Working
Solo Resources
There are hundreds of Web sites that offer business information
and advice for small office/home office workers. This list
contains a selection of those we've found to be most helpful.
As we discover other worthwhile sites, they'll be added to
this list.
Note: When you click on
one of the links below, a new browser window will open containing
the destination site. This way, you can easily return to this
list when you're done at the other site (or keep both windows
open on your computer desktop).
Business Startup
Computers and Technology
Employment Matchmakers
Finances and Taxes
General Business Info
Home-Based Businesses
Legal
Magazines (online companions to print)
Managing Your Business
Marketing, PR, and Sales
Office Design and Operations
Radio Shows
Research
Web Hosting
Business Startup
SBA (U.S.
Small Business Administration)
The mothership of small business information, this site is
an ideal place to start your quest for small business info
on the Net.
SCORE
(Service Corps of Retired Executives)
A resource partner of the SBA, SCORE provides walk-in and
online small business counseling through its 389 nationwide
offices and Web site.
Iowa
Small Business Development Center
This SBDC (Small Business Development Center) has gone beyond
the immediate community it serves to reach out to solo entrepreneurs
and small business owners around the world with its articles,
tools, and small business content.
Computers and
Technology
Apple
Computer
Information about Macintosh computers and solutions specifically
geared toward small business. Includes info on consultants
and other experts who focus on Apple products.
Dell
Computer
This online computer retailer offers specials for small and
home-based businesses on computer systems, software, services,
and support. They also have more than 1200 online classes,
including business topics.
Gateway
Gateway has been a longtime supporter of small business, with
hardware solutions and support packages for every budget.
Look for the cow-inspired packaging.
H-P
There aren't many
SOHO offices without a Hewlett-Packard device in them, whether
it's a computer, scanner, printer, or other peripheral.
The company's site offers product information, support files
and software downloads.
IBM
While most people think of IBM as a company that serves big
corporations, they also have a line of home office and
small business products, and archived articles from
their small business email newsletter at this site.
Employment
Matchmakers
The following sites each offer job-finding services for freelancers
and soloists, and job posting capabilities for companies looking
to hire independents. Some also offer articles and information
on business topics.
Aquent
Elance
Monster
Finances and Taxes
American
Express Small Business Exchange
This site features dozens of business articles as well as interactive
tools such as self-quizzes. You can also make travel arrangements,
manage your accounts, or apply for the AmEx card online.
Intuit
The makers of the financial software Quicken and QuickBooks
have two sites that contain information on products, as well
as general information for SOHO businesses. You can also find
QuickBook specialists in your area to help you with your bookkeeping
and accounting.
Internal
Revenue Service (IRS)
You may be surprised at the contemporary feel of this informative
governmental site. In the special section devoted to small business
and the self-employed, you can find up-to-date tax information
as well as downloadable forms, deadlines, addresses, and more.
June
Walker Online
June Walker is one of the top tax and financial advisors
to the self-employed. She's created a Web site to share her
information, and it's filled with valuable tax tips specifically
designed for soloists -- and served up in June's singularly
sassy style.
MasterCard
At this site you can sign up for a MasterCard, access articles
on small business finance, or subscribe to their free monthly
email newsletter.
NetSuite
If you're looking to manage not only your finances but your
entire small business online so you can access your information
anytime or anywhere, check out the power of Oracle Small Business
Suite.
Visa
The world's leading payment brand, Visa offers discounts at
this site on popular small business services through its Partner
Advantage program. You can also apply online for a credit card,
check card, or a Business Line of Credit.
General Business
Info
bCentral
Microsoft's MSN small business portal features business information
as well as links to the company's software solutions.
Business
Owner's Toolkit
CCH, a leading provicder of business, legal and tax information
and software, has applied its expertise in these areas to
the SOHO market, and has placed thousands of pages of its
"SOHO Guidebook" online. The site also features
templates, sample contracts, checklists, and commonly used
government forms.
Edward
Lowe Foundation
This site, sponsored
by the Edward Lowe Foundation, houses an extensive digital
library of articles on business startup and growth.
eVenturing
Sponsored by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership,
this site is a wealth of information on small business and
entrepreneurship. More than 1,000 articles, audio clips, tools,
databases, and event listings are only a click away!
Yahoo!
Small Business
The Yahoo! small business portal is filled with resources
to help you start and grow a business, promote it, and sell
products and services online.
Home-Based Businesses
Goin'
SOHO
Small business journalist's Jeff Zbar's Web site features
a listing of resources as well as information on his SOHO-focused
books.
Home
Biz News
This site is a clearinghouse of information for Canadian home-based
business owners, and also lists other North American resources.
Legal
Nolo
Nolo, the leading publisher of self-help legal resources,
has created this user-friendly site that is recognized as
the best legal self-help site on the Web. Check out the Small
Business area for articles on startup, business planning,
and other legal issues.
Magazines
These are the online companions to print magazines of interest
to the SOHO market. Many offer pop-up windows for free introductory
issues.
Business
2.0
Entrepreneur
Fast
Company
FSB (Fortune
Small Business)
Inc.
Managing Your
Business
Bplans
Tim Berry, president of Palo Alto Software and creator of
Business Plan Pro software, has filled this site with templates,
Q&As, sample plans, and other tools to help small business
owners develop complete (and useful) business plans.
Jian
Burke Franklin and his team at Jian Software
have created an entire suite of software products to help
you run your business easier and better. In addition to their
popular business plan software, they also have software to
guide you with marketing, contracts and agreements, safety
programs, and more.
Marketing,
PR, and Sales
Corbis
If you're looking to make your PowerPoint or print presentations
more effective, check out Corbis's collection of thousands
of images, templates, and other communication tools.
eMarketer
If you're looking to find statistics and information on marketing
on the Net, this is the site to explore. You can also sign
up for their free daily email newsletter.
iPrint
The place to come if you're looking to create business cards,
letterhead, rubber stamps, or other promotional items.
Office Design
and Operations
Airborne
Ship and track packages online, and use their rate comparison
calculator to see how Airborne rates compare to their competitors.
FedEx
Ship and track packages online, and visit their Small Business
Center to read business articles and to sign up for a free
weekly eBulletin.
Herman
Miller
One of the top furniture retailers in the country now offers
an interactive database to help you find their products at
partner online stores as well as traditional retailers. Review
their full line of offerings at this site, and also sign up
for their Jugglezine email newsletter to master a work-life
balance.
Kinko's
Track down a store location, send your document online for
printing, schedule a videoconference with clients, create
a banner -- all this and more is just a click away.
Office
Depot
Order office supplies, check out weekly specials, and access
services from preferred partners.
Office
Max
Order supplies online and check out articles and buying guides
that compare product features.
Paper
Tiger
Home of the "Taming the Paper Tiger" Software, which
lets you find anything in your office files in 5 seconds or
less. Sign up for the free monthly email newsletter, "The
Paper Tamer," from productivity expert Barbara Hemphill.
Staples
Order office supplies online, and read articles to help you
choose the best products and boost your office productivity.
UPS
Calculate rates, ship, and track your packages with the folks
in the friendly brown trucks.
US Postal
Service
Here's where you can find a ZIP code, calculate postage, locate
a post office, track a package, and even buy stamps online.
Sign up to receive a free Small Business Shipping Assistant
CD-ROM.
WorldLabel.com
This site is a source for blank laser and inkjet labels in
more than 40 sizes, and each size is available in 12 different
materials -- all at a discount.
Radio Shows
Small
Business Advocate
Jim Blasingame hosts a daily small business radio show that's
simulcast over the Internet. The site also features a rich
archive of past interviews with business experts and his "Brain
Trust."
Research
FedStats
A gateway to statistics from more than 100 Federal agencies
of the United States.
RefDesk
The most complete reference resource we've found on the Net
-- jam-packed with hotlinks to help you track down the information
you need.
Web Hosting
InfoQuest
This is one of the best values we've found for small business
Web hosting. They have a variety of packages, depending on
your needs. Web-based mail, site traffic logs, and other easy-to-use
tools included at no additional charge. Storefront and e-commerce
options available, too. (Yes, it's the official home of the
Working Solo site, and we like it a lot.)
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