Small Business Resources - 35 Business Websites You Must Read Now

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35 BUSINESS WEBSITES
YOU MUST READ RIGHT NOW

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Table of Contents
Accounting/Finance.............................................4
Customer Service.................................................5
Data and Data Management...............................6
Digital Media News.............................................6
Entrepreneurship.................................................7
Family Business....................................................7
General Business..................................................9
Government Resources........................................9
Professional Relationships/Networking..............10
Marketing...........................................................11
News...................................................................11
Small Business Management..............................11
Surveys...............................................................12
Women in Business............................................12

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There are a lot of websites on the net that cater to the unique needs of business owners.
They are numerous, and new ones are coming online every day. It is almost impossible to
keep track of them all. Ziplocal has compiled a list of the best 35 business related websites, and
broken them up into logical categories for your consumption. So whether you are looking for
information on government resources, accounting, or business related news, these websites are all
worth a visit. They are packed full of relevant articles, White Papers, resources, and information.
Even if you are a freelancer just starting to navigate the business world, or a seasoned business
professional, these sites provide a great place to start your journey.

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Accounting/Finance
AccountingWEB accountingweb.com
AccountingWEB is the premier publication for the accounting occupation in the United States. This
is a great place to become versed in the nuances of accounting, tax law, and Excel.
CPA Directory cpadirectory.com
CPA Directory is the largest online database of Certified Public Accountants. It gives CPA’s a simple
way to create a web presence by marketing and constructing a nationwide online directory of CPA’s.
CPA Directory has resources for small business owners and CPA’s including information on tax
issues, financing, marketing, and technology.
Fresh Books freshbooks.com
Fresh Books is a cloud based accounting system. New users get thirty days to try it out for free and
see if they like it. Fresh Books has a multitude of benefits including ease of use, easily customizable

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invoices, allows users to accept credit card payments, see when your invoice is viewed,
multi-currency invoicing, and late payment reminders.
Mint mint.com
Mint is a free web based personal finance management service.
Mint allows users to track investment, credit card, bank, and loan transactions through a single,
simple to use interface. You can also create budgets and set goals for saving and spending.
Paypal paypal.com
Paypal is a valuable resource for accepting payments from customers all over the world. Paypal
allows customers and business owners send and receive payments on the internet using bank
accounts, credit cards, and Paypal account balances.
VentureDeal venturedeal.com
VentureDeal is a startup and venture capital database. VentureDeal is an in-depth startup and
venture capital database that is updated daily with
the latest information on venture capital firms,
executives, company transactions, and North
American startup companies.
Customer Service
Customer Service Group, Alexander
Communications Group
customerservicegroup.com
The Customer Service Group website is a
valuable resource for any company, including health-
care, that has front line customer service representa-
tives. The resources include a monthly newsletter for
customer service managers and employees, recogni-
tion kits, training guides, and many resources specif-
ically for those in the healthcare fields.

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Salesforce salesforce.com
Salesforce provides companies with a system for automatically escalating and routing important
events, and an interface for task and case management. The Salesforce customer portal allows
customers the capacity to track their own cases, and includes a social networking plugin that
permits the users to become involved with conversations about their company on a variety of social
media platforms. Sales Cloud includes a real-time sales tool called Chatter, and Salesforce also
provides a variety of analytical tools.
Data and Data Management
Hoovers hoovers.com
Hoovers offers proprietary marketplace data through their amalgamated workplace solutions and
online outlet. Hoovers has information on more than 85 million corporations, 100 million people,
leads, industries, companies,analysis, and list building. Hoovers is the single largest source of
business information anywhere.
Wufoo wufoo.com
Wufoo is an online form builder that makes
it simple to create, share, and obtain your
data. It allows you to customize templates.
create visuals of your data, and accept
payments. Both free and
unlimited plans are available.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur.com
entrepreneur.com/smbresourcecenter
Entrepreneur.com is chock full of how to
guides and resources for business
owners including information on how to
get financed, start up costs calculator, free
business forms for download, the basics of

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building an online business, and a primer on employee benefits.
VentureDeal venturedeal.com
VentureDeal is a startup and venture capital database. VentureDeal is an in-depth startup and
venture capital database that is updated daily with the latest information on venture capital firms,
executives, company transactions, and North American startup companies.
Zoho zoho.com
Zoho is a web-based online office suite that contains spreadsheets, presentations, databases, word
processing, note taking, customer relationship management, wiki’s, invoicing, project management,
and other applications. There are subscription’s available for organizations and free applications
for individuals.
Family Business
Fambiz fambiz.com
Fambiz is the foremost resource for advisors,
academics, and family business executives.
Affiiliated with Northeastern University,
Fambiz offers a database of family business
related articles, news briefs, reference tools,
research materials, and useful links to family
business executives. Fambiz exists to help
family businesses and the unique challenges
and opportunities that they face.
General Business
BizFilings toolkit.com
BizFilings has a myriad of resources for
the small business owner including free
informational downloads, articles on topics
including marketing, finance, and
human resources.

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Business Owners Idea Cafe
businessownersideacafe.com
Business Owners Idea Cafe is a fun website with sundry resources for startup entrepreneurs, small
business owners, and experts to help them run and grow their business. You can apply for small
business grants, chat with other business owners in the small business forums, and download what
you need in the way of White Papers, podcasts, magazines, and downloads on topics including
franchising, entrepreneurship, and small business management.
Linkedin Small Business smallbusiness.linkedin.com
Linkedin Small Business helps you to build your brand and to connect with the right people. There
are many resources including guides on professional branding, small business marketing,
advertising, sponsored updates, sales, finding leads, and how to hire the right person for the job.
Microsoft For Your Business microsoft.com/en-us/business
Microsoft Business is full of resources for business owners and has many resources to help you grow
your business online, market your business, manage your finances, incorporate or form an LLC,
social media marketing, and obtain government and business contracts. The website has videos,
articles, customer success stories, e-guides and White Papers.
National Association of the Self Employed nase.org
A comprehensive website offering a wide range of resources and tools to assist small business
owners run their business successfully. There is a newsletter and additional resources available only
to NASE members.
Business Utility Zone Gateway buzgate.org
The Business Utility Zone Gateway, or Buzgate is
an online portal that links business owners with local
resources. Buzgate provides resources and
entrepreneurial education to the self-employed, freelancers,
small and medium sized business owners in all fifty states,
Puerto Rico, and the district of Columbia. Simply choose
your state from the drop down menu to gain access to
educational sites, and free government and nonprofit small
business assistance programs.

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Government Resources
Better Business Bureau (BBB) bbb.org/us
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a non-profit organization based on promoting
better relationships between business and consumers. The BBB website is a resource for
information on self-regulation, scams that can affect businesses and consumers, and educates
consumers and business about responsible e-commerce and advertising practices.
Internal Revenue Service irs.gov
The IRS website is a valuable resource, it will give you assistance in selecting a tax preparer, let you
know your rights as a taxpayer, download tax forms, find answers to common tax questions. check
the status of your return, pay your bill, and assist you in resolving various tax issues.
Small Business Administration sba.gov
Founded in 1953, the Small Business Administration has administered millions of contracts,
counseling sessions, loans, loan guarantees, and other
forms of help to small businesses. The SBA helps
business through it’s four primary functions: small
business advocacy, entrepreneurial development through
technical assistance, training, information, and education,
business financing, and government contracting.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce uschamber.com
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the worlds most promi-
nent business organization, embodying the
successfulness of more than 3 million businesses large and
small. The Chamber of Commerce is their voice in Wash-
ington D.C.
United States Department of Labor: Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization
dol.gov/oasam/programs/osdbu/sbrefa/main.htm
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization (OSDBU) implements the Department of

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Labor’s imperative to assure acquisition opportunities for HUBZone
businesses, businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, women
owned businesses, small businesses, and small disadvantaged
businesses. The website includes a comprehensive small business
resource center, vendor outreach, compliance resources, and links to
additional resources of interest.
Whitehouse Resources for Business in America
whitehouse.gov/economy/business/resources
A list of resources for entrepreneurs and business owners including
supporting business innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, resources
for manufacturers, and building a 21st century workforce. If the
information you are seeking is not listed, an e-mail address is provided
so you can request it.
Professional Relationships/
Networking
Linkedin Small Business
smallbusiness.linkedin.com
Linkedin Small Business helps you to build your brand and to connect
with the right people. There are many resources including guides on
professional branding, small business marketing, advertising, sponsored
updates, sales, finding leads, and how to hire the right person for
the job.
Marketing
Adweek adweek.com
Adweek is the news authority for advertising, media, and marketing
professionals. Adweek is an integral read for content creators, media
buyers, CMO’s, agency heads, creatives, and anyone who wants to be
current in the terrain of digital media.

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Word of Mouth Marketing Association womma.org
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is the official trade association devoted social
media and word of mouth marketing. WOMMA was founded in 2004 and is the leader in ethical
word of mouth marketing practices through professional education opportunities, information
sharing with top industry marketers, and the WOMMA Summit. The WOMMA website has a lot of
resources free and for members including online resources, research, and the WOMMAPEDIA.
News
Business Insider businessinsider.com
Business Insider is a news source for business
professionals covering technology, finance, politics,
strategy, life, and sports.
Inc. inc.com
inc.com is the online companion to Inc. magazine. inc.com
is teeming with inspiration, information, practical advice,
and small business ideas.
Forbes forbes.com
forbes.com is the online companion to Forbes magazine.
Forbes is a business magazine that features articles on
industry, marketing, finance, communications, technology,
the law, and science.
Small Business Management
National Association of the Self Employed
nase.org
A comprehensive website offering a wide range of
resources and tools to assist small business owners run
their business successfully. There is a newsletter and
additional resources available only to NASE members.

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Business Unlimited business-unlimited.com
Business Unlimited attends to client companies to advance their performance through the adoption
and understanding of best practices. Business Unlimited works with clients using an inclusive range
of outplacement services, management consultancy, and executive recruitment services. There is a
services section with free resources available to those who sign up and create an online account.
National Federation of Independent Business nfib.com/business-resources
The National Federation of Independent Business is America’s leading small business advocacy
organization. The NFIB website is brimming with resources for small business owners including
advocacy, news, events, and small business resources such as hiring and workplace issues and
business strategies and tips.
Surveys
Survey Monkey surveymonkey.com
Survey Monkey is a cloud based service which
provides free, customizable surveys. For a fee
users can upgrade their accounts to include
sample selection, data amylases, data
representation tools, and bias elimination.
Women in Business
Bizwomen bizwomen.com
Bizwomen is a valuable resource for women in
business. This is the place to go when you are
seeking up to date news stories about women in
business, and the unique issues that affect them.
If your company has a superstar female
employee you can submit her picture and a short
biography which will be posted on the website.

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This is a great way to promote your superstar female employees and keep your companies name in
the news at no charge to you!
Entrepreneur.com- Women Entrepreneurs
entrepreneur.com/topic/women-entrepreneurs
Topics of interest to women in business including articles on how to be a better negotiator,
women to watch in the franchising sector, inspirational woman CEO’s, and how to maintain a
work life balance.