Photo by Karen Wilson-Bonnar
Entrepreneurship begins with an idea--an idea for a business, an idea for a lifestyle, an idea for a future. Taking the first step toward turning dreams into action can be daunting and overwhelming. You can take a class, network, research, observe. But, most of all, you must begin. The Entrepreneurial Resource Center helps you get started by providing connections to resources you need most.
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”--Goethe
An online media and e-commerce company offering how-to articles, business forms, contracts and agreements, expert advice, blogs, business news, business directory listings, product comparisons, business guides, a small business association, and more.
Services, news, resources, tips, and articles about starting, growing, and managing a small business.
Free resources including guides, tools, and techniques for small business.
Sample business plans, mission statements, executive summaries, and informative articles about small business.
A business search engine and directory with links to products, services, and information for every facet of running a business including accounting, management, marketing, startup, and technology.
Ideas and resources for small business and home business.
Startup advice and more than 5,000 pages of cost-cutting tips, checklists, case studies, and business templates for small business owners and entrepreneurs. The site also offers a monthly newsletter, news topics, and an advice column.
Sample business plans, interactive tools, articles, software, expert advice, and resources.
Articles about news, getting started, marketing, leadership, smart answers, success stories, technology, and more.
Resources for many topics including preparing a business plan, choosing a business type and structure, managing the expansion of a growing business, and accessing capital.
An index listing types of small businesses and a corresponding sample business plan, profile, or book about the business with sources provided after each entry.
Plans featured in the Moot Corp Business Plan Competition where MBAs from top business schools present business plans to panels of investors who then choose the best new venture.
A partnership between Cisco Systems, the City of San Jose, national corporations, and non-profit organizations, providing small business owners with support services such as financing programs, technical assistance, training, technology skills development, and procurement and certification programs.
Resources from this management consulting firm include a free entrepreneur's dictionary, insights, executive briefs, and presentations.
This article asks the question, "Are You Cut Out to Be an Entrepreneur?"
Information about the book The Engine of America: The Secrets to Small Business Success from Entrepreneurs Who Have Made It! by Hector V. Barreto, former administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Startup advice and suggested reading, plus resources for leadership and management covering approximately 650 topics and spanning 5,000 links. Topics include key practices to start, develop, operate, evaluate, and resolve problems in organizations.
The Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship presents notes, articles, and cases offering practical advice to entrepreneurs.
Business templates, free online classes, how-to guides, articles and tips, and product information.
This book helps prospective small business owners start a business, covering topics from writing a business plan to finding government contracts. Established businesses owners will find additional information in a companion book, Operating Your Successful Small Business.
Small business networking and ideas for starting a business, marketing, financing, grants, work at home, and e-commerce.
Startup information including columns, how-to guides, articles, ask the expert, and recommended resources.
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania shares its intellectual capital through the school’s online business journal.
This degree program prepares its students to plan, organize, and manage human, financial, and material resources to achieve the objectives of a business.
In less than 18 months, Las Positas College can train individuals for new, interesting, and meaningful jobs. Counselors help match a person's natural abilities with specific programs.
Serving students and community members, this center offers free resources on educational programs, career exploration, and related employment opportunities.
Links to free career sites helping people assess strengths and interests and learn more about the best career match for individual talents and personality.
Support services helping current and prospective students with educational and career goals.
Through this award-winning, entrepreneurial venture, advanced students provide low-cost design, technical, business, and marketing services to local businesses and organizations. Services include logo and identity design, website development, business cards and letterhead, folders and brochures, promotional materials, marketing strategies, and packaging and label prototyping.
This program provides the necessary business foundation to enable potential or present entrepreneurs to learn and apply management principles to the selection, establishment, and operation of a small business.
Programs can lead to career specialties including: interior design; photography; visual communications; accounting; retail; marketing; engineering; horticulture; viticulture and winery technology; sports medicine; fire service technology; emergency medical technician; teaching; childcare; and automotive, industrial, vacuum, welding, and laser technology.
The primary locus at the University of California, Berkeley, for the study and promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation in management and new enterprise development.
Created by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Junior Achievement, this site outlines five steps of business ownership.
Sample business plans, marketing plans, templates, sample contracts, and business agreements that help entrepreneurs start and grow a small business. Information about startup, business planning, marketing, management, legal and accounting, and technology.
A nonprofit website covering all the basics of starting and operating a business. This resource center offers free courses, newsletters, video clips, and more.
A free quiz that tests knowledge of business basics.
A private, nonprofit membership organization presenting information on the business incubation industry and entrepreneurship.
Respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses. Offers section on starting a business.
Information and online seminars.
A checklist to use before launching a business, plus many other resources for entrepreneurship and small business.
Audio tips covering a wide range of topics for entrepreneurs .
An established source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.
Nonprofit association in Northern California helping early stage entrepreneurs across all technology sectors build successful companies.
Free resources, guides, tools, and techniques for the small business owner.
Stanford's Executive Education programs provide research-based, globally relevant frameworks for addressing issues senior executives face every day.
An overview of links, resources, and publications for entrepreneurs, specifically for the class Entrepreneurship: Formation of New Ventures, but valuable for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.
Information, articles, forums, and blogs covering all facets of entrepreneurship.
Information and resources for starting and managing a business.
This article asks the question, "Is entrepreneurship for you?"
The Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies is a leader in entrepreneurship education and research.
Content of particular interest to small business owners.
How-to guide.
Resources for startups and high-tech professionals. Subscribers receive notices about networking events in the Bay Area.
News and resources.
