LAWCENTRAL.COM Unlike Nolo, this site is all about lawyers–nothing do-it-yourself about it. Come here to find a lawyer, access online law libraries or check the federal criminal databases to make sure you’re not doing business with someone who’s wanted in four states.
Elaws Advisors is an unbureaucratic site from the Department of Labor that helps you navigate the maze of federal employment laws. There are even lawyers in a range of employment-law specialties to give advice online.
Get a Consultant SCORE.ORG Sometimes all you need is the voice of experience. The Service Corps of Retired Executives will team you with a retired exec for e-mailed counseling, as well as supplying case studies, like how one Maine coffee-bar chain competes with Starbucks.
SBTV.COM If the advice you need is less industry-specific, click here to see video interviews of business pros. Their expertise ranges from accounting and trademark law to Internet marketing and public relations. Founder Jane Applegate is a NEWSWEEK contributor.
ONLINEBUSADV.COM Free tips and articles on starting, growing and marketing your business, and personalized e-mail consulting at $20 a throw.
SAYYES.COM To hear interviews with the founders of Joe Boxer, Yahoo, Birkenstock, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and more, click on the audio library for the nationally syn-dicated radio show “Entrepreneurs! Living the American Dream.”
SB2000.COM The companion site for the PBS series “Small Business 2000” has articles and links on writing business plans and applying for loans. Its strength: anecdotes from other small-business owners.
Be Insured III.ORG Visit this site’s Small Business Insurance or Home Based Business Insurance links to learn the basics before you buy. The Insurance Information Institute has put up great ideas here on what to look for in group health plans, office-rental policies, corporate auto insurance and getting discounts on premiums. Also, more unusual tips like arranging for temporary office space in case of a fire.
INSWEB.COM Ready to buy a policy? Compare quotes here from leading insurance companies, rather than having to call around. InsWeb lets you enter information once to find the best rates available.
title: “103 Best Web Sites” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-24” author: “Lessie Gilliam”
Hire some help!
You could go to competitors like CareerMosaic.com, CareerPath.com, Guru.com or Monster.com. But you’d pay. Vault.com is the most comprehensive free site for employers we found. It boasts that “over 500,000 young professionals” visit the job board each month. That’s 499,999 more job candidates than you need.
Need to translate a business plan? Babylon provides a range of languages. And there’s no charge for using the currency converter.
Furnish the Place
Before you buy one chair, keyboard or lampshade, check out this site from the University of Texas at Austin for tips and diagrams on how to set up an ergonomically correct office. Already got eyestrain and a sore back? The site links to medical research, support groups and articles on treatment.
More than rubber bands and file cabinets (most merchandise can be delivered the next business day). Click on Business Solutions Center to get quotes from vendors when you shop for direct-mail lists, company letterhead, delivery trucks, translation services and more.
Fake ficus trees, work centers, chairs–name it, it’s here. And with a wider range of high-end vendors than the competition.
Get Organized
Enter to-do lists, appointments and birthdays here, and AnyDay will send you e-mail reminders as the dates approach.
Need to send some highly sensitive e-mail, and don’t have time (or even the tiniest desire) to read up on the how-tos of electronic encryption? Try this. It’s a secure, private standby, and notifies you when the recipient opens the message. No waiting in long lines at the post office.
Know a street address but not the ZIP code that goes along with it? Have an area code but no idea of the region to which it applies? Don’t go to two different sites for the answers–go here instead.
