GUIDES AND DIRECTORIES

Librarians’ Index to the Internet

Librarians maintain this up-to-date guide to authoritative and reliable Web sites, annotated and arranged by category. The Finance and Jobs topic headings contain over 50 categories, including small business.

Search Systems

The site contains the largest free public records database collection for searching a huge array of public record information of all types. It can be searched nationwide or by the state, and it provides links that range from licensed professions in California to charitable trusts, from property foreclosure sales to city and county tax rates.

Small and Home Based Business Links (BizOffice)

This useful site provides links to almost everything related to small and home-based businesses, from franchises and marketing to government grants.

ThomasNet

Powered by Thomas Register and Thomas Regional, ThomasNet brings together industrial buyers and sellers on the web to facilitate the purchasing process on a national, regional, and local level.

U.S. Small Business Administration

This government agency’s mission is to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small businesses. It includes links to the six lead California regional offices, as well as major sections on starting, financing, and expanding a small business. It is also available in Spanish.

USA.Gov.

This site is the home page for the Federal government’s business-related information, with multiple internal and external links to a wide variety of topics. This site is also available in Spanish.

Key pages on the site include:

• Business Plan Guide (Manage your business from start to finish)
• Contract Opportunities
• Financing
• Forms & Publications
• Manage your Business
• Outside Resources and Business Links
• SBA Franchise Hotlist
• Starting Your Business