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Small Business Websites
This annotated directory of resources for business research contains topics such as business forms; careers, jobs, and salaries; company and industry research; international business; investment and personal finance; marketing and demographics; patent and trademark; starting a business; and taxes.
This comprehensive directory designed for business executives compiles useful work-related, as well as lifestyle and travel, resources.
From the Illinois Secretary of State, this database provides basic information on Illinois companies and non-profits.
From the National Association of Secretaries of State, this site provides links to individual Secretaries of State business registration sites.
Though most of the detailed articles require a subscription, there are still some valuable free postings here including an events calendar, classified ads, selected local business news stories, and more.
Export.gov provides links to all federal government resources on exporting and international trade including a "getting started" section, export leads, and other valuable information.
Find information on Illinois trade offices, a schedule of trade events, and links to useful trade sites.
For industry-to-industry business KellySearch is a comprehensive online buyers' guide and search engine, with more than two million company listings from over 155 countries worldwide.
Find loan rates, key interest rates, and investment rates on this financial resource website.
This website from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provides up-to-date economic data, including Gross Domestic Product figures and interest rates.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) classifies business establishments according to the process used to produce goods or services. This site includes a complete, searchable list of the 2002 NAICS codes and titles, with conversions from SIC codes to NAICS and from 1997 NAICS to 2002 NAICS.
From the Federal Trade Commission, registered identification numbers (RNs) are issued for clothing, textile, wool, and fur products. This database is searchable by number or company name.
The State of Illinois Business Portal offers a variety of resources for starting and running a business in Illinois
The Step by Step Guide to Starting a Business offers a guide that covers all the decisions that need to be made and the forms that need to be filled out when starting a business.
This online companion to the Blue Book regional directory of commercial construction professionals includes regional, categorized construction information with over 800,000 company listings.
Search this directory of industrial suppliers in twenty-eight countries by company name or product classification. A free registration is required.
ThomasNet, powered by Thomas Register of American Manufacturers® and Thomas Regional Directory, is a leading source of information on industrial products and services provided by North American suppliers. You will find a comprehensive online resource of over 650,000 distributors, manufacturers, and service companies within more than 67,000 detailed industrial categories. ThomasNet includes detailed product information, company information, and computer-aided design (CAD) drawings.
Managed by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, TradePort is designed to be an easy-to-use tool for trade information, trade leads, and company databases
An online search utility for information on more than 50,000 trade events, conferences, and seminars throughout the world.
This monthly report include current data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Resources include regional data and customizable tables.
From the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this site provides SIC code description and a list of typical products and services covered, as found in the hardcopy SIC Manual.
The US Small Business Association is an excellent resource for people looking to start a business and practicing businesses as well. The Small Business Primer provides tips on all aspects of starting a business.
