Business Resources
Links to help you start, improve, or expand your business:
| Document: | Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act |
| Link: | Cares Act |
| Desc: | A PDF file from the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. |
| Org: | The Online MBA Guide |
| Web: | MBA Guide |
| Desc: | Within three years of graduation, 1 in 4 MBA grads will start their own business. Our ten-part guide familiarizes future business leaders with their MBA program options while guiding them through the selection & admissions process. The MBA curriculum equips entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge it takes to effectively lead and manage business operations. This guide will assist those considering business school as a route to business ownership. |
| Org: | Blind Ability |
| Web: | YouTube Video |
| Desc: | Blind Ability video with audio description |
| Org: | Business Filings |
| Web: | bizfiling.com |
| Desc: | Gives an analysis of the various types of businesses and the advantages of each |
| Org: | Business Network International |
| Web: | bni.com |
| Desc: | Includes a host of articles on networking and marketing ideas, offers a regular online newsletter subscription, and find nearest networking organizations to join |
| Org: | Business Owners Idea Cafe® |
| Web: | |
| Desc: | The Small Business Gathering Place® serves up “A FUN Approach to Serious Business”(sm) with hearty advice on how to start, finance and run a small business. CyberSchmooz(sm) Forums give virtual peer feedback on business ideas and questions. Free advice from experts, plus stress-busting fun diversions. |
| Organization: | Department of Labor Services by Location |
| Website: | dol.gov/dol/location.htm |
| Description: | Department of Labor Services by Location |
| Organization: | eHealth Medical Care |
| Website: | ehealthmedicare.com/faq-what-are-health-savings-accounts-hsa/ |
| Description: | Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Explained |
| Org: | Entrepreneur |
| Web: | entrepreneur.com |
| Desc: | Lots of information for business owners; articles on marketing and general business tips for managers of any sized business. |
| Organization: | HR University |
| Website: | hru.gov/career_paths/career_paths.aspx |
| Description: | Teaching the Business of HR |
| Organization: | Kanetix |
| Website: | www.kanetix.ca/how-to-plan-and-save-for-retirement-when-you-dont-have-a-clue |
| Description: | The Beginner’s Guide to Planning and Saving for Retirement |
| Organization: | Marketing Tips |
| Web: | marketingtips.com |
| Desc: | Includes many links to newsletters, website tips, marketing tips, and other useful information for businesses who want to expand, especially to market more on the Internet. |
| Org: | SCORE |
| Web: | score.org |
| Desc: | Get free, confidential business advice from a business professional anytime online or search for a SCORE member near you |
| Organization: | SBA – Small Business Administration |
| Website: | sba.gov |
| Description: | Gives great ideas for starting a business, financing a business, answering legal questions, defining a business plan, and much more |
| Organization: | SBA Women’s Business Resources |
| Website: | sba.gov/content/womens-business-resources |
| Description: | Women’s Business Resources |
| Org: | Small Business Now |
| Web: | smallbusinessnow.com |
| Desc: | Has many ideas for improving the success of your business; particularly related to home based businesses, but much relevant information for anyone managing a business of any type |
| Org: | Tax Act online |
| Web: | taxact.com |
| Desc: | Prepare and print your federal 1040 ABSOLUTELY free; includes all the forms and schedules most taxpayers need to complete their return; includes schedules for itemized deductions, EIC, interest and dividend income, business income, state forms, and much more; fill out the forms online or download the free software; automatically calculates your return as you enter information; alerts you to potential problems, missing data, and many tax-saving opportunities |
| Org: | US Chamber of Commerce |
| Web: | uschamber.com |
| Desc: | Has a link to a business toolkit |
| Organization: | US Office of Personnel Management: Health Insurance |
| Website: | opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ |
| Description: | Health Insurance |
| Organization: | Zentro Blog |
| Website: | zintro.com/human-resources-2/ |
| Description: | Expert Tips from Human Resources |
Below are the links to the self-employment career webinars from the Lighthouse.
- Self-Employment: Creating your own Job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Fmy1IlR4w
- Self-Employment: the role of the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J3xnRDCatk
- Self-Employment: Community Resources: https://youtu.be/0DnlEEwO4xA
Internet Resources
| Behavioral Interviewing | Go to heading; agency resources; then topic; behavioral interviewing by author Amy Witten, J.D. |
| Business Planning Tips and Templates | Largest repository of info on creating a business plan, the first step of any small business. Their sample plans are a great starting point. |
| Free Business Tools | Free business tools for both offline and online businesses. It includes an invoice generator. |
| Market Planning Tips and Templates | Marketing planning tips and templates from the creators of bplans.com; a compilation of knowledge regarding marketing plans, including sample templates for an array of industries. |