Top Vendors for Starting a Small Business

Directory of resources and opportunities for starting a small business. Find information on starting a business and research companies offering support services for small business startups. Browse providers of information and resources for startup busines
Hoover's Online

Discover and map corporate connections, pinpoint and retrieve detailed business intelligence, and gain access to company profiles delivered by industry experts. Subscribe to a free trial of Hoover's reports today.

Hoover's OnlineVisit Hoovers.com
Choice Hotels

Start a business in the hospitality industry. Choice Hotels™ is one of the largest global lodging companies. They provide their franchisees with high-quality, high-value investment options globally while delivering reservations. Apply Today.

choicehotelsfranchise.com

Choice HotelsVisit choicehotelsfranchise.com
The Masters Touch Business Opportunity

Join over 1,100 businesses that have made the decision to be in business for themselves. See if this is right for you, watch video now. 10+ years in business, training provided and financing available.

tmtbusiness.com

The Masters Touch Business OpportunityVisit tmtbusiness.com
State Farm

Get comprehensive life, health, property and liability protection for your business. State Farm agents understand the needs of small businesses and can help you protect your business. Find an agent today.

statefarm.com

State FarmVisit statefarm.com
DNBi Professional

Protect cash flow and drive growth with credit experts. D&B is a leading source of commercial information and insight providing solution sets to mitigate credit & supplier risk, increase cash flow & drive profitability. Contact a rep today.

dnbi.com

DNBi Professional Visit dnbi.com
Starting a Handmade Goodies Business

Find experts and advice for selling your handmade goodies to the world. more »

Small Business Loans

Quickly find providers of small business loans. Research small business loan brokers offering unsecured business loans. Identify a vendor of small business loans offering small bus… more »

Starting an Event Planning Business

Find experts and advice for starting an event planning business. more »

Starting a Manufacturing Company

Find experts and advice for starting a manufacturing company. more »

Starting a Mail-Order Business

Find experts and advice for starting a mail-order business. more »

Get Your Business Listed

Get your business listed on this page

Reach active buyers and immediately increase your visibility

Get Started
Starting a Catering Business

Find experts and advice for starting a catering business. more »

Company Formation and UK Registration Resources

A range of UK company formation and registration services with practical information, guidance and advice on setting up a limited company in the UK.

http://www.completeformations.co.uk/index.html
Make Money Fast

Learn how to start an online business and make money with ads, affiliate marketing, and e-commerce, including making and promoting a website.

http://www.makemoneyfast.org
Start Your Own Profitable Business

Turnkey business opportunity in the extremely profitable field of hard surface cleaning. You can make tens of thousands of dollars per month!

http://www.tmtbusiness.com/lpbdotcom.aspx
Starting a Business

Business advice including information on accounting and finance, business communication, marketing, money management, and more.

http://business.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Main_Page
Starting a Small Business Online

Information to help aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in starting an internet business and running a customer centric company online.

http://www.smallwebusiness.com/
Yorkshire Forward

At Invest in Yorkshire, we pride ourselves in providing the best possible business research and development resources to aid businesses.

http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/

Starting a Business


Maybe you have an idea for an internet business startup, or you are starting a small business from home. Do you need a business startup loan, business startup software, or just want to know the basics of how to write a great business plan?

Whether you are still in the idea stage of how to start a business, or you've already taken the first few steps, having the right resources will be critical to your success.

Startup Resources

Here are four ways to improve the odds of success for anyone who wants to start a business: 

  • Get the right people: If you can afford to, hire employees or can bring in partners when you first start a business. Studies show that well-staffed business startups have better survival rates than solo operations.
  • Get enough financing : Studies show that businesses starting with less than $50K have higher failure rates. The key is to have enough financing so your business can take root.
  • Training: If you can, attend seminars on how to start a small business offered through a local Small Business Development Center, or enroll in a college-based entrepreneurship program to learn the ropes. Many startup businesses fail because their owners don’t know basic business tasks like balancing the checkbook and managing their inventory.
  • Start at home: To keep costs low, start a home-based business.  Businesses that begin this way and then move into new space as they grow have higher success rates.

Need startup funding but can’t qualify for a loan? Consider using equipment leasing to ease that financial burden.

Starting a Small Business

There are several steps you should take before you start your business in order to guarantee its success. You can get assistance with any of these steps – as well as additional information on small businesses – from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Other ways you can prepare yourself for your new role as a startup business owner include:

  • Get free counseling and advice on how to start a business from a certified small business counselor or mentor.
  • Go online to foster the support of like-minded startup entrepreneurs. Nothing's a better motivator than involvement with a community of other entrepreneurs who are starting a small business - and sharing the ideas and information they've learned. 
  • Get expert help writing your startup business plan. A good business plan will guide you through the first phase of your startup and convince potential investors to finance your business.
  • Try franchising opportunities as your route to starting a small business.
  • Acquire a business education before you begin. Business owners who complete courses on how to start a small business have a greater chance of success. 

Risks of Starting a Small Business

The most common reasons for failure within the first few years of starting small business include competition, mismanagement, high rent and insurance costs, high debt, inability to get financing, loss of clients and difficulty with collections.

  • Making preparations in advance – such as writing a solid business plan, taking business classes, and seeking the advice of a mentor in your industry – can greatly reduce the risk of your business’s failure.

If you're ready to take the risk of the risk of starting your own business, carefully study how to start a business in your chosen market before taking the plunge. Even though business failure rates aren't as high as once believed, aspiring entrepreneurs still need to do their homework. Once you educate yourself, surround yourself with others invested in your success, and acquire enough financing, you’ll be ready to begin the process of starting your own small business.

If you’re starting a small business, be sure to get professional business plan help and apply for a business loan.