For Subscribers

5 Great Sites for Starting a Business There's plenty of help out there for start-ups--so take advantage.

By Amy Rauch Neilson

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Want your business to succeed? Then you've got to pave theway to success, step by step. Not sure where to start? Here's alist of resources that will help you take the first steps towardsuccessful planning and management decisions that will last thelifetime of your business:

  • Center for Business Planning: Go here for alibrary of resources and links to hundreds of sites offeringinformation on business planning. You can read award-winningbusiness plans, evaluate your marketing plan and sign up for a freebusiness strategy analysis.
    ClickHere
    BizStartUps.com is another great place fortons of start-up information.
  • ChamberBiz: Visit this network of state and localchambers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a list of resourcesand numerous tools to help you start, manage and expand your smallbusiness.
  • SCORE(Service Corps of Retired Executives): SCORE is anorganization made up of volunteers who have been there, done that.You can request to work one-on-one with a mentor in your area, orsimply go online and submit a question via e-mail.
  • The Small Business Administration (SBA):Download and guide yourself through a self-paced business plan,including separate sections for marketing, finances and management.You'll also find tips for your start-up and help withbudgets.
  • U.S.Online Business Advisor: This site offers one-stop accessto information on federal laws and regulations, taxes and workplaceissues.
Plan Your Future
You might know you want to be anentrepreneur, but you don't necessarily have it all figured outwhen it comes to planning for college and selecting a path toentrepreneurship. Good news: Streaming Futures has just launched afree online program to help teens with career planning and collegepreparation through live, interactive interviews with careerprofessionals.

Each month, host Joel Holland, founder of Streaming Futures,will interview a professional from a different career--everythingfrom technology to politics--and webcast the interview live overthe Internet. Teens will have the opportunity to interact with theinterviewee and ask questions, and all interviews will be archivedon the Streaming Futures site for those who wish to access pastinterviews.

The interviews are scheduled to begin this month. For moredetails, visit the Streaming Futures Web site.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Business News

The man who married a hologram in Japan can no longer communicate with his virtual wife

The software that allowed the interaction is no longer supported and the man can no longer interact with the hologram with which he had a relationship for years.

Business Solutions

Learn How to Use ChatGPT to Automate Your Business

Streamline operations, boost productivity, and future-proof your skills with 25+ hours of hands-on training for just $19.97.

Making a Change

More Than 1,000 Business and Tech Courses Can Be Yours Forever for Just $20

Add coding, marketing, and finance skills to your title with this constantly updated course bundle.

Buying / Investing in Business

Meet the Person Who Invented Plastic that Dissolves in Water

"Big Plastic" might hate it, but it's an opportunity for investors in the $1.3T plastics industry.

Growing a Business

How the Next Generation of BIZ Experiencess Is Outpacing Us — and Why

Today's founders are flipping the script and redefining how startups are built.