Start Your Own Company – Resources | Sweet Peas & Stilettos: The Modern Mommy Guide

Start Your Own Company. Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss? Starting your own company, and growing it into a successful venture is no easy task, but it can be immensely rewarding and worth the effort. If you have a great idea – as well as the passion, time, resources and smarts – you should go for it.

Resources for Entrepreneurs

One of the hardest parts of starting a company is knowing where to start. You have an idea – then what? There are a tremendous number of resources online that provide all sorts of information and inspiration to help you on your way. If you have a great business idea and are motivated to make something out of it, here are a few website to check out to help you get started.

Entrepreneur.com
Lots of resources and articles to guide you when starting a business – 25 Businesses You Can Start and Run From Home.

Mompreneurs® Online
Resources for moms looking to work from home

Startup Nation
This online resource provides “one stop shopping for entrepreneurial success” and is where “you’ll find all the easy-to-follow, practical information you could ever need to start and grow your own successful business.”

The Big Idea Toolkit
Donny Deutsch and team provide links to a huge range of resources to help you turn your business idea into a real company. Whether you want to learning about franchises, PNL statements and the latest marketing tips – you may want to take a look at their site.

U.S. Small Business Administration
The SBA provides a number of resources focused on helping you start, build and grow a (successful!) business. Their site also provides information about local resources in your area.

WomenEntreprenuer.com
Articles, blogs and success stories to get you motivated to succeed. $10 Discount on Start Your Own Business Guides

WomanzWorld

Intuit.com

Intuit is not just about Quicken anymore. If you take a look at their website, they now provide a number of resources to help entrepreneurs get their new business ventures up and running. They can help with everything from email marketing, payroll, accounting and building your company’s website. They also have a number of forums and Q&A sections too.

Intuit Community

Intuit Library

Small Business Articles
In their Small Business Articles section you can find everything from a Home Based Business Checklist and information about Business Plans, to a list of 75 Start-up Secrets.

Make it Official

After your research and business plan is complete you will need to set up your company’s legal entity, get a website and a credit card (among a myriad of other things). Here are a few resources to consider:

American Express
You can apply for a corporate credit card for your business right through their website. They have lots of tools and solutions built specifically small businesses.

BizFilings - Incorporate your Home-Based Business – Protect your personal assets
BizFilings makes it easy to form corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and nonprofits. They also offer a full suite of products and services to help you grow your business.

GoDaddy
Every company needs a website. GoDaddy makes it really easy to search for the availability of, and purchase, your website address.

LegalZoom
Certainly a website can not replace one-on-one legal counsel with a licensed attorney, but if you want a simple way to get your legal documents completed for your new business venture, this may just be the place for you. From incorporations and partnerships to trademark and copyright registrations – the team at LegalZoom.com can help make the whole process simple and efficient.