Helpful Resources

This resource list is presented to help you find the information you may need to run your business or organization more effectively. The list includes websites that detail everything from legal advice to grant opportunities, or publications that will help the business owner, entrepreneur, and non-profit manager.

Government Connections

City & County of San Francisco (www.ci.sf.ca.us)

Links to all city departments for San Francisco-specific information. Helpful for local bidding options.

Internal Revenue Service (www.irs.gov)

The IRS has a great web site including forms and publications on-line. They offer free classes and publications.

Small Business Administration (SBA) (www.sba.gov)

The SBA is a very useful resource. This is their national site, and leads to local resources as well.

San Francisco Business Information (www.sfbizinfo.org)

This site provides information on permits and licensing, tax information and incentives, hiring and employment directives, etc.

United States Patent & Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov)

This website will help in research for available business names and trademark options.

Selected Small Business Websites

Business Stats (www.bizstats.com)

A great web site to get financial information by industry or type of business. Some are free examples and/or reports that could be purchased.

Craigslist (www.craigslist.org)

Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free classified ads with sections devoted to jobs, businesses for sale, resumes and discussion forums. This is still an excellent resource for listing and finding local jobs and contracts.

Fast Company (www.fastcompany.com)

A magazine and website devoted to “how smart people work” including information on Social Entrepreneurship, a book club and events listings.

Nolo Press (www.nolo.com)

Nolo Press has been a leader in small business information and openness in management. This site is an excellent location for books, articles and immediate news on small business issues.

Smart Biz (www.smartbiz.com)

A company and website that addresses “how small businesses go big”. This site includes information and deals with professionalization, incorporation and technology upgrades.

SurveyMonkey (www.surveymonkey.com)

A site enabling anyone to create professional online surveys quickly and easily online.

Zoomerang (www.zoomerang.com)

Another option for on-line surveys and data management.

Non-Profit Organizations

CAMEO (California Micro Enterprise Organizations–www.microbiz.org)

The local trade organization for over 100 organizations that provide training, loans and other support for micro enterprises in California.

Compass Point Non-Profit Services (www.compasspoint.org)

A Center for classes, workshops and consulting for non-profit community leaders.

National Business Incubator Association (www.nbia.org)

This site provides information on business incubation, member organizations, upcoming conferences, and an online bookstore containing books on business incubation.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (www.rencenter.org)

Renaissance is an entrepreneurial training center located in San Francisco offering workshops, business classes, loan packaging services, and a business incubator program.

The Foundation Center of San Francisco (www.fdncenter.org/sanfrancisco)

The Foundation Center is a one-stop resource for all funding needs their huge database is free and open to the public for research in grant opportunities.

General Business Resources

Alice Statler Library of Food Science (www.ccsf.edu/Library/alice/collections.html)

The Alice Statler Library houses a special collection of research and circulating materials concerned with the Hospitality industry.

California Chamber of Commerce (www.calchamber.com)

For those working at state level, this organization publishes an extensive labor law digest and other useful personnel information.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (www.sfchamber.com)

The Chamber is an excellent local resource. Their website offers a current events listing, a membership directory, and many useful resources for small businesses.

Social Network Sites

Facebook (www.facebook.com)

This is a (free) social networking website where users can connect and interact with other people by joining networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region.

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site primarily used for professional networking.

Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Twitter is a (free) social networking and micro-blogging service created in 2006 that enables its users to send and read each others’ updates (text-based posts of up to 140 characters) known as “tweets.”

Online Publications and Magazines

Dunn & Bradstreet (www.dnb.com)

Provides credit information on businesses and corporations.

Entrepreneur Magazine (www.entreprenuer.com)

Online magazine providing information for entrepreneurs.

Inc. Magazine (www.inc.com)

A monthly magazine based in New York City targeting entrepreneurs and small businesses; publishes an annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the US.

Wall Street Journal (www.wsf.com)

An international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, with a daily circulation of over 2 million, and approximately 931,000 online subscribers. The Journal newspaper primarily covers US and international business and financial news and issues.