BizLinks
Staff Picks for Great Business information and Contacts
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[ MARKETING AND DEMOGRAPHICS ] [ GROUP ACTIVITIES- TRADESHOWS ]
[ FINANCIAL ] [ EDUCATION PARTNERS ]
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The Entrepreneurs Help Page
"By nature, new business owners try to do as much as they can on their own. Our site helps them get their businesses up and running, so that when it comes time to hire lawyers, accountants or consultants, they already know the basics,"
California Business Portal
Nice new state website full of general business information and tips
MY BIZ for Women is designed to be the first step for all women business owners, providing one-stop access to information for women entrepreneurs highlighting the best resources the government has to offer.
Yahoo Franchise Search
Learn how franchising works and research opportunities.
United States Small Business Administration
An incredible amount of helpful small business information. Example business plans, financing information, import/export information etc. etc.
Nolo Press- Starting a Small Business
This website is an excellent resource for small businesses. There are tools for evaluating your business idea, protecting your business idea, writing a business plan, managing taxes, financing, accounting, legal concerns, etc.
CalGold
Enter your business type,California county, and city and get an exhaustive permit and license list.
This is an great site for Art business information
Inventing 101 FREE online class
SBA Institute
The E-Business Institute is a virtual campus housing free training courses, workshops and knowledge resources designed to assist entrepreneurs and other students of enterprise.
The Institute makes SBA's business management resources available anytime and anywhere.It is a dynamic learning center designed to help small businesses compete in a constantly changing, global environment.
Women Working
The latest issue of Women Working, news from the Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership, is now online.
Oregon SBDC BizCenter
This site is loaded with useful small business tools.
International Trade Information
Tools and information related to import/export
Entrepreneurship: A Flexible Route to Economic Independence for People with Disabilities
This Department of Labor site has lots of information and resources for disabled people interested in starting a business.
Humboldt Handmade Art & Crafters Guild
This guild provides a framework for local crafters to increase their business knowledge and their networks. They are an excellent group with many benefits.
New California Employment Laws for 2006
Preventing Sexual Harassment Free on-line training program
For employers with 50 or less employees. Click on the Guest link.
This is a good place for understandable labor law help.
Hrcalifornia.com is the California Chamber of Commerce web site where you can find continually updated information an California labor law and safety compliance.
Industrial Welfare Commission
The Department of Industrial Relations was established to improve working conditions for California's wage earners, and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. You can download wage orders and all the labor codes here. Beware of some thick legal verbiage. READ THE WAGE ORDER FOR YOUR INDUSTRY THOUGH. IT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF COSTLY LEGAL TROUBLE.
Employee Handbook and Human Resource Policies
North Coast Employers Advisory Council
This is a wonderful resource for employer information. Membership is $25.00 a year and worth many times that in killer information and resources.
Three required forms for new employees
I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification, W-4 - Employee-s Withholding Allowance Certificate, Sexual Harassment Pamphlet from the Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Humboldt County Student Business Plan Challenge
This site is home to the exiting annual business plan contest sponsored by the Eureka Reporter. This site is loaded with good links and references for writing an effective business plan and delivering a wionning presentations.
Sample Business plans from Palo Alto Software and the SBA
See example plans from dozens of industries.
Small Business Plan Guides From Entrepreneur Magazine
THE Entrepreneur's Guidebook Series is a collection of 91 online Small Business Planning & Information Guidebooks. These guidebooks provide useful tips and strategies for planning and starting your own business. They are specially designed to help you write a business plan. More specifically, they can help you name your company, design a logo, write a mission statement, and much MORE!
My Own Business
This online, 12-session business course provides the basic do’s and don’ts for entrepreneurs. This course is intended for both start-up and already operating businesses. The site is fully interactive with audio sound bytes, quizzes, feedback and a tool to create your own business plan.
Business Patterns by Zip or County from the US Census
Excellent information to support your market research and narrative. This tip came from the Contra Costa SBDC .
Listing of Major Trade Associations
Trade associations are an excellent source of industry information and trends.
Humboldt County Demographic Data
County Web Site
Marketing section at About.com
Great general marketing information and articles
The Index of Economic Activity in Humboldt County
This site is an invaluable source for Humboldt County demographics and market research if you are writing a business or marketing plan. The information here can provide factual support for your sales and marketing assumptions.
Del Norte County Fact Book 2003
This book presents relevant and timely demographic, economic and financial information about Del Norte County.
Selected Market Research Resources
From the SBDC National Information Clearinghouse
Traffic Counts and information
Find out how much traffic passes your potential site.
Tools for businesses related to Tourism
Market analysis, trends, financial ratios and other tools for businesses like restaurants, retail, B&B, hotel/motels etc.
Humboldt County Fact Book 2003
This book presents relevant and timely demographic, economic and financial information about Humboldt County.
Employment Development Department - Labor Market Information
Get an overview of labor market information in the state or a county including employment and unemployment, industry data, wages, consumer price index and more!.
Group activities, tradeshows, events
Group Activities/EventsYahoo Tradehow Links
Search for trade shows through SmartBiz.
Seminar Finder
Training and Seminar Locator
Trade Show Central- a searchable trade show directory.
Travel and Entertainment from Smartbiz includes travel costs, coping with travel problems, airline clubs, international issues, etc.
Redwood Region Economic Development Commission
RREDC is an economic development commission with a revolving loan fund for businesses.
The Headwaters Fund
The Headwaters Fund makes grants and loans to Humboldt County organizations for the economic and community development of the County. Business may apply for loans of $25,000 to $800,000 for a variety of needs. Non-profits and governments may apply for grants and loans.
Arcata Economic Development Corporation
Provides econoimc development assistance and small business loans to a six-county area.
BizStats
Instant access to useful financial ratios, business statistics & benchmarks, effective and understandable online analysis of businesses & industries.
One-Stop California business tax information, help, and forms
This partnership of tax agencies includes Board of Equalization, Employment Development Department, Franchise Tax Board, and Internal Revenue Service. They have joined together to streamline and improve taxpayer resources and educational programs.