...Dr. Jones, the brains behind the CareerKey (see our Self-Assessment page), has created another great site and
useful tool, this time geared towards the person who is considering self-employment. You can read several quick articles for free, but I found it worth the modest fee to take the online test and get a better idea of my personal interests and characteristics and how they can translate into my job as a private consultant. (I'm an Artistic-Social type myself, which fits into my background as a librarian and musician!) The test will take you less than 10 minutes on a DSL or Cable line and it is a very simple yet insightful tool if you are thinking about telling the boss to take a hike.
...a public-private partnership formed by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA), Entrepreneurship.org is focused on leveraging best practices in entrepreneurial leadership to advance economic growth around the world. This site has an enormous amount of content for global
entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors, and the like. I suggest you start with the Resource Center for your best view of the possibilities here and then start thinking about your own specific needs.
...the magazine for the small business. Inc Magazine dedicates many issues to topics
which hit the heart and pocket of the entrepreneur and ranks the Inc 500 each fall.
This is definitely a publication and online site to watch.
...a site dedicated to the small business, the self-employed and / or the entrepreneur.
Like everything else they do, it is a great resource with resources and articles from the WSJ.
"A Fun Approach to Serious Business. Yes, we firmly believe there's a clear need for some
whipped cream topped with a cherry in every entrepreneur's diet! Small business owners work
harder than anyone else, they seldom get any credit, so at Idea Cafe, we give them a perfectly
legitimate excuse to take a well-deserved break . Here, you can solve your problems and have
some fun too! And you get the chance to network with others who know exactly what you're going through. "
This site is filled with the information and resources you need to get your
business up and running and keep it going, but it also recognizes that
small business owners are some of the hardest workers around and
very much in need of some de-stress. The Legal section is filled with forms
and tips covering all your needs from Agreements to Billing to Taxes to HR
forms. You'll find this helpful as well as fun.
... an organization dedicated to "encouraging business owners
to get involved with entrepreneurial peer-networking organizations and to think about their businesses in
new and creative ways."
... helps entrepreneurs and people who are interested in starting a business find business partners, board members, executives, skilled professionals, engineers, advisors, and more. People who are interested in getting involved in these up-and-coming
businesses can also post profiles and network with other members. Registration and basic membership are free. PartnerUp is headquartered in Eden Prarie, MN.
..Terri Lonier, an expert in small business matters, operates this
site to support SOHO businesses -- Small Office / Home Office.
It's fairly basic but does offer good advice on how to decide if
you should start your own business, steps to take before you
quit your day job, and naming your new business. (I particularly
like that last item after attempting to track down so many small
businesses, particularly technology firms, with generic computer
names.) Nice links to supportive sources.
Copyright 1998 - 2011, Margaret F. Dikel. Logo design was provided by Brand Advance LLC and is copyright 2010 Margaret F. Dikel. Permission to reproduce and/or distribute print copies
of these pages is hereby granted for non-profit purposes only, except where noted. No changes
may be made to these copies without the express permission of the author. All other requests for copying and
distribution including electronic distribution must be directed to the author. Permission is granted for
you to link to this page or The Riley Guide at any time, but the location address (URL) may not be hidden
through the use of frames nor any other technology. Please read our disclaimers. The Riley Guide is
located at www.rileyguide.com and hosted by Godaddy.com. How to Contact Us.