Resources
Organizations
- Alabama Microenterprise Network (AMEN)
- Arab Chamber of Commerce
- Association of the United States Army - Redstone Chapter
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- BizTech
- Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County
- Community Organizations of North Alabama
- Cullman Chamber of Commerce
- Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
- FastTrac
- Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce
- Hartselle Chamber of Commerce
- HAMA (Huntsville Aerospace Marketing Association)
- HASBAT (Huntsville Association of Small Businesses in Advanced
Technologies - Huntsville Small Business Incubator
- Institute for Supply Management
- Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce
- Madison Chamber of Commerce
- Minority Business Opportunity Center - Alabama
- National Contract Management Association
- National Defense Industrial Association
- NDIA National Small Business Conference, May 25-26, 2010 - Huntsville, Alabama
- North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce
- Organization Supporting Business Owners (OSBO)
- SCORE
- South Regions Minority Business Council (SRMBC)
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Women's Economic Development Council (WEDC)
- Women in Defense
Getting Started
- Are you Ready to Start a Business?
- How Business Legal Structures Work
- 6 Steps to Starting Your Own Business
- Is Entrepreneurship Right For You?
- Do You Have What It Takes?
- Checklist For Starting A Business
- Starting A Business FAQ
- Start-Up Guide
- Get Licenses And Permits
- Employer ID Number (EIN)
- Choose A Structure
- Name Your Business
- Finance Your Start-Up
- Estimating Your Start-Up Costs
- Borrowing Money
- 6 Steps to Choosing a Business
- Build Your Own Website
- Corporate Identity Packages
- Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Accountant
- Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Attorney
- 55 Business Ideas
- The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas
Training Resources
- SBA Free Online Training
- Small Business Primer: Guide to Starting a Business
- Finance Primer: A Guide to SBA's Loan Guaranty Programs
- How to Prepare a Loan Package
- Marketing 101: A Guide to Winning Customers
- Develop a Business Plan - online interactive tool
- Sample Business Plans
- New Horizons Computer Learning Center
- Business Plan Templates to Help Start Your Business
Internet
Certifications
- Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
- SDB and 8a
- WBENC
- Corporations and Entities that Recognize WBENC Certification
- Electronic Application Process for SBA 8(a)/SDB Certification
- Online HUBZone Application
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification
Useful Websites for Women
Here are some helpful websites that have been specifically designed for women business owners interested in doing business with the government:
- WomanOwned.com: Business networks for women.
- eWomenNetwork: The #1 resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses.
- National Women’s Business Council: Advisors to the President, Congress, and the SBA.
- Office of Women's Business Ownership, Online Women's Business Center
- Women In Biz: “The gateway for women-owned businesses selling to the federal government.”
How To
- How to Choose a Legal Structure
- How to Name Your Business
- How to Write a Press Release
- How to Start a Quality Child Care Business
- How to Publish a Book
- How to Market Your Book
- How to Price a Business
- How to Sell Your Business
- How to Work a Trade Show
- How to Start a Home-Based Business
- How to Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- How to Buy a Franchise
- How to Franchise Your Business
- How to Develop a Cash Flow Statement
- How to Credit Card Enable Your Business
- How to Create an Elevator Pitch
- How to Obtain a City of Huntsville Business License
- How to Establish Credit
- How to Search for Names of Alabama Corporations
- How to Obtain Health Insurance in Alabama or Offer Coverage to Employees
- How to be Successful at Networking
- How to Start an Import/Export Business
- How to Take a New Food Product to Market
- How to Start a Restaurant - Madison County
- How to Start a Restaurant - Alabama State Board of Health Rules
- How to Choose the Right Location for Your Business
Establishing a Non-Profit
- How to Establish a Non-Profit Business
- About Grants
- Grants.gov
- Foundation Center
- Online Sources for Information on Grants and Funders
- Top 7 Must-Have Publications for Non-Profits
- IRS Tax Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3)
- IRS 501(c)(3) Application Process Step-by-Step
- Building Effective Non-Profit Boards
- How to Learn about Developing a Non-profit Board
- How to Write a Public Service Announcement
Financing
- Accion USA
- Prosper
- Loanio
- Kiva
- HUBZone Locator
- LMI Locator
- Investor Pitch – How to Make the Kitchen Table Pitch
- Investor Pitch – The Fine Art of Meeting with an Angel Investor
- Financing Alternatives
- Understanding Your FICO Score
- SBA Financing
- SBA Community Express PowerPoint Presentation
- SBA Franchise Registry
- Your Credit Scores
- Identity Theft and You
- Rebuilding Your Credit
- Life After Bankruptcy
- Circle Lending - How to Borrow Money from People You Know
- TARCOG Revolving Loan Fund
- Five Cs for Loan Applications
- Patriot Express Loan Program for the Military Community
- Seedco Financial Microloan Program
- Business Scores - What They Are; How to Boost Yours
Human Resources
- Health Savings Account Fact Sheet
- HR Resources for Small Businesses
- I Have Employees, Now What?
- Employee Handbook Overview
- Interview Tips
- Questions to Avoid When Interviewing
- A-4 State Withholding Exemption Certificate
- Alabama Child Labor Law Poster
- Employment Laws by Number of Employees
- Alabama New Hire Reporting Requirements
- Workman’s Comp Information Poster
- Job Insurance Poster
- 9 Questions to Ask an Unhappy Employee
- Independent Contractors vs. Employees
Marketing
- Market Research
- Types of Market Research
- Qualitative Marketing Research
- Quantitative Marketing Research
- Focus Groups
- Marketing Plan
- Sample Marketing Plans
Veterans
- SBA Office of Veterans Business Development
- SBA Patriot Express Loan Program
- VA Center for Veterans Enterprise
- Directory of Veterans Service Organzations
- The Veterans Corporation
- National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
- Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
- Still Serving Veterans
- Operation Grateful Heart
- Center for Women Veterans
- DOL e-VETS Resource Advisor
- HUD Veteran Resource Center
- Wounded Warriors Program
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the SBA or the WBCNA, and such reference shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or the WBCNA.
