Business

Starting & Running a Business

• Bplans.com [1]
  Provides more than 300 sample business plans.
• Business.gov [2]
  The U.S. Small Business Administration provides guides on a variety of business-related subjects, links to state and local resources, a database of over 5,000 forms useful for interacting with the U.S. Government, etc.
• Missouri Business Portal [3]
  A government website that includes business registration, filings, licenses and permits for doing business in Missouri.
• Missouri Small Business Advocacy Center [4]
  Includes a small business start-up guide, steps for starting a business and links to area business organizations.
• University of Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center [5]
  Assists entrepreneurs with financial management, marketing, technology, and product development and provides a variety of training opportunities on starting or running a business.

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Financing a Business

• Missouri Business Portal Resources [6]
  This website from the State of Missouri provides assistance in identifying possible sources of financing and includes a catalog of assistance programs such grants and tax credits.
• Small Business Administration [7]
  Links for various possible sources of financial assistance provided by the SBA.

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Local Chambers of Commerce

• Centralia Chamber of Commerce [8]
• Columbia Chamber of Commerce [9]
• Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce [10]
• Southern Boone County Chamber of Commerce [11]

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Local Business Associations

• Central Missouri Development Council [12]
• Columbia's Downtown Community Improvement District [13]
• Fulton Area Development Corporation [14]
• Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) – Columbia Area [15]

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National Organizations

• National Federation of Independent Business [16]
  Although a member organization, its website provides information about legislation affecting small business, government compliance issues, etc.
• International Franchise Association [17]
  Although a member organization, its website provides basic information on more than 1200 franchise opportunities.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce [18]
  Provides basic information about many business questions.

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Local & Regional Business Periodicals

• Columbia Business Times [19]
  Columbia-based newspaper providing information about local businesses, including advice for business owners.
• Kansas City Business Journal [20]
• Kansas City Small Business Monthly [21]
• St. Louis Business Journal [22]

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National Business Directories & Corporate Information

• Business Insights [23]
  Company profiles, trade publications, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and industry overviews.
• Reference USA [24]
  Includes 12 million+ U.S. businesses and 102 million U.S. residents; useful for developing lists of potential customers, competitors and suppliers.

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