Entrepreneur.Com: The Online Small Business Authority
www.entrepreneur.com
Maintained by Entrepreneur Magazine to support new business ideas and growing companies, it contains selected articles from the publication and resources for business developers. "Small Business Tools" section enables one to download ready-made business forms and search a software library; "Entrepreneur's Databases" include links to categories of franchising opportunities (fastest-growing, top new, home-based, etc).

Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information
www.loc.gov/rr/business/guide/guide2
The 3rd edition of a guide compiled by the staff of the Business Reference Services' Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress. Contents include: "Introduction, Getting Started, Raising Capital, Managing Your Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Doing Business with Government, International Opportunities, Research and Information Gathering, Looking At the Numbers, Handbooks and Guides, Information about Companies, Indexes, Databases, Other Information Sources, Keeping Current, and Index."

Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
www.businessownersideacafe.com
A fun approach to serious business. Developed by successful entrepreneurs and authors of published guides on forming and running a business, they include resources, ideas, practical advice, business news, and humor to make an entertaining site. Business site links are summarized and reviewed. There are serious, yet informative sections (e.g., "Y2K and Small Business"), as well as your "Biz Horoscope."

The Riley Guide: Steps in Starting Your Own Business
www.rileyguide.com/steps.html
The Riley Guide, by Margaret F. Dikel, is a great resource for all things employment related. This site deals with small business concerns, and Dikel speaks from experience, since she is self-employed. Includes links on funding, legal concerns, getting started, and getting help.

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
www.stlscore.org
The SCORE organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. The organization offers counseling and workshops to business owners.

SmallBiz (Business Week)
www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/index.html
A section of the Business Week web site, this resource offers tips, advice, and encouragement to small business owners in the form of articles in a number of categories, including Getting Started, Sales and Marketing, Success Stories, and more. Also includes the content of the larger Business Week site.

Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov/localresources/district/mo/stlouis
Official starting point for resources and programs offered by the SBA. Begins with Starting Your Business, Financing Your Business, and, Expanding Your Business. Includes links to most frequently asked startup questions (FAQs), informative articles, a startup kit, and locations of Small Business Development Centers throughout the U.S. The primary destination for seeking financing. BusinessLINC ("Learning, Information, Networking, Collaboration") site contains business plans and a mentors network.

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