Links to Business & Finance On-Line

    The amount of info on the web is enormous, as anyone who's ever tried to run a search can attest to.  And, to put it all in context, best estimates say that only a fraction, maybe 20 - 40 % of what's out there is actually making its way to the search engines. 
    Well  ...
    Here at DownStreet, we'd like to try to help.  So each issue, we post a few links in Business & Finance to sites that might interest you.  Sometimes the links will be related to one another  ...  sometimes we'll just offer up a somewhat random sampling.  In either case, we think we might be able to help you find the kind of site you've been looking for.
    Of course, while we can't vouch for the fact that every link we provide will be of interest to everyone, we do our best to filter out the noise and the bustle.  ...
    We hope you enjoy the following sites as much as we do.

Small Business Resources: From the General to the Specific

SBA:  Small Business Administration Home Page

The SBA may or may not seem to you to be a worthwhile endeavor.  But for quick links to some solid basic info on starting or growing your small business, its web site offers a number of useful features.

There are separate sections available on Starting, Financing, and Expanding your business, as well as tools to help you zero in on local SBA resources, or find out about the SBA's Outreach Initiatives, Disaster Assistance, and PRO-Net, the SBA's link to info on procurement.  There is also a link to the SBA's Trade Mission On-Line, where small businesses seeking to export can register and find help.  There are even on-line mini-courses available that provide some decent basic info for those new to the world of business plans, raising capital, or the new e-commerce section.
But among the most generally useful links for any size business are those to the SBA's  "On-Line Library," and to their "Outside Resources."   The Library contains links to all sorts of forms, regs, loan info, programs, pubs, records, reports, and even shareware for business needs.  And the Outside Resources link you to everything from Business Schools and the Commerce Business Daily to Trade Shows and Women In Business listings.  The SBA may not be the most useful site out there; but the breadth of info available makes it worth a look.  ***1/2 [3 1/2 stars]

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Small Business Advisor

Recent estimates of where on-line web content is going seem to point toward sites that serve small business.  This entry, by ZDNet {a former arm of PC publisher Ziff-Davis which was recently acquired by CNet}, is ok, but for help with your PC-related small business needs, it's hard to beat.

The site features "Resource Centers" for computing, startup, marketing, finance, and legal matters, along with focused sections for Help, E-Business, and "Office Essentials" that provides info, tools, and reviews on office products.  We'd suggest steering clear of the "Ask an Expert" and "Small Biz Q&A," both of which are for-fee, not for free.  It's not that we have anything against paying; it's just that, before you do, you should probably know that you can usually find the info you're after for free elsewhere ... including on ZD's Small Business Advisor site.

The bent here is definitely toward the technology end, which is ZD's area of expertise.  And if you can dispense with the live help offerings, this ZD site probably has one of the most comprehensive all-around on-line help sections available for both Office and Windows, including info on setting up a small business network, as well as info for e-commerce, if you've been thinking along those lines lately.  As a PC-related small business site, ZD's Small Business Advisor would've taken our 5-star award.  But for overall small business needs, we give it ... ***1/2 [3 1/2 stars].

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Nolo's Small Business Home Page: Law, Legal Information and Resources

For nearly 30 years, Nolo Press has been doing everything it can to "put the law into people's hands."  What this meant originally was publishing solid, easy-to-use paperbacks and forms that helped just about anyone deal with all sorts of civil legal matters, quickly and efficiently. Now, with the advent of the internet, Nolo has taken to the web, and this sub-section of their site aimed at small business is a blessing.

From the expected info on the various legal structures for your business, to statutes and case studies ... home businesses, employees vs. independent contractors ... taxes, marketing, financing, accounting ... trademarks, patents and copyrights ... and even a section on doing business on-line, Nolo provides help that is well-grounded, easy to get at, and comprehensive without becoming too burdensome for the layperson.  Also, it's good to know that Nolo is neither some scam to tell you you always need a lawyer for everything {or at least a copy of one of their books}, nor a closet anti-lawyer group.  When the task or the question requires the help of a competent professional, they'll say so.

Of course, if you need other kinds of legal info, Nolo is also there to help, whether its with consumer issues, retirement, or {we hope not} bankruptcy.  In addition to the solid info available on-line, Nolo also has software, books, and downloads for sale.  Like we said, Nolo has been around for almost 30 years.  We wish it another 30 more ... and then some.  Rating: ***** [5 stars].

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    If you know of any links that you think are worthwhile, why not send them along to  ... 

             links@downstreetmagazine.com  ...

    If we agree, we'll be happy to include them in an upcoming issue to pass the word along.  ...
    Thanks.

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