National Black Chamber of Commerce - http://www.nationalbcc.org
 
Black Enterprise Magazine - http://www.blackenterprise.com/smallbiz/smallbiz.asp

Black Enterprise Franchise Center - http://be.franchisesolutions.com/

Minority Business Development Agency - a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce - http://www.mbda.gov/

Resources for Minority Business Entrepreneurs  http://www.score.org/minority_resources.html

Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/guides/minority-owned

Business Organizations/Business Planning:

Business.gov - the official business link to the U.S. Government - http://www.business.gov/

Business Utility Zone Gateway - http://www.buzgate.org  

Chambers of Commerce - to find your local chamber, do a search of the Resource Wizard.

The Innovation Center - located in Bend, OR, helps business owners and their employees develop solutions to business problems and become more innovative in their thinking and strategies - http://www.innovationcenter.org

James J. Hill Reference Library - much of the information is available to members only, but the Biz Info Library is available to all users - http://www.bizinfolibrary.org

National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) – http://www.nbia.org

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – http://www.nfib.com/

Simple Business Planning - financial worksheets and busines forms - http://www.simplebizplanning.com/forms.htm

Small Business TV - This is a commercial site offering useful short video presentations on many business topics. However, the site contains much commercial advertising. Idaho Small Business Solutions does not endorse products or services offered by advertisers. - http://www.sbtv.com  

Startup Nation - http://www.startupnation.com/index.asp

Survey Console - software to create surveys - http://www.surveyconsole.com/console/home.do
Survey Monkey - software to create surveys - http://www.surveymonkey.com/

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Tool Kit - http://www.uschamber.com/sb/learn/sbtoolkit.htm

Will It Fly? - obtain basic business information over your cell phone as well as on the Internet - http://www.willitfly.com

Business Plans:

Idaho Small Business Development Center - http://www.idahosbdc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&page=9

My Own Business - Free internet course on starting a business - http://www.myownbusiness.org.  

BPlans.com - http://www.bplans.com/dp

Nolo Press – http://www.nolopress.com/

Small Business Administration - http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/index.html

Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse - http://sbdcnet.org/SBIC/bplans.php

Simple Business Planning - free template to create a business plan - http://www.simplebizplanning.com/businessplan.htm

Starting a Business in Idaho - a Lawyer's Perspective - http://www.startup-idaho.com/

Business Law Advisor - Free government statistics and data for business planning - http://community2.business.gov/t5/Business-Law-Advisor/From-Consumer-Spending-to-Wage-Data-for-your-Business-Type-Free/ba-p/5977#A127

Charities/Non-profits:

If you are concerned about a charity, contact your local Better Business Bureau or visit their Web site at http://www.bbb.org before making a donation.

Look up charities on the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance at http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/

Charity Navigator - an independent charity evaluator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/

If you want to start a non-profit organization, visit the Hot Topics page and look for Non-profits.

Copyright - Obtaining:

Written material, including musical scores and software, are copyrighted through the Library of Congress Copyright Office - http://www.copyright.gov/

See Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights below.

Disasters – Guarding Against, Recovering From:

Federal Trade Commission - prepare your business and personal financial information for a disaster - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt170.shtm

U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Create a disaster plan for your business before a disaster occurs - http://www.ready.gov/business/.

Disability.gov - Emergency preparedness for disabled employers and employees - http://www.disability.gov/emergency_preparedness

Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security - http://www.bhs.idaho.gov/

Idaho Disaster Services Contacts by County - http://www.idahofireplan.org/disasterservices/

Internal Revenue Service - Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=156138,00.html

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Disaster and Drought Assistance -http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/

Ada County Emergency Management - http://www.accem.org/

American Red Cross - Prepare your business for a disaster, including information on preparing an emergency workplace disaster kit - http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_239_,00.html

Employee Handbooks:

Every business with employees should have written documentation stating company policies that affect employee conduct on the job and that detail benefits and programs offered by the company. Company policies should be implemented to address such issues as harassment, personal use of company computers, use of company vehicles, attendance, vacations, sick leave, dress code, and other topics relating to your business.   

Harassment:  It is particularly important for every business with employees to have a written sexual harassment policy because sexual harassment on the job violates federal civil rights laws. In a 1998 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court made employers more liable for the actions of employees even if the employer is unaware that harassment has occurred. Having a written policy your employees know about may offer some protection if you are sued.

Company policies are usually communicated to employees in the form of one or more employee handbooks, which employees must read and sign to indicate their familiarity with company policies. The handbook/handbooks become part of the employee's personnel file. Then, should you have a problem, you can prove your employee knew your company's policies. 

For help in creating an employee handbook, visit the following web sites:

Small Business Administration -   http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/manageemployees/SERV_ENGGUIDE.html

HR-Guide.com - find sample employee handbooks - http://www.hr-guide.com/data/023.htm

Human Resources & Information Technology - purchase templates in English and Spanish to create your employee handbooks - http://hrit.com/employee-handbook/employee-handbooks.htm

Sexual harassment and discrimination issues - http://www.employer-employee.com/sexhar1.htm  
http://humanrights.idaho.gov/discrimination/sex.html

Employment Law Guide - http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/guide.htm  The guide can be obtained in either English or Spanish by calling 1-866-4-USA-DOL. It can be used to develop wage, benefit, safety, health, and nondiscrimination policies that comply with Federal regulations.

If you would like assistance in creating your employee handbook or handbooks, contact the business department of your nearest college or university to obtain the assistance of faculty and students or call your nearest Small Business Development Center. 

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Energy Efficiency:

Idaho Power Company - Energy Efficiency for Your Business - http://www.idahopower.com/EnergyEfficiency/Business/default.cfm?tab=Business
The "Building Efficiency for Commercial Construction" program helps Idaho Power customers who are planning to build or remodel a commercial building. Clients may qualify for design assistance and for incentive funding help. For information, call the company at (208)388-6484 or visit http://www.idahopower.com/EnergyEfficiency/Business/Programs/BuildingEfficiency/default.cfm.

Idaho Office of Energy Resources - energy conservation resources and loans for energy efficiency building and remodeling - http://www.energy.idaho.gov

Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) - Small and medium sized manufacturers may be eligible to receive no-cost energy assessments http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/iacs.html

Energy Efficiency Directory - Directory of Idaho businesses offering energy efficient products and services. The Directory is hosted on the Web site of the Boise Better Business Bureau. To list your business in the guide, fill out the form found at http://our.bbb.org/Boise/Public/Forms/AboutYourBusiness.aspx. Though the form gives the impression you are seeking BBB membership, you will be completing a directory listing.

TechHelp - Conserve energy and environmental waste by instituting lean manufacturing processes - http://www.techhelp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=services.energy

Franchise Information:

American Association of Franchisees & Dealers – http://www.aafd.org

Federal Trade Commission Franchise Rule -   http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/franchiserule.shtm
Franchise Rule Compliance Guide - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/franchise/bus70.pdf

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv05.shtm

Federal Trade Commission Franchise and Business Opportunities - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv07.htm

Franchise Guide - http://www.franchise-guide.org

The Franchise Registry - http://www.franchiseregistry.com

Franchise Gator - Find information on available franchises http://franchisegator.com/?gclid=CIrK6NXKiIoCFRfOggodPy40Qg

International Franchise Association - http://www.franchise.org

Black Enterprise Franchise Center - http://be.franchisesolutions.com

Small Business Development Center Network - on-line training in Franchising Basics - http://sbdcnet.org/SBIC/franchise.php

Government Contracts/Procurement:

Idaho Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Idaho PTAC) – Idaho Department of Commerce  http://commerce.idaho.gov/business/idaho-business-network-process.aspx

SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development –  http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/gcbd/index.html

SBA Subcontracting Network - http://web.sba.gov/subnet/search/index.cfm 

State of Idaho Division of Purchasing -  http://adm.idaho.gov/purchasing/

Idaho Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Supportive Services Program - ID Transportation Department - http://www.itd.idaho.gov/civil/dbeforms.htm

Ada County Highway District Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program http://achd.ada.id.us/Departments/PP/DBE_Plan.aspx

National Central Contractor Registration - register to sell to the Federal government - http://www.ccr.gov.

National Women Business Owners Corporation - become certified to sell to government agencies -  http://www.nwboc.org

WomenBiz.gov - information and links for women business owners interested in doing business with the government, including a list of procurement events - http://www.womenbiz.gov

Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) - certifies women business owners - http://www.wbenc.org

GovernmentBids.com - Find current bid opportunities by location - http://www.governmentBids.com

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, Idaho and surrounding states - http://www.aptac-us.org/new/Govt_Contracting/find.php

Businessmatchmaking.com - a cooperative effort of the SBA and Hewlett Packard; attend procurement events to meet purchasers for major corporations and government agencies; view a virtual workshop to prepare you to meet with procurement officials - http://www.businessmatchmaking.com/

Federal OSDBU Director's Interagency Council - find a listing of all federal Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs) - http://www.osdbu.gov/offices.html

National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. - certifies minority-owned businesses to sell to government agencies - http://www.nmsdc.org/nmsdc/

SBA HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program - https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/general/contracting_assistance.cfm
Businesses located in federally designated HUB Zones have priority in securing government contracts. A HUBZone is an area (within a city, a town, or a county) where the median household income is low or the level of unemployment is high. To find out if your business is located in a HUBZone, visit the following Web site: http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/init.asp#address

Federal Marketplace - learn how to write federal grant proposals - http://www.fedmarket.com.

Visit the Hot Topics page on this site and look for Government Contracting.

Health Insurance Plan - Establishing:

U.S. Department of Labor - http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/index.htm - information on compliance with ERISA and COBRA requirements. Also visit the Employee Benefits Security Administration's Web site at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/

Establishing a Health Plan - Entrepreneur Magazine - http://www.entrepreneur.com/insurance/howtoguides/article53352.html

 
Hispanic Business Help:

Idaho Hispanic Business Association - http://www.hbaonline.org

Hispanic Business – Small Business Administration – http://www.sba.gov/espanol/

Latin Business Association - http://www.lbausa.com/

OSHA Compliance Assistance for Hispanic Employers and Workers - http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/index_hispanic.html

Small Business Development Center Network – http://sbdcnet.org/index.php?option=com_docman&gid=45&task=cat_view&Itemid=241

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - http://www.ushcc.com

Treasure Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - www.idahohcc.org

Minority Business Development Agency - a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce - http://www.mbda.gov/
 
Resources for Minority Business Owners - http://www.score.org/minority_resources.html

Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/guides/minority-owned/

Idaho Prime Loan Program:

The Idaho Prime Loan Program is a cooperative effort between the Idaho State Treasurer, the Small Business Administration, and the banking community to provide funding to small businesses throughout the state. To learn more about the program and to find out if your business qualifies for a loan, visit http://sto.idaho.gov/Programs/IdahoPrime.aspx.

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Immigrant/Refugee Business Start-up Help: 

Agency for New Americans - http://www.anaidaho.org/  

College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center, Twin Falls - http://refugeecenter.csi.edu/
Phone: 208-733-9554 or 800-680-0274

Idaho Department of Labor Education and Training - http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/idl/EducationTraining/tabid/654/Default.aspx

Idaho Department of Education Adult Basic Education Learning Centers - http://www.sde.idaho.gov/AdultEducation/docs/Access%20Services/abec.pdf 

MicroEnterprise Training and Assistance - nonprofit provider of direct and supportive small business assistance to new Americans, women, minorities, and other low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs in southwest and south central Idaho - http://www.metaidaho.org

Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/guides/minority-owned/

Import/Export:

Idaho Department of Commerce International Business Division - http://commerce.idaho.gov/international/

U.S. Export Assistance Center of Idaho - http://www.buyusa.gov/boise/

Idaho Department of Agriculture International Marketing - http://www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/Marketing/marketinginternational.php

Export-Import Bank of the U.S. – http://www.exim.gov

U.S. Government Export Portal - http://www.export.gov/

U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security Export Administration Regulations - If you export or import and then re-export certain goods and technology or act as a freight forwarder of certain items, you may need a license from this agency - http://www.bis.doc.gov/eaa.html 

U.S. State Department - Doing Business in International Markets - http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cba/

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) - a government agency that helps small businesses develop business opportunities with less developed countries - http://www.opic.gov/doing-business-us

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of International Trade - http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/internationaltrade/index.html

Industry Research/Market Research:

U.S. Census Bureau - http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

City Data.com - http://www.city-data.com/

James J. Hill Reference Library - some services are free; others are fee-based  http://www.jjhill.org/research_online/

U.S. Department of Labor - Labor Market Statistics - http://www.dol.gov/dol/stats.htm

Idaho Labor Market Statistics - http://lmi.idaho.gov/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

See Libraries below.

Internet Security/Identity Theft:

Business Theft - http://www.businesstheft.com/

Entrepreneur.com - http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/techtrendscolumnistpeteralexander/article78616.html

Federal Trade Commission - Identity Theft - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm

Federal Trade Commission - Spyware - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt142.shtm

Federal Trade Commission - Wireless Network Security - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec12.shtm

Federal Trade Commission - Identity Theft, Privacy & Security - Facts for Businesses - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/business/data.shtm

Federal Trade Commission - Red Flag Rule - financial institutions and any business that extends credit must comply with this rule - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/idtheft/bus23.pdf

Microsoft Security Central - http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

On guard On-line - http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/spyware.aspx

Small Business Computing - http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3440221

Invention Assistance:

Idaho Small Business Development Center – http://www.idahosbdc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&page=16

Inventors Digest Online – http://www.inventorsdigest.com

Idaho Department of Commerce, Commercial Innovation Division - http://commerce.idaho.gov/technology/

Prototype and Technical Assistance - http://www.idahosbdc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&page=20

Free Patents Online - Easy to navigate repository of patents and patent applications. Search by patent number or keywords. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/  

Google Patents - Google is beta testing a searchable site containing over 7 million U.S. patents - http://www.google.com/patents

United Inventors Association - http://www.uiausa.com/

U.S. Dept. of Energy Inventions & Innovation Program – find a list of organizations in each state that provide assistance to inventors and entrepreneurs http://www1.eere.energy.gov/inventions 

U.S. Dept. of Energy TechNet Energy Commercialization Program - If you have invented a product related to energy, this site will help you with development and commercialization of your idea. http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions/energytechnet/   

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office - http://www.uspto.gov

University of Idaho Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program - http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/docs/patents.html

U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Technology Program -  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/program_areas/index.html

Washington State University College of Business Innovation Assessment Center – http://www.business.wsu.edu/organizations/iac/Pages/index.aspx

Wisconsin Innovation Service Center - http://academics.uww.edu/business/innovate/

Innovation Institute - http://www.innovation-institute.com

Invention Fraud Information:

Attorney General of the state where the home office of an invention assistance company is located; in Idaho http://www2.state.id.us/ag. For other states, use a search engine to find them.

Better Business Bureau – http://www.bbb.org  Find complaints against an invention assistance company. Search the local BBB and the BBB where the company's home office is located.

Brown & Michaels – http://www.bpmlegal.com/pinvmktg.html for information on intellectual property issues and a list of invention marketing firms that have had legal action taken against them.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro21.shtm for information about invention promotion. Many articles about invention fraud can be found by doing a search of the FTC site fusing the term "inventions."  The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 guarantees inventors certain rights when dealing with invention promoters.  To learn about your rights before you hire a promoter, visit the link above.

InventorEd, Inc., Invention Promoter Caution List – http://www.inventored.org/caution/ - information about companies selling fraudulent inventor help.

National Inventor Fraud Center – http://www.inventorfraud.com.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Complaint Form - http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/2048.pdf

Laws, Legal Information and Help:

Idaho Administrative Rules –  http://adm.idaho.gov/adminrules/

Idaho State Bar and Idaho Law Foundation – http://isb.idaho.gov/

Idaho Statutes - http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/TOC/IDStatutesTOC.htm

Martindale.com - database of attorneys searchable by specialty http://www.martindale.com

Small Business TV (SBTV) Legal Channel - http://www.sbtv.com/legal

Small Business Law Firms.com - http://www.smallbusinesslawfirms.com

University of Idaho Law School Small Business Legal Clinic - http://www.law.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=65571


Legal Structure/Business Entity Descriptions and Forms:

Idaho Secretary of State – http://www.sos.idaho.gov/corp/corindex.htm

For detailed descriptions of entity types and links to forms, visit the Legal Entities section of this web site at http://www.idahobizhelp.org/legal_ent.htm.

Marketing/Advertising:

Business.gov - Advertising Law - http://www.business.gov/business-law/advertising-law/
                      Truth in Advertising Laws - http://www.business.gov/business-law/advertising-law/

Federal Trade Commission - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/resources/guidance/adv.shtm
                                          http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/business/adv.shtm
                                          Using Endorsements/Testimonials -
                                          http://www.ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf

Libraries - Research:

Boise Public Library – http://www.boisepubliclibrary.org

Boise State University, Albertson’s Library - http://library.boisestate.edu/

Coeur d'Alene Public Library - http://www.cdalibrary.org/

Idaho Falls Public Library - http://www.ifpl.org/

Idaho State Law Library - http://www.isll.idaho.gov/

Idaho State Library - http://www.lili.org/portal/index.php

Eli M. Oboler Library, Idaho State University - http://www.isu.edu/library/

Marshall Public Library, Pocatello - http://www.marshallpl.org/

University of Idaho Library - http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/

Twin Falls Public Library - http://www.twinfallspubliclibrary.org/

Idaho Commission for Libraries - find a list of all libraries in Idaho - http://directory.lili.org/browse
 

Minority Business Help:

Minority Business Entrepreneur - http://www.mbemag.com/ResourceCenter/

Minority Business Development Agency - http://www.mbda.gov

Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council - http://www.nmbc.biz/home/

Resources for Minority Business Owners - http://www.score.org/minority_resources.html

Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/guides/minority-owned/

Native American Business Help:

Native American Business Alliance - http://www.native-american-bus.org

Onaben - A Native American Business Network - http://www.onaben.org

U.S. Department of Labor Division of Indian and Native American Programs -  http://www.doleta.gov/DINAP/

National Center of American Indian Enterprise Development - http://www.ncaied.org

Northwest Native American Business Development Center - serves Idaho, Washington, and Oregon - a division of the National Center of American Indian Enterprise - http://www.nwnabec.org/

Federal Gateway for Tribal Governments and Native American Services - http://www.firstgov.gov/Government/Tribal.shtml

Code Talk - Federal Inter-agency Native American Housing Web Site - http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ih/codetalk/

Native American Banking Resource Directory - http://www.occ.treas.gov/cdd/Nativeam.htm

Small Business Administration Office of Native American Affairs - http://www.sba.gov/naa/tribes

Minority Business Development Agency - a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce - http://www.mbda.gov/

Business.gov - http://www.business.gov/guides/minority-owned/

Non-Profit Organizations:

Idaho Non-Profit Center - Assists non-profit organizations with business development strategies -http://www.idahononprofits.org/

Internal Revenue Service - tax information for non-profits - http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html

Foundations Online - http://www.foundations.org 

Eastern Idaho Funding Information Center - http://www.marshallpl.org/eific.htm

Out of State/Foreign Businesses - Registering:

Idaho Secretary of State – register a foreign (out of state) corporation in Idaho - http://www.sos.idaho.gov/corp/corpform.htm

Patents, Trademarks, Servicemarks & Copyrights:

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office - search for a patent or register your patent in the U.S.- http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm

European Patent Office - http://www.epoline.org/portal/public

US Patent Search -  download the full text of a registered patent - http://www.us-patent-search.com/

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office – search for a trademark or register your trademark in the U.S. - http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm –

Idaho Secretary of State Trademark Division – register your trademark in Idaho  – http://www.sos.idaho.gov/tmarks/tm_faq.htm

Idaho Secretary of State Trademark Division – search to find out if your trademark is already registered in Idaho - http://www.accessidaho.org/public/sos/trademark/search.html

Library of Congress Copyright Office - search for a copyright registration - http://www.copyright.gov/records/

Library of Congress Copyright Office – learn about copyright basics - http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html

Library of Congress Copyright Office – general information and copyright registration - http://www.copyright.gov/

Library of Congress Copyright Office - copyright laws - http://www.copyright.gov/laws/

Wiki Patents Community Patent Review - lists patent applications, patents for sale, and more - http://www.wikipatents.com

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Business Directories:

MacRae's Blue Book - directory of manufacturers of industrial parts and equipment http://www.macraesbluebook.com 

The Electrical Resource - directory of electrical construction products and manufacturers http://www.theelectricalresource.com/

Thomas Register on-line - comprehensive list of U.S. manufacturers and products http://www.thomasnet.com 

Process Register - industrial buyer's guide - http://www.processregister.com/

Public Works Contracts:

The Idaho Department of Building Safety contracts for state public works projects in Idaho. http://dbs.idaho.gov/publicworks/index.html

To find local public works projects, contact your city or county planning and zoning or planning and development department.

Registering Your Business:

Idaho Secretary of State - register your business name - http://www.sos.idaho.gov

Idaho Business Registration System - register your business with the Idaho State Tax Commission, Idaho Industrial Commission, and Idaho Department of Labor in one convenient location. You may not need to register your business if you do not have employees or sell products, so be sure to check before completing the form - https://labor.idaho.gov/applications/ibrs/ibr.aspx  

Visit the Legal Structures/DBA page on this site.

SBIR/STTR Programs:

Visit the Hot Topics page on this site and choose "Grants" from the menu at the top of the page.

Scams & Schemes - Business:

Idaho Attorney General’s office - report scams  http://www2.state.id.us/ag/

Better Business Bureau – http://www.bbb.org

Econsumer.com - created by 21 nations; report cross-border consumer complaints http://www.econsumer.gov/english/

Federal Trade Commission – http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/business/fraud.shtm

Internal Revenue Service- tax fraud or schemes http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/index.html

Multi-Level Marketing Schemes - http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/businessopprule/522418-12585.pdf and http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv12.shtm

GovGrantCash.com - reviews Web sites offering government grants - http://www.govgrantcash.com

U.S. Postal Service Mail Fraud Complaint Form - http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx

Work-at-Home Schemes - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/invest/workhome.shtm

Also see the Invention Fraud section above and the Hot Topics section of this Web site.

Tax Payer Identification Number (EIN):

Also called an Employer Identification Number; see the information in the Hot Topics or the Glossary pages on this site.             

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Technology Business Assistance:

Idaho Department of Commerce, Commercial Innovation Division - http://commerce.idaho.gov/technology

Idaho Technology Transfer Center, University of Idaho - http://idahot2.org/

Small Business Administration Technology Resources Network (Tech-Net) - http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/technet/index.html

Technology and Entrepreneurial Center, Boise State University - http://www.bsutecenter.com

TechHelp - Assistance for manufacturers, processors, and inventors - http://www.techhelp.org/

Trademarks:

See Patents, Trademarks, Servicemarks & Copyrights above

UPC Codes/Bar Codes:

GS1 US BarCodes, formerly known as Universal Packaging Codes - http://barcodes.gs1us.org/dnn_bcec/Standards/IdentificationNumbers/tabid/81/Default.aspx

Veterans' Services:

Idaho Department of Labor Veteran's Services - http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/idl/Businesses/Veterans/tabid/653/Default.aspx and http://labor.idaho.gov/publications/vethandout.pdf

Idaho State Division of Veterans' Services - http://www.veterans.idaho.gov/

National Veteran-owned Business Association - http://www.navoba.com/

SBA Office of Veterans Business Development - http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/index.html

U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service -  http://www.dol.gov/vets/welcome.html

U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs - http://www.va.gov/

U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise - Resource center for entrepreneurs who are veterans - http://www.vetbiz.gov

Veterans Benefits Administration - http://www.vba.va.gov/

Women Business Owners:

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) - NAWBO chapters are located in Spokane and Boise. For location of the Spokane chapter and meeting times, visit http://www.nawbonw.org.  For information about the Boise chapter, visit http://www.nawboboise.org.

ID Federation of Business and Professional Women - http://www.bpwidaho.org/files/

U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau - http://www.dol.gov/wb/welcome.html

National Women Business Owners Corporation - http://www.nwboc.org

Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) - http://www.wbenc.org

Center for Women's Business Research - http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/

Small Business TV (SBTV) Women's Channel - http://www.sbtv.com/Women

SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership - http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html 

Womenbiz.gov - a division of the Small Business Administration that helps women business owners sell to the federal government http://www.womenbiz.gov

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce - http://www.uswcc.org/

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