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Visit the Skokie Business Portal for focused information on starting and running a small business in Skokie.
- Advertising and marketing
- Business plans
- Company information
- Counseling
- Financing
- Franchising
- Grants
- Hiring and human resources
- Import/export
- Legal information
- Licensing
- Local information and guides
- Patents and inventions
- Small business tools
- Starting a business
- Taxes
Web resource 
Available with Skokie Public Library card 
Available in Library only
Advertising and Marketing
Ad*Access
If you're looking for an advertising idea, this website allows you to browse through thousands of historical ads on hundreds of topics.
Advertising
World
A collection of links to advertising- and marketing-related sites on the Internet, arranged in over thirty subject areas including agencies, event planning, and product placement.
BusinessDecision from CIVICTechnologies
BusinessDecision is a reporting and mapping service that combines extensive consumer household, market segmentation, and demographic data with GIS mapping technology. Use this product to locate potential customers, identify new store locations, evaluate competitors, or focus marketing efforts.
KnowThis.com: Marketing
Virtual Library
This directory of annotated links covers a wide variety of marketing topics including advertising and promotion, Internet marketing, legal issues, strategy, and more.
SRDS Media Solutions
SRDS Media Solutions provides access to three products from Standard Rate and Data Service:
Business Publication Advertising Source®
Consumer Publication Advertising Source®
Direct Marketing List Source®
The first two products provide information on consumer and trade magazines. Along with obtaining advertising rates, these directories are a good way to identify magazines targeted at a particular audience. Use the Direct Marketing product to identify suppliers of targeted mailing lists for purchase.
Business Plans
Bplans.com
This site includes information about developing business and marketing plans. Resources include several examples of general and specialized plans and planning wizards to help you create your own.
Company Information
Company Information from
Skokie Public Library
These links to company information on the Internet have been selected by Skokie Public Library staff.
Hoover's Online
Hoover's Online is a great resource for researchers, business professionals,
and job seekers providing basic contact information for over twelve million
companies, with detailed reports for more than 40,000 of them. Information
is available for industries and competitors. The Hoover's database can be
searched by company name or other criteria to produce lists of companies
matching the specifications entered.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Skokie Chamber of
Commerce
Click the Business Directory button for a searchable list of Skokie Chamber of Commerce members.
Counseling
SCORE
This website offers counseling services for small businesses. Resources include articles on starting and running a small business and free email counseling.
SCORE Chicago
Find information about Chicago-area counseling sessions and workshops on a variety of small business topics at this website sponsored by SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business). The site also offers a free Business Information Center.
Financing
Financing Your
Business
This website from the United States Small Business Administration contains information, requirements, and applications for SBA loans.
Franchising
Franchise Gator
Find franchises for sale, business opportunities, and information for entrepreneurs at Franchise Gator.
FranchiseHandbook.com
This "complete franchise resource" includes a directory of franchises, articles, and a message board with information on various aspects of franchising.
FranchiseSolutions
Search this directory to find franchise and business opportunities for sale. Other resources include general advice on starting a franchise, a newsletter, and a Franchise Resource Center.
Grants
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
The online Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) provides a searchable guide to federal assistance programs (including grants and loans) available to individuals, businesses, and others.
Grants.gov
This site assists in navigating the numerous websites administered by the various grant-making agencies of the federal government.
Hiring and Human Resources
elaws Advisors
The elaws Advisors help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the employment laws and regulations administered by the Department of Labor (DOL). "Advisors" assist on topics such as safety and health; wage, hour and workplace standards; and retirement and health benefit standards.
Illinois
Department of Labor
This site provides information on state labor laws including prevailing rates, licenses and permits, required posters, and more.
Import/Export
Export.gov
Export.gov offers a link to all federal government resources on exporting and international trade including a "getting started" section, export leads, and other valuable information.
Illinois Trade Office
Use this website to find information about Illinois trade offices, a schedule of trade events, and links to useful trade sites.
Thomas Global Register
The Thomas Global Register is a directory of 500,000 manufacturers and distributors from twenty-six countries, classified by 10,500 products and services categories. A free registration is required to access the directory.
TradePort
Managed by the Bay Area Economic Forum and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, TradePort is designed to be an easy-to-use tool for trade information, trade leads, and company databases.
Legal Information
EPA Small
Business Gateway
From the United States Environmental Protection Agency, this site contains information about environmental law and regulations for small business, frequently answered questions, and links to other sites that offer small business assistance.
FindLaw for Small Business
This detailed guide to legal resources for small businesses includes information about starting a business, business finance, employers' and employees' rights, and much more.
Nolo.com
This site contains "everyday law for everyday people" including a small business section with advice about taxes, bookkeeping, doing business online, and much more.
Licensing
Illinois Department of
Professional Regulations
Use this website to find information on all aspects of licenses in Illinois. Resources include a license search and application forms.
Local Information and Guides
Crain's Chicago Business
Crain's is a key source for business news in Chicago. Complete online access requires a subscription, but valuable information is still available for free including a Chicago Business Calendar, Who's Who in Chicago Business, and links to industry resources.
CyberDrive Illinois: Services for Business from the Illinois
Secretary of State
This website provides downloadable files for various business forms with fee
schedules, a corporate name availability database, and links to other
business sites.
Note: Forms require Adobe Reader.
Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
This website provides information about business incentives, grants and loans, and Illinois fact sheet, and much more.
Oakton
Community College - Business Institute
Browse this website to find information about the small business services offered by Oakton Community College including customized training seminars and facility rentals.
Skokie Chamber of
Commerce
Resources on this website include a calendar of upcoming Chamber of Commerce events, a directory of Chamber members, and an overview of the community.
SkokieNet
Among many other resources, the SkokieNet website provides links to organizations and businesses in the Skokie area.
Patents and Inventions
Inventor Resources
From the United States Patent and Trademark Office, this site contains information on patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
Small Business Tools
AllBusiness
AllBusiness offers advice and tools for small businesses. Resources include
downloadable business forms and advice on hundreds of topics such as human
resources, sales and marketing, office management, and much more.
Note: Forms require Adobe Reader.
BizMove.com
This "small business knowledge base" includes dozens of guides and worksheets covering topics such as starting a business, sales and marketing, personnel management, Internet business, buying a business, and much more.
Business
Owners' IdeaCafe
A business site in the form of a neighborhood coffee shop, Idea Cafe offers small business profiles, hotlinks, how-to articles, and news-you-can-use features.
Business USA
Business USA links to all the information and services that the federal government provides for the business community.
BusinessDecision from CIVICTechnologies
BusinessDecision is a reporting and mapping service that combines extensive consumer household, market segmentation, and demographic data with GIS mapping technology. Use this product to locate potential customers, identify new store locations, evaluate competitors, or focus marketing efforts.
Entrepreneur.com
The online counterpart to Entrepreneur magazine, this site offers articles on all aspects of running a business and is particularly strong on financial and legal matters.
FedBizOpps
FedBizOpps replaces the Commerce Business Daily as the single source for federal government procurement opportunities that exceed $25,000. Resources include a searchable directory of business opportunities, FedBizOpp news, and links to related resources on the Web.
Get It Done Online! from USA.gov
This site provides a wide variety of business information on topics such as start up, licensing, buying from and selling to the federal government, and much more.
Inc.com
The online version of the popular entrepreneurial periodical, this website offers advice for starting and running a small business.
MoreBusiness.com
Developed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, this website provides small business guides and information including sample business and marketing plans, a management center, and profitability tips.
Quicken
Small Business Center
Articles on running a small business are available at this site and includes the TurboTax Deduction Finder and a guide for finding optimal tax deductions for your small business.
Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration website contains a detailed collection of resources for small businesses on topics such as starting, financing, and expanding a business. Other resources include a Small Business Classroom that offers a series of online courses covering small business topics.
Small Business Information from About.com
An annotated guide to hundreds of online career resources including links and articles covering topics such as: accounting, finance, patents, insurance, and the top business opportunities of the year.
State of Illinois Business Portal
A portal for small business information from the state government this site contains information on starting and running a business along with links to pertinent agencies and business forms.
Starting a Business
Business Registration Information
From the Cook County Clerk's Office, this site provides information and
downloadable forms for filing an Application for Certification of your
Assumed Business Name.
Note: Forms require Adobe Reader.
Starting a Business in Illinois Handbook
From the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, this online
guide offers advice on
organizing and registering a business, taxes, wages, and much more. The
guide is available in English and Spanish.
Note: Requires Adobe Reader.
Starting Your
Business
From the U.S. Small Business Association, this site provides startup tools, checklists, and articles covering a wide range of business startup topics.
Startup Journal
From the Wall Street Journal, this website offers guidance on starting and running a business. Resources include a trademark search, information on franchises, business plans, and much more. A venture capital database is also available for a fee.
Start-Up Kits
from Entrepreneur.com
Entrepreneur.com offers a set of quick, easy-to-read guides that cover a variety of popular businesses such as consulting, food service, event planning, and import/export.
Step by Step
Guide to Starting a Business in Illinois
This guide provides information on legal requirements, name registration, business structures, financing, and employees. It also includes a feasibility checklist and specifies other resources available to those interested in starting a Illinois business.
Taxes
Businesses from the Illinois Department of Revenue
Forms and information regarding Illinois taxes are available at this website.
Small Business One Stop Resource
From the Internal Revenue Service, this website provides all types of tax information for small businesses.
