National Federation of Independent Business
The National Federation of Independent Business is known as one of the most prominent organizations to represent small, locally owned companies in Congress and before state legislatures. Its home page reflects this emphasis with lots of information about pending laws and regulations and what the NFIB is doing about them. But there's also plenty of practical, straightforward information contributed by NFIB members from around the country. Find out what the NFIB is doing in your area, and find out how you can become a member.
http://www.nfibonline.com

National Small Business United
National Small Business United offers an alternate voice to the NFIB in representing the interests of small businesses and entrepreneurs in both Congress and state legislatures. Its Web site not only includes information about NSBU positions on pending laws and regulations, but also offers discussion groups where members can post questions and responses about any issues in which they have an interest. In addition, the site contains information about the NSBU's group rates for insurance, long-distance phone service, and other services.
http://www.nsbu.org

The Small Business Advisor
The Small Business Advisor covers a lot of the same issues that other Web sites in this category do, but it adds an impressive attention to detail. Besides the standard checklists and articles about business plans, legal issues, and financing, The Small Business Advisor tackles specific issues such as shopping for an 800 number and merchant card account (which allows you to process credit cards). Search for the best prices on the Web for books, computer hardware, and software to help you get your business moving forward.
http://www.isquare.com

Small Business Development Centers On The Internet
Many states have small business development centers—agencies that do anything from provide information about an area you're looking at to start a business to arranging development incentives, such as state loans and tax credits. Plus, this site links to all the state Small Business Development Centers on the Web. The site claims that SBDCs counseled and trained nearly 600,000 clients in fiscal year 1999 and that total tax revenues generated by SBDC clients in 1998 exceeded the cost of long-term consulting by a ratio of 5.47 to 1.00.
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbdc

Small Business Knowledge Base
This site is packed with free information on planning, starting, marketing, and growing a small business. The Starting a Business button leads you to a page that includes such information as "The Top 10 Entrepreneurial Traps/ Mistakes," a section on Building An Internet Business, and links to books and CD-ROMs that can help you make the most of your time and money. The home page also includes buttons that take you to information on buying a business, personnel management, financial management, and some "Inspirational Stuff."
http://www.bizmove.com

Small Business Resource Center
The Small Business Resource Center has a handy list of articles that cover basic questions you need to ask yourself before starting a business or buying a franchise. What sets this site apart from the rest is its coverage of specific industries. For example, it has articles such as "How to start your own day care center," "How to start a home-based secretarial service," and many more. The Online Catalog button takes you to a list of Center-recommended publications that will help you with everything from refining your business plan to running a business on the Web.
http://www.webcom.com/seaquest/sbrc/welcome.html

Dot Com Business Plans
http://members.aol.com/proposaldoc

Entrepreneurial Edge
http://edge.lowe.org

Entrepreneurs' Help Page
http://www.tannedfeet.com

Forbes' Small Business Center
http://www.forbes.com/growing

Foundation for Enterprise Development
http://www.fed.org

Franchise Direct
http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk

Franchising.org
http://www.franchising.org

IRS Forms and Publications
http://www.irs.gov/forms_pubs

National Technology Transfer Center
http://www.nttc.edu

Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov

Quicken—Small Business
http://www.quicken.com/small_business

Small Business Legal Encyclopedia
http://www.nolo.com/encyclopedia/sb_ency.html

U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov