"Business to Business Resource Guide"

The Sitka Business Resource Center has compiled and produced the Business To Business Resource Guide, available to the public for a small fee.

Anyone who is starting or currently operating a business will find information on local resources in this publication. The 12-page booklet includes names and contact information for the following types of services: 

• attorneys 
• banks and loan officers 
• business assistance resources 
• bookkeeping and accounting  
• business writing and secretarial 
• computer sales, set-up, and networking and repair 
• custom embroidery and silk-screening 
• financial and employee benefits advisors 
• marketing and advertising 
• Web page designers 
• Sitka media.

The guide is free to clients of the Sitka Business Resource Center, but can be purchased by non-members for $3. It is available at the SBRC's office, located at the Robertson House, 212 Lake Street. It can also be mailed or delivered for a small additional fee.

Sitka Event Planning Booklet

The Sitka Business Resource Center has a booklet available called Promoting Your Sitka Event. The booklet contains guidelines, suggestions, and advice about such things as writing effective press releases or public service announcements, getting promotions out in a timely manner and to whom they should be submitted. 

The tips are provided by Kristie Sherrodd of Sound Strategies Marketing Services, Bill DeArmond of KCAW, Peter Simon of KIFW, Cyndi Cassedy from the Daily Sitka Sentinel, and the Sitka Business Resource Center. The guide is free to members of the Sitka Business Resource Center, but can be purchased by non-members for $1.00.

Business Resources in the sbrc Library

The Sitka Business Resource Center has a good selection books available for borrowing. Topics include: 

• business plans 
• operating a business in Alaska 
• running a one-person business 
• marketing handbooks 
• personnel policies 
• tax information

Business Plans on the Internet

BizMove.com - www.bizmove.com 
BizMove.com is "a comprehensive free resource of small business information. Packed with dozens of guides, tools and techniques."

Bplans.com - www.bplans.com 
This site is the "definitive destination for business planning information on the web." There are sample business and marketing plans to download that you can then edit for your business. Or do the five minute Plan Wizard to see recommended sample plans to match your business. BPlans.com promotes the Number 1 Rated Business Plan software, Palo Alto Business Plan Pro (89.95 with 60 day guarantee).

Adarus.com - www.adarus.com 
The Adarus Business Plan provides templates, wizards, and pre-formatted documents in MS Excel and Word so that anyone can develop a professional, complete, and effective business plan. Four wizards are used to personalize your plan: Sales, Expenses, Assets/Loans and Business Plan. Context-sensitive help is available within the document. System requirements are Microsoft Excel and Word for Office 95 or 97 and Windows 95. It's free to try (with first year business projection) or $59.95 if you decide to keep it (registration lets you develop a five year projection and has all of the helps available). We have downloaded the Adarus Business Plan shareware and have it available at the Sitka Business Resource Center office.

SBDCNet - SBDC National Information Clearinghouse - http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/

This site has links to general business plans, including on en Español. There is also a list of specific business plans, i.e. bed and breakfast, construction, etc.

General Business

BizMove.com - BizMove.com 
This link will take you to the BizMove page that tells you about their popular product, Managing a Small Business CD-ROM. You can also learn here about the 10 small business mistakes that entrepreneurs commonly make. 

Do you have what it takes to succeed in business? Find out here. The interactive quiz comes from the Managing a Small Business CD-ROM.

All Business - Champions of Small Business.com - www.allbusiness.com 
More Business Information, they also publish a newsletter. They also have samples of sections of business plans, i.e. Cover Page, Executive Summary, Financial Projections, or a Sample Short Form Business Plan.

Juneau Economic Development Council - www.jedc.org 
Information about the Southeast Alaska Revolving Loan Fund. Integrated services from a variety of funding sources as a "one stop shop" for Small Business Development.

Online Women’s Business Center – www.onlinewbc.org
A free, interactive, state-of-the-art Internet site for beginning and established women business owners. This site is FULL of useful information. Or visit the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership site, a co-sponsor: http://www.onlinewbc.gov/.

Alaska Business Web Sites

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) -  www.dced.state.ak.us/
Very useful. Community Profiles (marketing research), Business Licensing, Visitor Information, Economic Development Resource Guide ( loans and grants).

SBA Home Page - www.sbaonline.sba.gov/
The U.S. Small Business Administration provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

The SBA Office of Business Initiatives - www.sba.gov/bi
"administers programs and activities designed to provide information, education and training to prospective and existing small business owners." Their site includes some very helpful information, including the following:

• Business Development information
• Schemes against small businesses
• Running a small business, where videos are for sale
• Small business tax information, including downloadable IRS forms and instructions
• Outside resources, including a free QuickBooks trial and a Quicken.com link: www.quicken.com/small_business/

You can take the "Quiz for Small Business Success" and score your Business Success Quotient at http://www.sba.gov/gopher/Business-Development/Success-Series/Vol1/Quiz/quizall.txt

Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) – www.score.org 
Free e-mail business counseling by SCORE volunteers; You can find a counselor  who really knows YOUR type of business. 

Marketing

Internet Marketing Counsel - www.marketingtips.com
Unique and Unconventional Techniques and Tips to Explode Your Profits Online