools, and downloadable forms.
Designed for small-business owners and business reference specialists, the guide is an annotated list of more than 179 resources, including how-to books, reference titles, directories, serial titles, and databases.
Chat live with representatives of the Virginia Business Information Center. Includes information and resources on start-up basics, registration, licensing, expansion, taxes, regulation, economic development, tourism & the film industry, insurance & worker's comp issues, technology, and manufacturing.
Topics include information on getting started, online business, management, marketing, legal, and more. Each topic has numerous links to other sites filled with tools and information.
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance (DBA) and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) offer a portal that provides information about starting and running a business, and includes helpful business resources along with information for out-of-state enterprises planning to establish themselves in Virginia.
Contains answers to business, tax, and legal questions as well as practical advice to help the small-business owner work more efficiently, save money, and comply with guidelines.
Advice for those looking to start up a new business. Business section includes a checklist and articles on business insurance, buying a franchise, and credit. Financial Advice contains information on financing a new business, venture capital tips, and bank loans. The Legal section explains taxation, bankruptcy, and intellectual property issues.
The SBA provides information on starting, financing, and expanding small business. There is also an online hotlist with many business resources and links to other sites. Have a question? Check out the SBA Answer Desk.
Includes ten general categories address small business management issues such as starting-up, Web marketing, and personnel management in a how-to format. Links to book reviews and related sites.
An 82-page, step-by-step guide for businesses operating in Virginia, this source from the SCC provides instructions on how to start a business and lists the various agencies that must be contacted before opening a new business. It also includes the required forms.
A guide to different types of assistance available for existing and potential businesses, this publication concentrates on management, money, and marketing, and includes information on starting a business, taxing and licensing requirements, and government regulations.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and
The North American Industry Classification System will soon replace its SIC codes. The U.S. Census Bureau created this site to provide detailed information on the new NAICS codes.
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. This not only links to the online version of "Business Plan Handbook" volumes 1-11, but a number of other sites that offer free sample plans.
ACA is the trade association of leading angel investment groups in North America. It provides professional development, best practices, networking and collaboration opportunities for investors who belong to member groups. The organization also serves as the public policy voice of the angel community and is focused on advancing policies at the state and federal level that support and promote angel investing.
Compendium of federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments of the federal government
A global portal for companies in need of private capital and private investors looking for investment opportunities.
8(a) & Small Business Resources
The 8(a) program, named for section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, provides participants access to a variety of business-development services, including the opportunity to receive federal contracts on a sole-source or limited-competition basis. Under the 8(a) program, SBA (Small Business Administration) enters into prime contracts with federal departments and agencies and subcontracts the performance of work to disadvantaged small businesses that are certified participants in the program.
This Office develops and manages programs and is an advocate and point of information for small, disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses that want to receive federal contracts from a number of agencies, including theDepartment of Defense and theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.
A comprehensive index of tax and accounting resources that provides links to federal and state forms. This site is a useful starting point for small-business owners who need information on tax and accounting topics.
The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants provides a free service to help connect a you with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in your geographic region that can best meet your financial and business needs. You can look up a company by name or by city, services offered or industries served. A link is provided to find a CPA in another state.
You can also view, select, and download multiple IRS forms and publications for small business at www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html or you can call 1-800-829-3676 to order forms and publications through the mail at no cost.
This publication offers economic forecasts and reviews of recent national and Virginia business trends. Summary tables of Virginia labor force and employment forecasts are given on an industry-by-industry basis. Included are overviews of such national and international economic topics as monetary and fiscal policy, employment and income, and imports and exports.
The Fifth District of the Federal Reserve Bank produces a variety of publications designed to promote economic and financial literacy and to advance a greater understanding of the Federal Reserve’s work.
The International Trade Administration provides current and archived state export statistics that are taken from the Census Bureau’s Origin of Movement state export series. United States exporters supply the information for goods leaving the country. The series focuses on transportation origin and does not measure state distribution of United States export production or export-related jobs.
For professionals who are striking out on their own as freelancers. This is a marketplace for connecting consultants and freelancers with contractual jobs.
This site touts itself as “the largest collection of articles, links, and resources on electronic commerce to be found at any single place on the planet.” One goal is to provide resources for learning how to start an e-business, so that entrepreneurs can spend their time learning rather than searching the Web for information. Topics include store design, online transactions, store software, and model cases.
iWorld’s Guide to Electronic Commerce is a comprehensive resource for commerce on the Internet. It contains a list of links to sites designed to enhance commerce and trade: business promotions, online banking, corporate advertising, sources on government regulations, etc.
eVA is a Web-based purchasing system used by Virginia government. State agencies, colleges, universities, and many local governments use eVA to announce bid opportunities, request bids and proposals, receive quotes, and place orders for goods and services.
This commission is vested with regulatory authority over many business and economic interests in Virginia. It serves as the central filing agency for corporations in Virginia, sets rates charged by large investor-owned utilities, and provides assistance to Virginians who have valid disputes with regulated companies.
This organization works with companies and organizations throughout Virginia to develop technology industries. Its critical issues: developing the workforce, creating infrastructure, maintaining an entrepreneurial climate, and deploying technology.
The Virginia General Assembly established the Department of Business Assistance in 1996 as an agency to serve the commonwealth’s business community. It offers such services as access to capital, small business counseling, workforce training, and business problem-solving.
Virginia Economic BridgeThe Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to promote business, industry, and educational partnerships throughout the state.
Virginia Economic Development PartnershipCreated in 1995 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership focuses on new business investment, international trade growth, and the expansion of existing Virginia businesses.
Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) NetworkThis organization consists of 29 local Small Business Development Centers throughout Virginia that serve businesses by providing counseling, training, and information resources.
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