Welcome to the Small Business Resource Center.
Here, you'll find a curated collection of tools, guides, and articles designed to simplify the complexities of running a small business. We've curated a treasure trove of resources designed to support your entrepreneurial journey, no matter where you're headed.
Business Planning
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SCORE
SCORE is dedicated to nurturing vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. If you’re in the market for a FREE business coach (they’re all volunteers) then this is a resource to look into.
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LivePlan
LivePlan simplifies the journey of starting and growing your business with its cloud-based planning and management tools. It offers features like financial forecasting, performance dashboards, and over 500 sample plans for inspiration. Designed to support entrepreneurs and small business owners at every stage, LivePlan has aided over a million users in achieving their business goals.
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Ripples Edge Advisors
Ripples Edge Advisors transforms growth-stage executives from feeling stuck to clear and confident by focusing on strengths, identifying barriers, and creating a roadmap for business expansion. They address burnout by promoting clarity, confidence, and growth. Ripples Edge offers a personalized path to thriving.
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Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with resources for starting, managing, and growing their businesses. It provides free business counseling, SBA-guaranteed loans, disaster recovery loans, and federal contracting opportunities.
Financial Management
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Wave Financial
Wave Financial is a comprehensive platform designed specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs, offering a suite of easy-to-use financial management and accounting tools. This platform supports tasks like invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning to streamline financial operations.
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QuickBooks
QuickBooks stands out as an all-encompassing financial toolkit for small businesses, offering features like automated bookkeeping, tax preparation, and payroll services. It's tailored to simplify the complexity of financial management, allowing business owners to focus more on their core operations. With QuickBooks, entrepreneurs gain access to insightful analytics, facilitating smarter business decisions.
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FreshBooks
FreshBooks stands out by offering cloud-based accounting solutions designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers. Its platform emphasizes ease of use. A key benefit is its ability to streamline client billing and payment collection, enhancing cash flow. FreshBooks also supports project collaboration, making it ideal for teams looking to manage their finances and projects in one place.
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BlueVine
BlueVine provides small businesses with flexible banking solutions, including checking accounts with no monthly fees and high-yield interest options. They specialize in offering fast and straightforward funding through lines of credit and invoice factoring, designed to help businesses manage cash flow and grow. With an emphasis on simplicity, speed, and transparency, BlueVine is a top choice for entrepreneurs seeking financial agility and support.
Human Resources
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BambooHR
BambooHR offers a comprehensive, user-friendly human resources platform tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. It streamlines HR processes, including hiring, onboarding, compensation, and performance management. With its focus on improving the employee experience and providing insightful analytics, BambooHR is a great tool for businesses looking to streamline HR functions and foster a positive workplace culture.
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Bambee
Bambee offers an innovative HR management solution designed specifically for small businesses, providing them with access to dedicated HR managers. This service aims to make HR accessible and affordable, helping businesses comply with regulations, handle employee relations, and develop HR policies. Bambee's personalized approach ensures that even the smallest companies can benefit from professional HR guidance and support, effectively managing their workforce and minimizing compliance risks.
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Connecteam
Connecteam is a valuable tool for small businesses, offering an all-in-one platform to manage deskless employees efficiently. It simplifies communication, scheduling, time tracking, and training, making it easier for small businesses to streamline operations and enhance productivity. Its affordability and ease of use are particularly beneficial for small enterprises looking to optimize their workforce management without significant investment.
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When I Work
When I Work is a dynamic scheduling and time-tracking software catering to the needs of small businesses across various industries. It offers an intuitive platform for managing employee schedules, tracking time, and facilitating team communication efficiently. The software is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking to streamline shift management, enhance accountability, and improve operational efficiency.
Legal & Compliance
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LegalShield
LegalShield offers a subscription-based legal service providing individuals and businesses with access to affordable legal assistance. It allows for unlimited consultation on various legal matters, document reviews, and representation by experienced lawyers for a monthly fee. This model is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking for cost-effective legal support.
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ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness offers a platform aimed at simplifying the business formation and management process for entrepreneurs. Starting with affordable packages, it assists with LLC formations, compliance, and other essential services. ZenBusiness stands out by providing tools and resources that cater to the unique needs of small businesses, helping them navigate the complexities of starting and running a business efficiently.
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Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands offers a revolutionary platform that simplifies every aspect of starting, managing, and growing a business. From forming an LLC with an EIN to setting up a business bank account, and from creating an e-commerce store to launching a custom website, Tailor Brands provides all the tools needed for success.
Marketing
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Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a comprehensive digital marketing platform that empowers small businesses with tools for email marketing and automated customer engagement. It's designed to help businesses capture leads, drive traffic, and build deeper relationships with their audiences. With features like AI-driven content creation and SMS marketing, Constant Contact streamlines marketing efforts, making it easier for small businesses to achieve significant results.
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Influencer Marketing Hub
Influencer Marketing Hub provides small businesses with essential resources to leverage influencer marketing effectively. It offers a suite of tools, educational content, and a directory of agencies to help small businesses navigate and succeed in influencer collaborations, optimizing their marketing strategy and enhancing brand visibility.
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Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management platform offering features like engagement, publishing, analytics, listening, and influencer marketing. Sprout Social is recognized for its ease of use, integration capabilities, and ability to drive strategic decision-making across various aspects of a business
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Wishpond
Wishpond offers a simple yet powerful suite of tools to enhance your online presence. It simplifies creating social promotions, landing pages, and funnels and includes email marketing and marketing automation features. This platform is designed to help small businesses effectively engage with their audience, generate leads, and increase sales without needing extensive marketing knowledge or resources.
Personal Development for Entrepreneurs
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Skillshare for Entrepreneurs
Skillshare's Freelance and Entrepreneurship category offers diverse online courses designed to equip freelancers and entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed. From marketing strategies to financial planning and creative branding to effective communication, these classes are led by experienced professionals who share real-world insights and tips.
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MasterClass
MasterClass offers an expansive library of courses taught by world-renowned experts and celebrities in various fields, including business, leadership, and more. While its primary focus is not solely on entrepreneurship, many of its classes provide valuable insights and lessons that can be applied to business and personal development.
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Entrepreneur.com
Entrepreneur.com is a premier destination for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking guidance and inspiration. The site offers a robust selection of articles, insights, trends, and strategies covering various aspects of entrepreneurship, from starting and growing a business to leadership and innovation.
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Maven
Maven offers live online courses led by experts across various fields, fostering a peer-driven learning environment. It caters to professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in areas like business, marketing, leadership, and more. Maven's cohort-based courses encourage interactive learning and networking, making it a valuable resource for professional growth.
Productivity & Tools
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ClickUp
ClickUp offers a versatile productivity platform ideal for new business owners, featuring a free tier that supports unlimited users and tasks. While it provides comprehensive project management and collaboration tools even at the free level, affordable paid plans are available for businesses requiring advanced features and integrations.
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Zapier
Zapier offers automation solutions for small businesses, enabling them to connect and automate over 6,000 apps without coding skills. With user-friendly workflows and a focus on boosting productivity, Zapier is a valuable tool for small businesses looking to save time and resources.
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Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers a versatile marketing and automation platform ideal for small businesses, providing a range of free and premium features to suit various needs. It includes email marketing, audience segmentation, and analytics to help businesses connect with customers and grow their audience effectively.
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GoodData
GoodData provides an AI-powered analytics platform that caters especially to small businesses, offering a 30-day free trial to get started. The platform enables companies to integrate, analyze, and visualize data without needing deep technical expertise. It's designed to help businesses make data-driven decisions and scale analytics as they grow.
Sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
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Pipedrive
Pipedrive offers a user-friendly CRM platform designed for small businesses, focusing on sales pipeline management to improve deal closing. They provide various pricing plans, including an affordable Essential package, ensuring cost-effectiveness for different business sizes.
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Honeybook
HoneyBook streamlines client management for small businesses with tools for invoicing, contracts, and payments, all under a simple pricing model. It enhances operational efficiency with automation, ideal for improving client interactions and administrative tasks.
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Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a comprehensive platform designed for small businesses, offering sales automation, marketing automation, and customer support tools. It includes a free version for up to three users, making it accessible for startups, and scalable paid plans for growing businesses.
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Salesmate
Salesmate is a CRM platform offering a variety of features like sales automation, built-in calling, and email campaigns tailored for efficiency and growth. The platform is designed to enhance productivity and customer engagement, making it a strategic choice for businesses aiming to optimize their sales processes.