Useful Links
Virginia Sites:
Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia – http://www.richmond.bbb.org 804.648.0016
Crater Procurement Assistant Center - http://www.craterpdc.org 804.861.1667
Assist Small, Disadvantaged, Women Owned, and Disabled Veteran Owned businesses to increase their opportunities in the Federal, State, and Local Government marketplace. Also assist Prime Contractors source qualified small businesses to act as subcontractors for government contracts.
Greater Richmond Small Business Development Center – www.grsbdc.com 804.783.9314
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce – http://www.grcc.com 804.648.1234
Greater Richmond Partnership - http://www.grpva.com 804.643.3227
Virginia Department of Business Assistance – http://dba.virginia.gov 804.371.0438
Go to the Financing section, then to the Capital Resources Directory. This site contains a plethora of information for business owners and those getting started.
Commonwealth of Virginia http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal2/
This site contains a listing of all of the state agencies in Virginia
Virginia Business Information Center – vbic@dba.state.va.us or toll free at 866.248.8814
Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council - http://www.vmsdc.org/ 804.320.2100
Our purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of business relationships between its members and certified minority-owned enterprises.
Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise – http://www.dmbe.state.va.us/ 804.786.5560
Certifies businesses owned and operated by racial and ethnic minorities
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – http://www.wbenc.org/Certification Certifies women owned and operated businesses 202-872-5515x23
Commonwealth of Virginia Planning & Zoning – http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/EconomicCommunityDevelopment/index.aspx 804.646.6955
The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning & Zoning Association
Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission – http://www.state.va.us/scc/ 804.371.9967
Go to the Divisions section, then to the Business Entity Search, then to the Business Resource Guide, this guide is also known as the Commonwealth of Virginia Registration Guide.
Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation 804.367.8500
Regulates & issues state licenses for Accountants, Architects, Barbers/Beauty Professionals, etc…
Greater Richmond Technology Council – http://www.richtech.com 804.379.1177
A member-driven association of businesses and organizations working together to ensure the continued growth of Central Virginia's dynamic technology-based economy.
Virginia Department of Taxation – www.tax.virginia.gov 804.367.8055
This site contains all of the information required to register with the Tax Department.
Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission - http://www.vwc.state.va.us/commission.htm 804.367.8600
The state agency which administers the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act
Virginia Employment Commission - http://www.vec.state.va.us 804.786.1485
Link to labor market information
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SBA) Business Information Center 804.379.1727
10700 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond
Virginia Statistical Abstract - http://www.ccps.virginia.edu/Demographics
Virginia State Employment Commission – http://www.va-newhire.com
Virginia State Tax Commission – http://www.tax.state.va.us
provides you with easy access to a variety of online services and information about taxes in Virginia
Virginia is for Business A Guide to Establishing a Business – http://www.yesvirginia.org
Virginia Chamber of Commerce – www.vachamber.com 804.644.1607
Great site for state associations and also lists all of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Virginia Community Loan Fund – http://www.vcdlf.org 804.233.2014
provides access to entrepreneurial training, technical assistance and loan capital to entrepreneurs that lack access to traditional resources - primarily low to moderate-income business owners
Richmond Economic Development Corporation (REDEC) – http://www.redecfinance.org 804.783.3012
Provides a variety of services; entrepreneurial training, debt/ equity financing, technical assistance, and other activities that target entrepreneurs and small businesses lacking access to traditional financing
Virginia Procurement Pipeline – http://www.virginiabusiness.org
A database of businesses offering a variety of goods and services register your business for free
Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology - http://www.cit.org 804.371.3433
A state-chartered nonprofit corporation that accelerates Virginia's next generation of technology and technology companies.
Richmond Small Business Resource Guide- http://www.reni.net 800.274.2812
Informative site for Small Business Administration Guides. This is a wonderful How to start a business tool, how to find additional financing source.
Registering a Business Name/Securing a Business License:
City of Richmond - http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/index.asp
Building Permit 804.646.6955
Economic Development http://www.yesvirginia.org 804.646.5633
900 East Broad Richmond 23218
Business Licensing 804.646.5690
Planning Department 804.646.6340
Hanover County - http://www.co.hanover.va.us/agancies
Building Permit 804.365.6040
Economic Development http://www.co.hanover.va.us/econdev/index2.htm 804.365.6464
Lockwood Building 9097 Atlee Station Road Mechanicsville 23116
Business Licensing 804.365.6346
Planning Department 804.365.6171
Henrico County - http://www.co.henrico.va.us
Building Permit 804.501.4360
Economic Development http://www.henricobusiness.com/ 804.501.7654
4300 E. Parham Road, Richmond 23228
Business Licensing 804.501.4310
Planning Department 804.501.4602
Chesterfield County - http://www.co.chesterfield.va.us 804.748.3963
Licensing 804.748.1281
Building Licensing 804.748.1057
Economic Development http://www.chesterfieldbusiness.com/business/main/main.asp
9401 Courthouse Road, Suite B, Chesterfield 23832 804.748.3963
Business Licensing 804.748.1281
Planning Department 804.748.1050
Enterprise Zones Jeff David Hwy & Walthall Zones Community Dev Block 804.7483963
Banking / Money / Capital / Credit Information
Bank rates – http://www.bankrates.com
Credit Reporting Agencies
Equifax – http://www.credit.equifax.com 1.800.685.1111
Experian – http://www.experian.com 1.888.397.3742
TransUnion – http://www.transunion.com 1.800.916.8800
Loan Amortization calculator – http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/realestate/calculators/amortization.html
Venture Capital Forum – http://www.ventureclub.com
Monument Capital http://www.monucap.com
Business Publication & Information Sites:
The Business Plans Resource Center – http://www.Bplans.com
Business Plan How to – http://www.dba.state.va.us
Business Evaluation tool – http://www.usbx.com/resource/valuation.asp
Useful site to evaluate your existing business
Entrepreneur Magazine Website – http://www.entrepreneur.com
Existing Business Guide – http://www.dba.state.va.us
Fast Company – http://www.fastcompany.com
Fortune Magazine – http://www.fsb.com
Home Based Business – http://www.powerhomebiz.com
Home Business Research Website – http://homebusinessresearch.com
How to Start a Business – http://www.dba.state.va.us/smdev/cookbook.asp
How to…pick a business topic – http://www.how-to.com
from choosing an ISP provider, understanding commercial leasing, creating a press release
Inc. Magazine – http://www.inc.com
Kauffman Center Resources – http://www.entreworld.org
Retirement Plan…need one educate yourself at http://www.selectaretirementplan.org/plans.htm
Virginia Business – http://www.virginiabusiness.com
Small Business Benefit Association™ - http://www.sbba.com/
excellent support and resources over 50 discounted benefits and services, personalized one-on-one help from experienced and helpful specialists, ongoing newsletters, valuable information, education, training, and custom membership materials.
Small Business Data by Industry – http://www.business.com
Small Business Legal Advice and Documentations – http://www.nolo.com
Venture Capital Information Guide – http://www.capital-connection.com
Advertising and Marketing Sites:
The American Marketing Association - http://www.amarichmond.org
The tool kit is fantastic and lists the best advertising material out there
Software/Technology/Domain Names:
Center for Innovative Technology – www.cit.org 804-371-3433
Register a Domain name – http://www.strategyweb.com
Small Business Technology Advice – http://www.smallbiztechnology.com
Annual and Company Reports:
Hoovers – http://www.hoovers.com 866-464-3202
This business information authority ™ contains company information and other useful links
Dunn & Bradstreet – http://www.dnb.com 866-203-3151
Tools to help grow your business
Stand & Poor’s (S&P) – http://www2.standardandpoors.com/
Standard & Poor's is committed to offering products and services that contribute to transparent, efficient
markets and that give the financial community the independent benchmarks they need to make informed financial decisions.
Associations:
National Business Association - http://www.nationalbusiness.org/ 800-456-0440
The National Business Association is dedicated to educating and assisting the Self-Employed and Business community.
The Home Based Business Information Highway –http://www.usahomebusiness.com
National Association for the Self-Employed – http://www.nase.org 800-232-6273
National Restaurant Association – http://www.restaurant.org 202-331-5900
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) www.nawborichmond.org 804.346.5644
represents the diverse make-up of the women business owner community through increased representation within ethnic and minority communities and to expand access to leadership opportunities.
Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association – http://www.vhta.org 804.552.2225
represents the lodging, restaurant, campground, attraction, travel promotion and supplier businesses, as well as educators in the fields, that make up the hospitality and travel industry
Virginia Council of CEO’s – www.vaceos/org 804.360.2644
A nonprofit business organization for CEOs who seek to grow their companies aggressively by leveraging the knowledge and experiences of their peers
Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond – http://www.retailmerchants.com 804.662.5500
proudly represents, educates and promotes success in the retail business community of the metropolitan Richmond area
Export/Import:
Export 911 Worldwide Sources – http://www.export911.com
Export Bank of the United States Official Export Agency Bank of the US Government http://www.exim.gov
US Customs Service - http://www.customs.treas.gov/
Federal and National Sites:
Bureau of Census – http://www.census.gov
Federal Reserve Bank Richmond Economic Statistics – http://www.rich.frb.org
Federal Trade Commission – http://www.ftc.gov
IRS Website for Businesses – http://www.irs.gov
This site contains all of the information you will ever need to know about the Internal Revenue Service as it pertains to your business.
National Better Business Bureau – http://www.bbb.org
NAIC (North American Industrial Classification System) Code http://www.naicscodes.com
Small Business Administration – http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov 804.771.2400
You will spend hours on this site. It contains answers to the questions not asked!
S.C.O.R.E. – http://www.score.org 804.771.2400 x131
Service Corps of Retired Executives is s resource partner with the Small Business Administration.
SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) Codes http://www.siccode.com
Small Business Development Center – National Information – http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu
United States Copywrite Office Library of Congress - http://www.copyright/.gov
United States Patent & Trademark Office – http://www.uspto.gov
United States Department of Justice – http://www.usdoj.gov
I-9 and Naturalization services
United States Department of Labor – http://www.dol.gov
Great site for mandatory posters and postings that must be in site of your employees
United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration – http://www.osha.gov
United States Post Office - http://www.usps.gov/