August 28, 2010
This page contains links to web sites that can provide information and data helpful to planning, opening and running your business. This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing, but rather a listing of some of the more commonly used web sites. The sites are grouped by the headings listed, but some sites could be listed under multiple headings. The groups are listed in the same sequence as they appear when you scroll down the page. Within each group the references are subdivided by Wisconsin entities, National entities and SCORE SE Wisconsin informational documents.
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Business Structure - At-A-Glance Business Structure Guide
Accounting
Government & Non-Government Organizations Contact List - Phone Numbers & Web Sites
Human Resources - MRA Resources and Training
Insurance
Wisconsin based
SCORE SE Wisconsin - Chapter 28
Counseling/mentoring and classroom workshops on many business topics
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC)
Business plan help, mentoring and more
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Classes on business topics
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN)
Wisconsin business resources
Waukesha County Technical College - Small Business Center (WCTC)
www.wctc.edu/business_resources/small_business_center/index.php
Business classes, seminars, networking, expositions and more
Waukesha County Technical College - Business Plan Express (WCTC)
Help with writing your plan - for more information click here
National based
SCORE - USA
Business plan templates, workshops and more
SCORE - USA
www.score.org/60_guide_business_idea.html
Second Guide to Coming Up with a Powerful Business Idea
BizStats
Industry statistics, industry financials, etc.
idealist.org
Statistics, industry financials, FAQ, etc. for non-profit organizations
Encyclopedia of Small Business
Reference source for entrepreneurs that provides practical information that can be applied to their own business
Business Plan Pro - Palo Alto Software
For fee business plan software and 500+ sample plans
SamplePlan.com
Sample business plans
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Business Plan (Word document)
Business Plan (PDF document)
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County
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Classes and training in many business disciplines
Milwaukee County Business Opportunity Portal)
Listing of county bid opportunities,, Community Business Develop Partners Program including revolving loans, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program,and more
Choose Milwaukee
Business and lifestyle information re: 7-county Milwaukee Metropolitan Area (Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, Waukesha, Walworth)
Milwaukee Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (MUEP))
The Urban Entrepreneur Partnership is a national program designed to encourage entrepreneurship in urban areas, particularly among minority entrepreneurs in the Milwaukee area.
City
City of Milwaukee - Do Business
www.city.milwaukee.gov/DoBusiness478.htm
City business resources, licenses and permits, property information, applications, training, and more
Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Public/private partnership: loan and grant programs, loan calculator, micro-loans
Department of City Development (DCD)
Department of City Development (DCD) is the city agency responsible for business development, real estate development, planning, permitting, and public housing.
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County
Racine County Economic Development Corp. (RCEDC)
Economic development, business investment, grants and more
Gateway Technical College Workforce & Economic Development
Business development services, training, webinars, networking, facilities rental, and more
Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI)
CATI is a technology matchmaker connecting “technology patrons and entrepreneurs” with “technology beneficiaries.”
Choose Milwaukee
Business and lifestyle information re: 7-county Milwaukee Metropolitan Area (Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, Waukesha, Walworth)
City
City of Racine
Department of Development, Clerk (licenses)
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County
Waukesha County Economic Development Corp.
Development resources, networks, demographics, and more
Waukesha County Technical College - WCTC
Small Business Center
www.wctc.edu/business_resources/small_business_center/index.php
Helps start-up entrepreneurs and existing small business owners succeed by offering low-cost educational courses, networking groups, connections to financing, referrals to other resource providers and other services.
Choose Milwaukee
Business and lifestyle information re: 7-county Milwaukee Metropolitan Area (Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, Waukesha, Walworth)
City
City of Waukesha
www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/web/guest/waukesha
Licenses, permits, bids and contracts
Waukesha Community Development Department
www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/web/guest/communitydevelopment
The department is provide services that maintain and foster sustainable neighborhoods, industrial and business development within the city.
National based
AnnualCreditReport.com
www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
This official site allows you to request a FREE credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
myFICO
For fee credit service for FICO credit scores and reports, financial help, education and more
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Personal Credit Score (FICO) - Major qualifying factor for obtaining a loan.
e-Commerce
Also see links under Marketing
National based
SCORE - Learn Online
www.score.org/online_courses.html
Web marketing webinars - "Create an Online Presence", "Technology for Your Business" and "e-Commerce for Your Business" plus links to articles on these topics
internet retailer - Vertical Web Media
Strategies for web-based retailing
eCommerce Trade Association
eCommerce Merchants is a free trade association that provides it's members best-practices advice and solutions from dozens of the Internet's leading companies.
eCommerce Benchmarking Association (e-CBA)
A free association that conducts benchmarking studies to identify practices that improve the overall operations of the members.
ECommerce Merchants Trade Association
Best practices, guidance, technology and infrastructure advice
WordPress.org
WordPress is free web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog.
About.com: Web Design/HTML (A New York Times Co.)
Information on designing and building a web site, web site software and links to additional web sites.
E-Commerce Directory
An online business directory where you will find e-Commerce companies, developers, strategies, consulting, e-commerce technology vendors, education, standards, protocols, news, media, relationship management & more
PayPal
Service which provides a safe method to pay and accept payments online
Google Checkout
Google Checkout is a fast, secure checkout process that helps increase sales by bringing you more customers and allowing them to buy from you quickly and easily with a single login
Small Business Administration (SBA)
(414) 297-3941
Small business planner - step by step, business plan template, loan programs, marketing, publications, workbooks, management tools, statistics, laws & regulations and more
Business.gov (US Government Gateway Partnership)
Business.gov is the U.S. Government's official web site for small businesses. Business.gov is managed as a partnership among 22 Federal government agencies. Business.gov provides access to Federal, state, and local information that helps business owners successfully start and operate while staying compliant with laws and regulations.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
(800) 829-4933
Internal Revenue Service and Tax Information - Small Business
A list of IRS sites for small business owners and self-employed that provide information on "Starting, Operating or Closing a Business"
Links to IRS data on specific small business topics
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=110417,00.html
Information for starting, operating and closing a business venture
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98810,00.html
Checklist for starting a business
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98359,00.html
The business structures available to form a business and the legal and tax considerations for selecting each business structure type.
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
Apply for Employer Identification Number (EIN) on line
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98862,00.html
Information of business employees (full time, part time, family, spouse, seasonal, etc), independent contractors, paying yourself and more.
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98966,00.html
Explanation of the federal taxes each business must pay (income, self-employment, employment and excise).
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99021,00.html
A list of links to State government web sites with useful information for businesses.
U. S. Dept of Commerce
(414) 297-3473
Includes Bureaus of Economics and Statistics, Census, Economic Analysis, Economic Development, International Trade, Minority Business Development, Technical Information, Telecommunications and Information, Patents and Trademarks. Source for export assistance
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information re: patents and trademarks
U.S. Copyright Office
Information re: copyrighting, laws and policies, publications, registration
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Trade
(800) 232-5378
Import and export basics
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=12885
The online CFDA provides access to a database of all federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and non-profit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals.
Wisconsin based
Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation
Public/private partnership; loan and grant programs, micro-loans
Wisconsin Angel Network
Groups of investors providing capital to entrepreneurs and inventors with high growth potential.
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
Start-up business loans & other helpful start-up information
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN) - Grants Locator
wenportal.org/grant_applications
Grant qualification & application assistance for training, early planning and technology assistance
National based
SCORE - USA
www.tsbc.com/sbo/score/viewLesson.aspx?Lid=209&cid=1
How much money will you need? How much money can you make?
FundingUniverse
FundingUniverse connects qualified entrepreneurs with active venture capitalists, angel investors and lending sources.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is your source to find, determine eligibility and apply for federal grants.
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Best Bank - Ranking of SBA Lenders
Non-commercial Funding Sources
Basic Financial Tools (Excel document)
Income Statement (Excel document)
Breakeven Analysis (Excel document)
Foodservice/Restaurant Information
Wisconsin based
Wisconsin Restaurant Association
(800) 589-3211
Laws and regulations, industry statistics, safe serving and training and more
National based
National Restaurant Association
(800) 482-9122
Industry research, running a restaurant business, safety and nutrition and more
restaurantfunds
Consulting company (San Diego, CA) that helps fund restaurant start-ups
RestaurantOwner.com
Internet membership organization that provides articles, downloadable tools and other resources with insights on marketing, customer service, restaurant startup, business management, menu promotion, staffing and much more.
Virtual Restaurant
Virtual Restaurant is a consulting company that specializes in start-up restaurant ventures. Using the business plan as a central strategy for business development, Virtual Restaurant projects probable outcomes of the prospective restaurateurs' business assumptions. Once established, they offer tools for operations and back office management.
PlanMagic Corp.
Restaurant business plan software including templates for operations, organization, marketing and financial analysis.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Food Processing Center provides entrepreneurial service, lab services, workshops, product development and more.
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Restaurant Entrepreneur Information Resources
Restaurant Licensing - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Servsafe Sanitation Program
Wisconsin based
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (WDFI)
www.wdfi.org/fi/securities/franchise/
Brief history of franchising in Wisconsin, State of Wisconsin Franchise Investment Law governing franchise offerings, franchise regulation overview, on-line franchise registration and more
National based
Frannet
No-cost guidance, information and support for purchasing a franchise business
Federal Trade Commission
FTC opinions, filings, regulations, consumer protection and more
American Franchise Association
A national trade association of franchisees and dealers providing advocacy, networking, products & services
International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is a membership organization of franchisers, franchisees, and suppliers founded to protect, enhance, and promote franchises. Helps with buying a franchise, government relations and regulation, and more
American Assn. Of Franchisees and Dealers
A national non-profit trade association dedicated to defining and promoting Total Quality Franchising practices.
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Wisconsin based
Milwaukee Public Library
Vast business resources and data bases - Topics include:
- Advertising/Marketing
- Census/Demographics
- Economic Indicators & Statistics
- Import/Export
- Investments
- Labor Market & Statistics
- Patents/Trademarks
- Companies/Products
- Small Business
- Standards
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) specializes in new product and invention assessments and market expansion opportunities for innovative manufacturers, technology businesses, and independent inventors.
Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
www.nonprofitcentermilwaukee.org/index.php
The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee is a primary resource to nonprofit agencies for the tools, training and association to successfully fulfill your missions
Milwaukee Enterprise Centers (MEC)
North location - 2745 N. 4th Street
South location - 816 W. National Avenue
www.bizstartsmilwaukee.com/ResourceCenter/Incubators/MilwaukeeEnterpriseCenterMECSouth.htm
Below market leased space with shared services
National based
AccountingCoach.com
Free web site that explains accounting and has download materials
Bizstats
Free business statistics and financial ratios, industry profiles and analysis tools
Business Know-How
Business Know-How is a small business web site for home offices and small businesses providing practical information, tools and resources for starting, growing and managing small and home-based businesses.
National Association for the Self-Employed
Resource for micro-business providing day-to-day support, benefits, insurance, advocacy and more.
Free Management Library
All aspects of managing a business
mybusinesshelp.org
Fee based general business, marketing, international and start-up business help
salary.com
Wage ranges for job positions
SBA.org
This site is not part of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Well organized web site providing links to companies offering services in all aspects of business operations
Thomas register of American Manufactures
Research manufacturers by product, name/brand or geographic location
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Partnership Agreement Checklist
NAICS - North American Industry Classification System (Industry standard classification coding system)
Wisconsin based
Marquette University Volunteer Legal Center
Marquette University Law School
(414) 288-7970
http://law.marquette.edu/cgi-bin/site.pl?2130$pageID=2989
Free one hour review of your legal problem to assess validity of the claim. Referrals to proper type of attorneys. For times and locations click here.
Milwaukee Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS)
414-274-6768
http://findmilwaukeelawyer.org
FREE over the phone referral service for anyone that has a legal question or is seeking to obtain legal counsel. The first half-hour of the attorney-client consultation will cost no more than $20.00.
Waukesha County Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service
262-544-4016
FREE over the phone referral service for anyone that has a legal question or is seeking to obtain legal counsel. The first half-hour of the attorney-client consultation will cost no more than $20.00.
legalhelpmilwaukee.org - Coalition for Access to Legal Resources (sponsored by Marquette University Law School)
General legal resources and non-profit agencies that provide legal services.
National based
American Bar Association
www.abanet.org/legal services/lris/directory/home.html
National lawyer referral service
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
Marketing
Also see links under e-Commerce.
Wisconsin based
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association Of Commerce (MMAC)
Demographic information
National based
Mind Tools, Ltd.
www.mindtools.com/pages/article/worksheets/SWOTAnalysisWorksheet.pdf
Strenghts/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats (SWOT) Analysis worksheet
Duct Tape Marketing
Affordable small business marketing ideas and strategies
SurveyMonkey.com
SurveyMonkey is a service to create professional online surveys quickly and easily - customer feedback, pricing, tutorials
Wordtracker - Rivergold Associates. Ltd.
Key word research for market niches
Constant Contact, Inc.
E-mail marketing and data base service
icontact
iContact makes it easy for you to create and send email marketing messages, newsletters and campaigns.
VerticalResponse
E-mail marketing, Online Surveys, Postcards and Database service
Infusionsoft
Software program for automated e-mail, CRM and e-commerce
Google Analytics
Web site traffic reporting and marketing effectiveness
Google Adwords
Create ads and choose keywords, which are words or phrases related to your business.
search engine land
Search engine marketing tips
SCORE SE Wisconsin Free Documents
SWOT Analysis - Simple explanation (TK)
Books
Search Engine Optimization for Dummies by Bruce Clay
www.google.com/products/catalog
The Small Business Owner's Handbook to Search Engine Optimization by Stephen Woessner
www.google.com/products/catalog
Wisconsin based
Wisconsin Entrepreneur Network (WEN)
WEN provides access to the statewide network of entrepreneurial resources and expertise (early planning grants, technology assistance, finance, etc.) to create new ventures; help grow existing business
BizStarts Milwaukee
Connects start-up entrepreneurs of high growth ventures with the right resources: Evaluate - Get Set - Go
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
Business networking, economic development, advocacy for business, demographic data
Milwaukee World Trade Association (MWTA)
The MWTA is a membership organization that links companies and individuals with common interests: the expansion of international business, exchange of experiences, increasing member knowledge and expertise in international sales and services.
Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA)
WEDA is a statewide non-profit organization providing its membership Professional Development / Continuing Education Opportunities, Legislative Affairs and Resources & Networking
National based
SCORE - USA
National organization for SCORE SE Wisconsin. Provides entrepreneurial counseling, webinars, templates and more
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation
www.uschambersmallbusinessnation.com
Small business resources, toolkits and information
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Business and economic resources for Hispanic-Americans
US Directory of Local Chambers of Commerce/Visitors Bureaus
Locate your local Chamber of Commerce
National based
SCORE Foundation
Business Planning Tools for Non-Profit Organizations provided by the SCORE Foundation.
Wisconsin based
B2G Connect - Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
756 N. Milwaukee St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 270-3600
Guides, trains and provides assistance to firms wishing to provide their products or services to federal, state and local government agencies and their prime contractors. How to sell, rules and regulations, what government buys, etc.
Wisconsin Department of Administration - State Bureau of Procurement
www.doa.state.wi.us/section.asp?linkid=46&locid=2
Centralized purchasing and financial management for other state agencies and programs
Wisconsin Department of Administration - Minority Business Program
www.doa.state.wi.us/section.asp?linkid=113&locid=0
Opportunity for Wisconsin certified minority owned companies to sell their products or services to the State of Wisconsin and its agencies.
Wisconsin Department of Commerce - Minority Business Development
http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-MBD-index.html
The Bureau of Minority Business Development certifies minority-owned businesses for participation in the state's minority business purchasing and contracting program and provides consultation and services to minority business owners, entrepreneurs, and resource organizations..
University of Wisconsin Office of Procurement
Information for selling to the UW system
Business Procurement Assistance Center (BPAC)
3513 Anderson St., Ste. 108
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 243-4490
Provides technical and marketing assistance to Wisconsin businesses interested in selling their products or services to the government
National based
Acquisition Central - IAE
Members of the acquisition community can learn about regulations, systems, resources, opportunities, and training. Federal Acquisition Register (FAR)
Central Contractor Registration - Small Business
www.bpn.gov/ccr/smallbusinesses.aspx
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) ensures that your firm has access to federal contracting opportunities.
Federal Acquisition Jumpstation
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/fedproc/home.html
Links to all federal agencies acquisition sites
Federal Business Opportunities
Posting of current federal government business opportunities
Federal Marketplace
Classes on how to sell to governments
General Service Administration (GSA)
www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0
Federal contracts and schedules, becoming a vendor, and more
ORCA - Online Representations and Certifications Application
Federal online application system for Reps and Certs which is required in some federal contracts
State of Wisconsin Business Wizard
www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/business.html
Step-by-step information about starting a business (Build Your Business) including structure, name, and more. Links to the state agencies, resources, incentives, forms, programs and information that you can use or need to do business in Wisconsin.
Dept. of Financial Institutions (WDFI)
Create a Corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Office of the Secretary of State
www.sos.state.wi.us/trademark.htm
Trade name (business name) and trademark registration - online database search
Dept. of Commerce
“Starting a Business? Here’s Help!" This publication will help identify assistance programs and regulatory requirements in Wisconsin.
Dept. of Revenue (DOR)
www.dor.state.wi.us/html/business.html
Sales tax (Seller's Permit and tax exemption), income tax, unemployment tax, tax withholding, etc.
Dept. of Regulation and Licensing
Regulates and licenses 132 positions in 58 professional fields.
Small Business Development Center-Wisconsin (SBDC)
SBDC champions entrepreneurial success through business counseling and educational programs developed at the local, regional and statewide level to support Wisconsin small business creation and growth. SBDC network consists of twelve service centers and four specialty centers, all located on four-year University of Wisconsin campuses.
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) AnswerLine
1-800-940-7232.
Free phone answers to your business start-up or management questions (Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m.)
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC)
WISC specializes in new product and invention assessments and market expansion opportunities for innovative manufacturers, technology businesses, and independent inventors
Wisconsin Rural Partners
Information, resources for WI rural economic development
Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) - Permit Primer
www.dnr.state.wi.us/permitprimer
Step-by-step, question-and-answer tour of the DNR regulatory programs, requirements, and more
Forward Wisconsin
Forward Wisconsin is a unique public-private state marketing and business recruitment organization. It markets outside Wisconsin to attract new businesses, jobs and increased economic activity to the state - economic development resources, incentives, taxes, business data, etc
Women, Veteran & Minority Business Assistance
Wisconsin based
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC)
(414) 263-5450
Business education and assistance for women, micro-loans
African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Milwaukee
The Chamber promotes the creation, growth, innovation and sustainability of small businesses in the Milwaukee community
National based
SCORE - Women Entrepreneurs
SCORE Women Entrepreneur web site with a vast collection of resources and links for businesswomen
National Association of Women Business Owners
Resources, networking for women-owned businesses
Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) - Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc
Women’s business resources and entrepreneurial development
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Membership organization providing networking, referrals and links for women-owned business
WomenBiz.gov
Assistance for women owned business selling the government
Women's e-Commerce Association, International (WECAI)
The WECAI is a network of organizations, tools and resources to “help women do business on and off the WEB
SCORE - Veteran Entrepreneurs
Resources and links for the veteran entrepreneur
The Veterans Corporation (TVC) - The National Veterans Business Development Corporation
Business resources for veterans
Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Dept. of Commerce
Minority business networks, initiatives, application
National Minority Supplier Development Council
NMSDC is a membership organization that provides links between corporate America and minority-owned businesses
