Library Resources for Small Businesses

Help for the Small Business Owner

Utilize these Internet and Wethersfield Library print resources to assist you in starting or maintaining a small business. Wethersfield Library provides free Internet access.

Internet Resources

Databases

Business & Company Resource Center

This database is provided by the Connecticut State Library and Department of Higher Education. On this web site you can search for company information, industry information or business articles. You can connect directly to the database from within Wethersfield Library however, from outside the library you will be prompted to enter your Wethersfield Library barcode to log into the database.
http://www.iconn.org

General Business Information

Business Owner's Toolkit

 

Find information and tools to help you start, run and grow a successful small business.
http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/

Connecticut Licensing Info Center

 

This web site is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the requirements of starting or expanding a business in Connecticut.
http://www.ct-clic.com/Content/Smart_Start_for_Business.asp

Connecticut Community Investment Corporation

 

This corporation aids and assists the expansion of existing industry, commerce, and local entrepreneurship by offering consultations, technical support, as well as educational and financial assistance.
http://www.ctcic.org

SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership of The Entrepreneurial Center at Hartford College for Women

 

This local office serves both men and women, with a special emphasis on women in business. It offers training and counseling for new, prospective and existing business owners.
http://www.hartford.edu/ec/

SCORE — Service Corps of Retired Executives

 

This is an organization of retired business executives and business owners who volunteer to advise small businesses. There are several offices in Connecticut.
http://www.score.org

United States Small Business Administration

 

This government web site provides information on starting, financing, managing a small business as well as many other topics. There are also links to SCORE and the SBA's Women's Business Centers.
http://www.sba.gov

Writing Business and Marketing Plans

Bplans.com

 

The largest single collection of free sample business plans online. Also contains helpful tools and know-how for managing your business.
http://www.bplans.com

Business and Marketing Plans

 

This web site provides dozens of sample business and marketing plans. It also includes tips for creating a business plan presentation.
http://www.morebusiness.com/business-plans

Business Plan Basics

 

From the Small Business Administration, this web site outlines business plan basics, and how to successfully write and implement a business plan.
http://www.sba.gov/writing-business-plan

Mplans.com

 

The Mplans.com web site provides marketing plan resources. You can find sample marketing plans and articles to help your business.
http://www.mplans.com

Business Law Resources

Findlaw.com

 

This web site provides legal information for business, including starting a business, employer and employee rights, financing, immigration, worker's compensation and many other business-related legal issues.
http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com

Nolo

 

Find information about starting a business, choosing a business structure, writing a business plan, choosing a business name and other useful information.
http://www.nolo.com

Tax Help for Small Businesses

IRS Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource

 

This web site includes information on EINs (employer identification number), tax information, links to other small business information, online self-directed workshops, and other helpful government information.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

Business Magazines Online

Business Week Small Business Online

 

Special features include a small business guide and small business tools. Find information on financing, day-to-day operations and small business staffing.
http://www.businessweek.com/

Entrepreneur

 

Find information and articles on business start-ups, marketing, franchising, e-commerce and many other business areas.
http://www.entrepreneur.com

Inc.com

 

Find recent Inc.com articles as well as articles according to business topic, "how-to" information, the Inc. 500 list, and other useful business tools. Registration (free) is required for access to some information.
http://www.inc.com

Home-Based and Solo Worker Business Information

Business@home

 

Find timely news and how-to information to run a successful home-based business.
http://www.gohome.com

A New Workplace at Home

 

This site offers business ideas, articles, and resources to help you start a business at home.
http://www.newworkplace.com

Work at Home Index: Your Work at Home Resource

 

A directory of online and offline business resources to launch, run, and maintain a successful home business.
http://www.work-at-home-index.net

Working Solo

 

This web site is specifically oriented to providing business information for small office/home office companies with 20 or fewer employees, including self-employed, telecommuters, and other independent business professionals.
http://www.workingsolo.com

Wethersfield Library Print Resources

658.4 COVELLO

Covello, Joseph

Your First Business Plan: A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan

Covello outlines the various parts of a business in order to create a winning business plan. Includes complete sample plans with an easy to follow question and answer format, easing you into the creation of a winning plan.

658.022 HORAN

Horan, Jim

The One Page Business Plan: Start With a Vision, Build a Company!

This book will show you how to write your own one page business plan for start-ups, small to mid-sized companies, corporate divisions, and non-profits.

658.041 LESONSKY

Lesonsky, Rieva

Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-up Book You'll Ever Need

The author and staff of Entrepreneur Magazine deliver a book loaded with business advice on hiring employees, location, loans, image, leasing versus buying equipment, and much more.

658.041 NORMAN

Norman, Jan

What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real Life Start-up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs

Norman addresses small businesses' common and uncommon miscues with advice and insight from more than 100 entrepreneurs.

658.11 PURTILL

Purtill, John S. (Jr.)

Starting a Small Business in Connecticut

This book is designed for those going into business for the first time. Topics covered include: raising startup money, keeping good business records, understanding employment regulations, and many more critical business concepts.

346.73 STEINGOLD

Steingold, Fred

Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business

Steingold offers a clear and concise path around many of the legal pitfalls encountered regularly by today's entrepreneur.

Additional Business Information for Connecticut

• Utilize the Connecticut Business-to-Business Marketing Directory to search major employers, companies by city and product, and yellow page category. This is a reference book found at the Information Services desk. R 338 Connecticut 2003
• Also, be sure to visit the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce at http://www.wethersfieldchamber.com. The Chamber is committed to supporting Economic Development as well as serving as the 'voice' for you and your business.