Directories -- Indexes -- Statistical Data
Company Information -- Personal Finance -- Consumer Info
Small Business -- Marketing -- International Business
Management -- Career Information -- Business Law -- Miscellaneous

Directories: Businesses, Organizations, Government

• Business Information Directory http://www.businessnation.com/library/index.html -- lists thousands of firms, associations, and articles by category, keyword searchable, e.g., who writes "jingles"?

• Hoover's Online: the Business Network http://www.hoovers.com/ -- free company "capsules" include address, phone, web site, key execs, stock info, business description, number of employees, sales, subsidiaries, top competitors, recent news stories. Paid members can get even more info here.

• IPL Associations on the Net http://www.ipl.org/ref/AON/ -- over 2,000 associations, browsable and searchable. Fom the Internet Public Library

• Internet Tollfree National Directory http://internettollfree.com/showheadings.cfm?Book=BusinessListings
  Only access is by categories; no search capability.

• SearchGov.com http://searchgov.com/ -- in my book, the best tool for searching for federal, state, local and international government agencies and information.

• SmartPages http://www.smartpages.com/ -- has city guides and a classified directory. Search by business name or category and location; also lets you store and address book and "search nearby" any of the addresses and offers driving directions. Infospace http://www.infospace.com/info.zip/ does the same sort of thing.

• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers http://thomasregister.com/ -- search for manufacturers of industrial products and services or brand names. Free registration required.
  
  
  

  Business Indexes and Search Tools

• BPubs: the Business Publications Search Engine http://www.bpubs.com/ -- browse by category or search by keyword through full-text articles from online business magazines

• Business.com: the search engine for business information http://www.business.com/ -- search for products and services in a directory containing more than 400,000 listings within 25,000 industry, product and service subcategories.

• CEOExpress: Business Portal for Executives created by a CEO http://www.ceoexpress.com/ -- a selective set of links to news, business publications, travel, reference, office tools, directories, business law, economic data, investments, etc.

• FindArticles.com http://www.findarticles.com/PI/index.jhtml
  A Gale-created index of full-text online magazine and journal articles. Not just a business tool, but useful for any topic.

• SearchGov.com http://searchgov.com/ -- in my book, the best tool for searching for federal, state, local and international government information.

  
  
  
  

  Statistical Sources

• Statistical Resources on the Web http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html -- From here, you can get to pretty much any data you want. Browse by category or use the handy detailed subject guide.

• Economic Data http://www.usg.edu/galileo/internet/business/econdata.html -- another excellent guide; some overlap, but some unique links as well.

• National Bureau of Economic Research http://www.nber.org/ -- searchable database of abstracts of their reports, available for purchase or free to members.

• PollingReport.com http://www.pollingreport.com/ -- a central guide to public opinion data on many topics, gathered by a variety of polling sources

• United States Economy at a Glance
  http://stats.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm
  All in one charts, the past 6 months official data on unemployment, hourly earnings, CPI, PPI, import prices, employment costs, productivity. Also, quick comparison charts for industries, regions, and individual states.

  
  
  
  

  Company and Investment Information

• Annual Report Gallery http://www.reportgallery.com/ -- more than 2200 companies represented here. Or since this isn't searchable, you could use Google to search nameofcompany "annual report"

• BigCharts -- Interactive Charting http://www.bigcharts.com/ -- key source of historical stock prices. Have it draw the chart you need, comparing with historical company data or comparisons within industries

• EDGAR Database http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm -- search SEC filings

• Hoover's Online Advanced Search Stockscreener http://www.hoovers.com/search/forms/stockscreener/0,2221,71,00.html -- fill in the blanks to tell it what you want in a stock, and it will return a list of stocks that meet those criteria. You may also want to use the main Hoover's site for its IPO filings.

• LLRX - Business Filings Databases
  http://www.llrx.com/columns/roundup19.htm
  Public business records from every state.

• Morningstar.com http://www.morningstar.com/ -- the mutual fund guide. Includes extremely detailed information and charts on individual companies, but additional services for free and premium members.

• Nasdaq http://www.nasdaq.com/ -- when you get flash quotes, you can get expanded and historical chart data, company news, fundamentals, analyst info, real-time filings, and lots more.

• Searching for Company Information http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/company/c2index.htm -- a research guide from NYPL
  
  
  

  Personal Finance

• Credit/Debt Management at About.com http://credit.about.com/money/credit/ -- includes info on credit repair, debt counseling, family finances, and lots more. Guide will answer questions. Note related about.com sites, including "frugal living," "tax planning," "retirement planning," etc.

• Dollar Stretcher http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm -- weekly guide to frugal living

• Encyclopedia of Finance http://www.ameritrade.com/education/html/encyclopedia/index.html -- not only defines terms but has tutorials on security analysis and research, mutual funds, retirement planning, etc.

• Interactive Tools for Investors http://www.sec.gov/investor/tools.shtml -- including mutual fund cost calculator, tax-free vs. taxable yield calculator, retirement calculator, social security calculator

• InvestorGuide.com http://www.investorguide.com/ -- a very nice collection of business and market news, stock research, tutorials on finance, personal stock trackers, tools and software, and more

• InvestorWords http://www.investorwords.com/

• MSN Money Central http://moneycentral.com/home.asp -- tips on banking, bills, retirement and wills, taxes, insurance, saving and spending, mortgages and loans

• Project MoneySmart http://www.chicagofed.org/consumerinformation/projectmoneysmart/index.cfm
  Guides to using credit wisely, understanding mortgages, protecting yourself from scams, etc.

• Quicken.com http://www.quicken.com/ -- info on bills and banking, investing, home loans, retirement, small business, insurance, etc.

• Smart Money http://smartmoney.com/ -- a magazine, a collection of tools (asset allocator, 401k planner, capital gains, estate taxes, fund analyzer,etc.), guide to personal finance (college planning, divorce guide, elder care, real estate, etc.). Like Hoover's, has a stock screener.

• Tax Planet http://www.taxplanet.com/ -- tips on this year's taxes, year-round tax planning, news on new tax laws, etc.
  
  
  

  Consumer Resources

• Consumer Action Handbook Online edition http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/crh/respref.htm -- searchable and browsable guide to what to do before you buy, how to complain after you buy, and a consumer assistance directory.

• Consumer Law Center http://www.hg.org/consume.html -- includes federal, state, and international resources.

• Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/ -- find out about product recalls and report unsafe products here

• Consumer Protection http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm -- against fraud and unethical business practices; report complaints here.

• Consumer World http://www.consumerworld.org/ -- "a public service, non-commercial guide cataloging over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources," including bargains and discounts, product reviews, price comparisons, etc.

• Epinions.com http://www.epinions.com/ -- view the users' opinions of a variety of consumer products and services. Find the highest rated and lowest rated products in any given category.
  
  
  

  Small Business Resources

• **CCH Business Owners' ToolKit http://www.toolkit.cch.com/ -- includes downloadable checklists and business forms, and the a guidebook for small businesses with chapters on financing, marketing, setting up your office, controlling your taxes, competing for government contracts, and more.

• **EnterWeb: Small Business Portal http://www.enterweb.org/ -- the "knowledge portal for small business." One-stop shopping. Well-thought out and thorough guide to financing, marketing, cyberbusiness, incubators, law, etc.

• ** Inc.com http://www.inc.com/research/0,3469,,00.html -- your basic small business magazine provides a lot of advice, research and databases, as well as discussion forums.

• Business Plan Software and Sample Business Plans http://www.bplans.com/

• ELaws Advisors: Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Business http://www.dol.gov/elaws/-- info on retirement and health benefits, disability, safety & health standards, wages & hours, etc.

• the Franchise Handbook Online http://www.franchise1.com/

• Frequently Asked Advertising Questions http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/ad-faqs.htm -- advice for small businesses on advertising law

• Online Women's Business Center http://www.onlinewbc.gov/ -- focus is on nurturing women business owners, but any business owner, male OR female, can profit from the guidance here

• SBA: Small Business Administration Home Page http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/

• SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives http://www.score.org/ -- includes articles, web resources, an e-newsletter, and a chance to find an online or in-person mentor for your business, or nearby SCORE workshops.

• SEC: Information for Small Businesses http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml -- news, faq on going public, current and pending rules for small businesses, and more.

• US Patent and Trademark Office Home Page http://www.uspto.gov/

• Venture Capital Resource Library http://www.vfinance.com/ -- post your business plan, search for venture capital, look for government funding, research state regulations, tax codes, etc.
  
  
  

  Marketing and Advertising

• Advertising Age http://www.adage.com/ -- searchable news and special reports from the weekly trade publication

• Frequently Asked Advertising Questions http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/ad-faqs.htm -- advice for small businesses on advertising law

• Marketingprofs.com - Marketing Know-How from Professors and Professionals
  http://www.marketingprofs.com/
  Includes articles, tutorials, a marketing FAQ, the "hottest how-to's," and selected links.

• MarketResearch.com http://www.marketresearch.com/default.asp -- guide to pre-packaged marketing data, for sale (not cheap) for virtually any product
  
  
  

  International Business

• **Country Commercial Guides http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides/ -- exhaustive information about the business climates, workforce, and markets in each country.

• **Economist.com Country Briefings http://www.economist.com/countries
  For each country, fact sheets, forecasts, economic data, analysis of the political structure, and a selection of Economist articles.

• **US Business Advisor International Trade http://www.business.gov/busadv/maincat.cfm?catid=22 -- links to major documents and resources

• Euro Homepage
  http://www.econ.yale.edu/~corsetti/euro/
  Keep track of news, economic analysis and policy, primary documents, and new academic papers about the new currency.

• Executive Planet: Business Culture, Customs and Etiquette
  http://www.executiveplanet.com/community/
  How to avoid giving offense while doing business with people of other cultures. Acceptable public conduct, attire, entertainment, forms of address, topics of conversation, etc. Arranged by country. 35 countries are covered.

• Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

• International Business Information on the Web - Links
  http://www.infotoday.com/ibidirectory.htm
  Web accompaniment to Sheri Lanza's book.

• Trade Information Center http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/ -- tariff and tax info, answers to export questions, etc.

  
  
  
  

  Management

• AHI's Employment Law Resource Center http://www.ahipubs.com/ -- includes FAQs, free reports, "problem solvers," lots more.

• ELaws Advisors: Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Business http://www.dol.gov/elaws/-- info on retirement and health benefits, disability, safety & health standards, wages & hours, etc.

• EPF: Employment Policy Foundation http://www.epf.org/
  Downloadable reports on such topics as the living wage, family leave, permanent temps, comparable worth, etc.

• ePolicy Institute http://www.epolicyinstitute.com/
  Click on the eDisaster stories to understand why companies need to have policies on e-mail, software, and the internet. Click on ePolicy Dos and Don'ts for useful tips.

• Example Ergonomic Report Excerpts http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/ergonomicreports_pub/index.html -- examples of solutions for ergonomic problems, searchable or browsable by industry.

• Free Complete Toolkit for Boards
  http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/boards.htm -- What first-time board members need to know -- responsibilities, creating successful committees, conducting good meetings, evaluating executives, and links to other articles and resources.

• Human Resource Management: Internet Links for HR Students and Professionals http://www.sover.net/~paulven/hrm.html

• OSHnet Gateway for Safety and Health Information http://osh.net/

• Training and Development Resource Page http://www.tcm.com/trdev/t2.html
  
  
  

  Career and Job Information

  Choosing a Career

• **SmartMoney Career Guide 2001 http://smartmoney.com/careers/-- tools and worksheets include a job evaluator, career assessment test

• Career Guide to Industries, 2002-2003 edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm
  Reviews the nature of the industry, working conditions, kinds of careers available, with links to career preparation guidelines.

• Career Interests Game http://career.missouri.edu/holland/ -- to help you choose a career that matches your abilities and interests

• Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/
  
  

  Getting the Job

• College Grad Job Hunter http://www.collegegrad.com/ -- offers advice on resumes, job interviews, salary negotiaion, entry-level jobs

• Government Jobs http://www.govtjobs.com/ -- job listings for federal, state and local government jobs plus links to states' job resources and more

• InternWeb http://www.internweb.com/ -- search for internships with free registration. Includes articles, discussion forums and other resources.

• Monster.com http://www.monster.com/ -- Yahoo! Internet Life thinks this is the best single job-search service, offering all kinds of advice.

• Overseas Jobs.com http://www.overseasjobs.com/ -- search job listings by country, post your resume

• Philanthropy Careers http://philanthropy.com/jobs/ -- search nonprofit job listings; newest listings available only to subscribers, older ones available free to anyone

• **Riley Guide: Employment Opportunities and Job resources on the Internet http://www.dbm.com/jobguide/ -- strategies for job searching, resume writing, etc., by a librarian.
  
  
  

  Business Law

• ** Legal Information Institute at Cornell http://www.law.cornell.edu/ -- to search for law and court cases at any level. For Americans, this is one of the 10 most valuable sites on the net.

• AHI's Employment Law Resource Center http://www.ahipubs.com/ -- includes an enormous file of answers to FAQs

• Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/kinder/

• Business and General Legal Forms from the 'Lectric Law Library http://www.lectlaw.com/formb.htm -- various kinds of contracts, assignment of copyright, articles of incorporation, warranty of title, partnership agreement, etc.

• BusinessLaw.gov http://www.businesslaw.gov/ -- includes "plain English" guides and tutorials, state and local government resources, a compliance assistance guide, and more.

• Business Law Site: articles, checklists, research http://www.methvenlaw.com/
  Articles and links on topics like raising capital, electronic commerce, copyright and trademarks, contracts, employee law, etc., as well as links to research tools.

• Code of Federal Regulations http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html -- search by keyword and while you're at it, search the Federal Register

• Delphion Research Intellectual Property Network http://www.delphion.com/ -- to "search, view and analyze patent collections worldwide". Includes patent # and abstract, patents that reference it, background, and description of patent drawing.

• ELaws Advisors: Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Business http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ -- info on retirement and health benefits, disability, safety & health standards, wages & hours, etc.

• Franchise Laws http://www.franchisinglaw.com/
  A basic introduction, including Franchise Rule requirements, potential liability for violations, cautions [how to find a company's pre-sale disclosures, etc.], legal resources, and more.

• Technology Law http://www.kuesterlaw.com/ -- links to patent, copyright and trademark cases and technology and telecommunications laws

• Uniform Commercial Code http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/ucc.table.html -- Full text and searchable.

• US Business Advisor Laws and Regulations http://www.business.gov/busadv/maincat.cfm?catid=21 -- arranged by subject.

• US Patent and Trademark Office Home Page http://www.uspto.gov/
  
  
  

  Other Useful Resources

• Business Daily Review
  http://businessdailyreview.com/
  The folks who select the most interesting arts stories in Arts & Letters Daily [http://www.aldaily.com/] and science stories in SciTech Daily Review [http://www.scitechdaily.com/] are now selecting the most interesting business stories on the web.

• Internet Nonprofit Center
  http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/
  "Scores of items of information and advice about nonprofits are included in this online resource. The items come from discussions on email lists, in UseNet, and other sources." Topics covered: organization, management, development, regulation, resources. From INC Magazine, a trusted information resource.

  ---

  
  
  

  Send questions to Marylaine Block at marylaine at netexpress.net