Cape Cod Small Business Advice and Counseling:
Business Tools & Resources

Lots of useful Entrepreneurial Tools & Resources to improve your Business Success.  Click on any of the following:

•  Handbook for Small Business 
• 19 Business Planning & Financial Templates
• Useful Free Business Resources
• "On-Line" Small Business Courses
• Business Quizzes to Test your Plans & Evaluate your Potential
• Financing Resources + Economic Recovery Act Info 
• Cape & Islands Information Sources
• Chambers of Commerce - Cape & Islands
• Massachusetts & U.S. Government Business Resources
• Or Search SCORE Resources:
  Search SCORE Resources  
   

We need your Feed-Back to help make this section the most comprehensive source of On-Line Information for Cape & Islands' Small Businesses.  Tell us what you think! - Email your comments.  What can SCORE do to improve its information and/or services?

Handbook for Small Business

Guide to Starting and Running a Business on Cape Cod & the Islands

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19 Business Planning & Financial Templates
Developed by SCORE's expert counselors to guide you through the planning process. Click here - for all of the following On-Line Templates
Business Plans for a Start-up Business  also see Bus. Plans Index in next section	Financial Forcast
Business Plans for Established Business  also see Bus. Plans Index in next section	Financial History & Ratios
Business Planning Tools for Non-Profit	Loan Amortization Schedule
Balance Sheet (Projected)	Opening Day Balance Sheet
Bank Loan Request for Small Business	Personal Financial Statement
Board of Advisors	Profit & Loss Projection (12 months)
Breakeven Analysis	Profit & Loss Projection (3 years)
Cash Flow Statement - 12 Mos & 4 Yrs	Sales Forecast (12 months)
Competitive Analysis	Start-Up Expenses
Need Financial advice?  Call 508-775-4884 to meet with a SCORE Counselor

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Useful Free Business Resources
U.S. Small Business Contracting Opportunities		► Guide to Federal Government Contracting Opportunities for:     • Women Entrepreneurs     • Socially & Economically Disadvataged Individuals     • Veteran-Owned Small Business     • Recovery Act Opportunities ► Free On-Line Courses - Guides to Winning Federal Contracts ► Central Contractor Registration
Biz Stats		Benchmarking - Compare Financial (P & L) Data with others in your Industry
Inc. Gauge		Benchmarking - Calculates & Gauges Key Income & Balance Sheet Data
Bplans		Business Plans - Select from 500 Sample Business Plans including:      ♦  46 for Restuarant, Cafe & Bakery    ♦  116 for Retail & On-Line Store    ♦  26 for Medical & Health Care           ♦  217 for Services of all types
Carnegie  Library		Business Plans & Profiles Index - Sample Business Plans for all types of small businesses can be found in their Index- (also see Bus. Plan Templates in above section)
ZIP Skinny		Demographics - Charts & ZIP code Comparisons using Census 2000
IFA		Franchising - On-Line Basics Course by International Franchise Association
Grants.gov		Grants - Federal Government Grant Opportunities
Google-Places and other free Google Apps		Google Places™ - Helps Customers find your Business.                              Important for every business! A link to Google Places can be found at Google Maps™ Just click on "Put your business on Google Maps" Also new from SBA & Google "Tools for Online Success" Videos show how to create a web presence for your business. + Check out More Google Products for other useful business tools. Docs - Create & Share Documents, Spreadsheets & Presentations on-line. Google Checkout Store Gadget - Create an On-line Store Sites - Free, easy way to Create a Website.
Homestead		Homestead Act - $500,000 protection for your home More details available at:  http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodhom/homidx.htm
Incorporate		Incorporation or LLC Formation On-line - Includes lots of useful info
Biz Filings		Incorporation or LLC Formation On-line - Includes lots of useful info
Nolo		Legal - Legal Information from "Nolopedia" - Not a substitute for a lawyer
MA Bar Assoc		Legal - Need A Lawyer?  MBA Lawyer Referral Service
Non-Profits		Non-Profit Organizations - Business Guide for Planning & Fundraising
Retailing		Retail - Strategies that work - Tips from Industry Expert
ChooseWhat		Small Business Info - Start-up guide for Entrepreneurs + Valuable Product Reviews to help Business select On-line Services, e.g. Email Marketing, On-line Fax, Virtual PBX, Business Cards, QuickBooks, Printing Services, 800 Numbers & many more
It's Your BIZ		Small Business News - Video & Podcast Reports & Blogs on Current Issues for Entrepreneurs
MA Soc CPA's		Tax & Accounting - Info + Directory to find a Certified Public Accounting firm
TaxInfo Videos		Taxes - Short Videos on Tax topics dedicated to helping Small Business
WomensBlog		Women's Success Blog - practical insights & advice

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"On-Line" Small Business Courses Designed for both current and future business owners

7 Programs to Organize your Business    • Quick Start Business Plan     • Developing efficient systems     • Creating a cash reserve    • Creating Customer Loyalty    • Establishing Advisory Boards    • Can you afford to start?    • Working Out your Prices

Web & Marketing:    • Technology for Your Business, Verizon    • Technology to Increase Business Efficiency, Verizon

Personalized 2-minute Business Skills Assessment Tool - Recommendations & resources for business success

"Tools for Online Success" - NEW from SBA & Google. - Videos show how to: create a web presence, build a brand online, take advantage of free online marketing and paid advertising, use web analytics. Presented on Google in partnership with SBA

Financial Management for Small Businesses - From SCORE & Visa - Are your accounts receivables late?  Is your inventory not moving?  Are you hitting your budget targets?  Learn how to maximize income while minimizing expenses

Guides to Winning Federal Contracts

IRS - On-Line Classroom - Video & Audio presentations

For more personal assistance, attend our Small Business Workshops or ask to meet with a SCORE Counselor and get answers to your specific business needs - Email or Call 508-775-4884

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Business Quizzes to Test your Plans & Evaluate your Potential
Answer questions designed to make you evaluate your competitive edge. Find out what you need to run your business. Click here - for all these subjects:
Business planning	E-Commerce	Finance
Human Resources	Leadership	Legal
Marketing & PR	Office Management	Sales & Customer Service
	Training
For face-to-face help on all your questions, call 508-775-4884 to meet with a SCORE Counselor.

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Financing Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration	Economic Recovery Resources, Loan Programs & Services to Help Small Business Start, Grow & Succeed.  SBA is a resources partner of SCORE. Getting an SBA Loan: 5 Things you need to know
ARC Loans up to $35,000	America's Recovery Capital (ARC) - "Bridge" loans for viable small businesses with immediate financial hardship to keep their doors open until they get back on track.
Coastal Community Capital	Community development financing institution.  Provides loan capital statewide for business and job creation.  SBA 504 lender.
SEED Corp.- South Eastern Economic Development	Focuses on job creation by financing all types of small businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  Top regional SBA 504 lender.
Lower Cape Cod Community Development Corporation	Encourage, finance, and assist both existing and new small business development on the Lower Cape.
MassDevelopment	Financial tools and real estate expertise needed to stimulate economic growth across Massachusetts.
BDC Capital	Massachusetts Small Business Capital Access Program, loans created by Mass. Business Development Corp.

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Cape Cod & Islands - Information Sources
Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine	Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod Town Information	Barnstable County for all Cape Cod
Cape Cod Commission	Dukes County for Martha's Vineyard
Meeting & Event Planners Guide -  Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket	Nantucket County
STATS Cape Cod - Statistics & Demographics for Cape Cod - Huge Resource for economic & demographic data - Profiles, Benchmarks, Data by Towns, including all Towns & Counties in Massachusetts

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Chambers of Commerce - Cape Cod & Islands
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce	Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
Brewster Chamber of Commerce	Mashpee Chamber of Commerce
Canal Region Chamber of Commerce	Nantucket Chamber of Commerce
Chatham Chamber of Commerce	Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Dennis Chamber of Commerce	Provincetown Chamber of Commerce
Eastham Chamber of Commerce	Sandwich Chamber of Commerce
Falmouth Chamber of Commerce	Truro Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Chamber of Commerce	Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce
Hyannis Chamber of Commerce	Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce
Other Area Chambers of Commerce
Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce

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Massachusetts & U.S. Government Business Resources
State of Massachusetts Business Resources
Official State Website Business Pages	Lists all Massachusetts State Agencies, Services & Resources
Dept of Revenue- Business Pages	Information & Resources for all Mass.Tax Issues
Labor & Workforce Development	Programs & Services for Employers, Job Seekers, Apprentices, Union Members, Claimants, Attorneys
Workforce Education Resource Center	Training Resource for Businesses & Organizations on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket & Southeastern Mass, administered by Cape Cod Community College.  Assesses, Designs & Delivers Customized Training
Insurance Partnership     Call:  800-399-8285	Assists Small Businesses with uninsured employees to pay for health insurance, including the self-employed
Office of Business Development	Assists Companies to locate, expand, grow, or maintain a presence in Massachusetts
Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism - Research  Reports	Promotes Travel & Tourism in Massachusetts.  Includes: Industry Information & Research Reports
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce	Tourism Statistics
Mass. Export Center	Assist Mass. based Companies achieve Success in Global Markets
Mass. Homestead Act	$500,000 protection for your home under the Homestead Act On Cape Cod go to: Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
Mass. Bar Association	Need A Lawyer?  MBA Lawyer Referral Service is one of the largest referral services of its kind in the nation
Mass. Society of Certified Public Accountants	Information on Accounting & Tax issues. Search Business Directory to find a Certified Public Accounting firm

U.S. Government Business Resources
Business.Gov	Official Business Link to the U.S. Government
Small Bus. Admin	Loan Programs & Services to Help Small Business Start, Grow & Succeed.  SBA is a resources partner of SCORE
Small Bus. Admin	Economic Recovery Resources
Internal Revenue Service	IRS Tax Information for Businesses or Starting a Business or Search the A to Z Index for Business or Learn key tax issues using Video & Audio presentations
U.S. Dept of Labor	Federal Regulations that Business Owners need to know - Locate by State - or by Topic - Compliance, Disability, Health Care, Hiring, Termination, Wages, Safety, and many more
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office	Patents & Trademarks - Information, Search & Registrations
U.S. Copyright Office	Copyrights - Information, Search & Registrations
Export.Gov	Helps American Companies Succeed Globally

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We need your Feed-Back to help make this section the most comprehensive source of On-Line Information for Cape & Islands' Small Businesses.  Tell us what you think! - Email your comments.  What can SCORE do to improve its information and/or services?