General

• Business.USA.Gov - Official business link to the U.S. Government
• SBDCNet - Business information, help, and examples
• The Wall Street Journal has start-up information and databases of businesses for sale and venture capitalWealth in the form of money or assets, taken as a sign of the financial strength of an individual, organization, or nation, and assumed to be available for development or investment. Wealth in the form of money or assets, taken as a sign of the financial strength of an individual, organization, or nation, and assumed to be available for development or investment. Wealth in the form of money or assets, taken as a sign of the financial strength of an individual, organization, or nation, and assumed to be available for development or investment. .
• Business Week Center has articles, tips, and information on small business.
• BizBuySell - The Internet's Largest Business for Sale and Franchise for Sale Marketplace
• TannedFeet.com - This is one of my favorite sites for entrepreneurial forms and information.
• Inc.com is the website of Inc. Magazine.
• Entrepreneur.com has start-up ideas, resources, and articles.
• Entrepreneurship.org includes “the best of the best” on the web about running a small business.
• How to Start a Small Business from the San Joaquin Delta College SBDC.
• Smart Biz - Small business information, resources, and articles
• FranchiseHandbook.com - A complete franchise resource
• SBA Office of Advocacy has information and    ACE-Net, Angel Capital, and Electronic Network.
• SBA's Online Women's Business Center has resources for women entrepreneurs.
• Minority Business Development Agency has the self-registering Phoenix database of minority entrepreneurs.
• Small Disadvantaged Business Certification (SDB) Questions and Answers – learn more about the SDB program and requirements for certification.
• The website for the Procurement Division of the California DGS  has links to various resources, like the Small Business/Disabled Veteran Enterprise program, eProcurement, and getting certified: www.pd.dgs.ca.gov
  • This is a step-by-step brochure on how to get certified in California - Courtesy of the California DGS Procurement Division

Economic Development

• Economic and Workforce Development through the California Community Colleges.

Permits

• Our "Starting a Business in California Checklist" is a great start to understanding and planning permitting and other business start up issues: http://norcalsbdc.org/checklist_for_starting_a_business
• CalGOLD offers direct internet links and contact information to state, local, regional, and federal permitting authorities for more information.

Planning

• SBA has great resources for helping you Start and Manage Your Business
• Bplans.com and Center for Business Planning have sample plans and writing tips.
• Business Plans and Profiles Index lists plans by business type and directs you to the source.
• Economic Fuel Humboldt County's Business Plan Challenge - Excellent links and resources for business plan creation.
• Small Business Plan Guide has resources to help in writing a business plan.

Financing

• Grants.gov is a good site to use when searching for Federal grants funding.
• Capital Connection describes various capital sources and services.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration has a number of loan programs. The SBA sets the guidelines for loans while SBA's partners – lenders, community development organizations, and microlending institutions – make the loans to small businesses.
• Learn about 8(a) financing for small disadvantaged companies and assess your firm’s eligibility here.
• Economic development organizations or corporations have various financing programs. BusinessFinance.com offers a list of economic development organizations in CA.
• Local Governments' Websites – unique or specialized financing sources may be available in your locality. Check appropriate county, municipal, city, or township web sites for information.
• Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) provide long-termThe maturity or length of time for final repayment of a loan, bond, sale or other contractual obligation.The maturity or length of time for final repayment of a loan, bond, sale or other contractual obligation.The maturity or length of time for final repayment of a loan, bond, sale or other contractual obligation. debtAn amount owed for funds borrowed.An amount owed for funds borrowed.An amount owed for funds borrowed. and equityAfter all liabilities are paid, ownership equity is the remaining interest in assets. If valuations placed on assets do not exceed liabilities, negative equity exists.After all liabilities are paid, ownership equity is the remaining interest in assets. If valuations placed on assets do not exceed liabilities, negative equity exists.After all liabilities are paid, ownership equity is the remaining interest in assets. If valuations placed on assets do not exceed liabilities, negative equity exists. growth capital licensed under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. CA SBICs that are members of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies.
• Venture Capital firms may be a source of financing. There are a number of venture capital directories on the web. The Infon Venture Capital Directory is free to search and provides some contact information for free.
• National Venture Capital Association Member Directory is a comprehensive, print directory of NVCA members.
• vFinance.com allows searching by state, industry, and dollar amount for venture capital. Contact information is about $2 per contact.
• BusinessFinance.com allows users to enter details about the financing needed and then returns a list of potential sources.
• Small Business Lending in the U.S. provides state-specific data including top lenders to small businesses.
• SBIR/STTR Funding can be used to pay for research and development for innovative companies.

Legal and Taxes

• Nice guide to forming a corporation in California.
• FindLaw has legal information, guides, sample forms, and other legal resources.
• www.irs.gov
• www.taxes.ca.gov
• Nolo - Law books, legal forms, and legal software
• This is a thorough guide to doing business with the government from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Human Resources and Payroll

• Hire an Employee in California Checklist - This is a great reference. Read the whole page.
• IRS' Digital Daily has resources for employers and tax and wage information for new and existing businesses.
• The California Employer Advisory Council and local Employer Advisory Councils (EAC) are recognized and accepted by employers and government as the premier information resources for the employer perspective on employment and other workforce development issues.

Money Management

• Quicken.com has accounting and tax information, forms, and other business planning tools.

Marketing

• Knowthis.com is a meta-site with links to marketing-related topics.

Procurement

• The Government Contracting Area VI (San Francisco) “Practical Guide to Doing Business with the Federal Government”, which includes a directory of federal procurement offices in the Western states.
• A list of “Useful Government Contracting Websites”
• SBA Notice 6000-801 dated May 16, 2012, which provides notice that, effective May 29, 2012, a new System for Award Management (SAM) will replace various other federal procurement system and databases.
• California Department of General Services. Central location for businesses wanting to do business with the State of California. Information about minority certification etc. "How to Do Business With California State Government" Brochure: http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/pd/smallbus/HowtodobusEP.pdf
• Contracting opportunities listed by the U.S. Small Business Administration:http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting/contracting-opportunities

Import/Export

• Fact sheet pdf from the SBA Office of International Trade that explains the six-step process to begin exporting.
• SBA - Exporting and Importing: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/managing-business/exporting-importing
• U.S. Small Business Association: http://www.sba.gov/content/exportingimporting-specific-products
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection - "Importing and Exporting":http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade
• This is the primary federal government exporting Web site to better serve beginning exporters: http://export.gov/

Trademarks and Copyrights

• Nolo Press - Patent, copyright, and trademark articles form the respected publisher
• Stopfakes.gov - Nice site for information about protecting your intellectual property with good information about patents, trademarks and copyright information
• California Secretary of State - The Secretary of State’s office maintains registration and all updates of California state trademarks and service marks
• US Copyright Office - Research and register a copyright
• Introduction to the U.S. Patent System - Excellent online course to help inventors understand this process and stay out of trouble

Inventions

• Inventing 101 - This is a really nice business primer for inventors
• How to protect your invention while pitching it. 
• US Patent Office- Information, research and registration of US patents
• Protecting your Technology - Excellent online course to understand the choices in protecting your intellectual property.