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Free_Information_for_New_Business_Owners
| Free Information for New Business Owners
OK. So you're ready to start your own business...be your own
boss...or are you? If you still have questions, below is a list
of places offering free information that can assist you. Consult
phone books and web sites for local information. Remember to ask
about any mailing lists, classes they offer, or additional
contacts that would be helpful for you to add to this list.
Enjoy this list as a guide as you "plant the seeds" for your new
venture and enjoy the networking opportunities.
1. Federal Agencies
~U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) o Web site www.sba.gov
o Toll Free: (800)U-ASK-SBA. o Request any free information and
an order form for other publications. o Web site also has
templates and sample Business Plans.
~Internal Revenue Service (IRS) o Web site
www.irs.treas.gov/prod/bus_info/sm_bus o Toll Free: (800) 829 -
3676. o Business Kit Publication # 454 includes an Employee Tax
ID Form. o STEP (Small Business Tax Education Program)
Publication # 1057, contains information on Business Tax Classes
given in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. o Tell them what
type of corporation you are thinking of becoming, how many
employees, etc., so that they can send you other free, helpful
publications.
~Census Department Consumer o Web site www.census.gov o Call
Customer Service at (301) 457 - 4100. o Your source for social,
demographic and economic information.
~Consumer Information Center o Web site: www.pueblo.gsa.gov o
Toll free (888) 878 - 3256. o Order a Consumer's Resource
Handbook. o View their Small Business brochures on line.
2. State Agencies ~Attorney General's Office US, National
Organization site: www.naag.org/about/ag1.cfm ~Secretary of
State and State Department of Revenue. ~Small Business
Technology Development Center:
www.businessfinance.com/business-information.asp ~Rural Business
Development Center. ~Service Corps of Retired Executives SCORE
http://www.score.org/, 800/634-0245 ~Cooperative Extension
Service Offices.
3. County ~Business Development Offices. ~Small Business
Incubators National site: www.nbia.org ~Colleges for Small
Business Centers, Continuing Education Classes, Business
Seminars, Meetings.
4. City/Town ~Chamber of Commerce (search using your city and
county name). ~Professional Groups - check phone books, too.
~Develop a relationship with a Banker. ~Interview CPA's Use this
"Tips for Hiring a CPA" as a guide.
www.coachmaria.com/articles/cpa.html ~Locate a Lawyer and start
to develop a relationship. ~Check local newspapers for
organizations to join or volunteer to be a speaker.
5. The Internet ~Search the WEB using a variety of search
engines or directories such as: http://yahoo.com/ ~~
www.excite.com/ www.google.com/ ~~ www.altavista.com/
www.lycos.com/ ~~ ~Use the WEB to search for former colleagues
and others to let them know about your business.
www.switchboard.com, www.infospace.com, www.four11.com,
www.classmates.com, are a few sites with phone and e- mail
directories. ~Join an e-mail list, newsgroup or business
newsletters www.topica.com/, http://yahoogroups.com,
www.smartgroups.com
6. Bookstores ~Bookstores give you a variety of great ideas.
~Search the web for bookstores. www.amazon.com/, www.bn.com/ are
just two of many online bookstores.
7. Libraries ~Many libraries have at least one free computer for
patrons to use. ~Ask the Librarians for information or advice.
~Tell them about your business. Remember, people ask them for
advice, too! ~Check bulletin boards for information. They're a
great place to put your business card or brochure.
8. Friends ~If you do not tell the people you know you're
looking for information or referrals, then they'll never
know.... ya know!!!
9. Family Members ~Let everyone in your family know you're
starting a business... and watch all the free advice come in!
10. Other Business Owners ~Contact other business owners that
you know. Do I hear lunch anyone? ~Ask for advice, referrals,
and their business cards. ~Start a referral book of local
business owners. ~Don't forget to contact owners who do the same
work as you, but who work in a different state/region/county.
After all, since they aren't the competition , they maybe more
willing share their secrets of success with you!! ~For
encouragement, to keep focused, to bounce ideas off of, etc.,
hire a coach!
About the author:
© Copyright 2001 All Rights Reserved. Maria Marsala, Business &
Life Coach-Consultant. Maria works with individuals as they
design, start and grow their business or career around what they
love to do. Visit http://www.CoachMaria.com to subscribe to
"Growing You and Your Business" a free weekly online newsletter.
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