The World Wide Web (WWW) is an exciting and magical place that is growing and changing every minute. It is also a very LARGE place with millions of distinct locations. To help start you off on your explorations, we have compiled a list of some of the best business sites on the WWW. This "List of Lists" should give you a very good overview of business on the Internet, but it is only a fraction of what is available and what will become available. We will be expanding this list every month so keep an eye out for new links and if you know of any links you think should be included here please tell us about them on our comment's page. Happy exploring!
Business Resources
These links will bring you to some of the most comprehensive business resource lists on the World Wide Web. Each link below is a starting point that branches out into hundreds of other links. From here you may find information on legal issues, real estate, taxes, or other businesses. Don't be afraid to explore.
- American Association of Home-Based Businesses
- A non-profit organization dedicated to the success and support of America's 24+ million home-based businesses.
- American Home Business Association, Inc.
- supporting the needs of home-based entrepreneurs through a variety of benefits and services.
- Bizbrain
- A source of business links on start-ups, business education, government information, financing, and business news.
- Business section of Yahoo.
- Canadian Gov. Business Planning pages
- Designed to provide you with techniques for developing your idea, starting a new venture and improving your existing small business.
- CommerceNet Home
- A non-profit consortium to promote electronic commerce.
- Einet Galaxy's Business and Commerce Resource center.
- Franchise 1
- Franchise opportunities and associations.
- IBC: Internet Business Center
- Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
- A well-respected group of volunteers which provides free counseling to entrepreneurs.
- Small Business Advancement National Center
- Large archives of information for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Start up reports on businesses by category
- Designed to make your decision in choosing a suitable business as easy as possible. These points are covered: start-Up capital required; estimated time to make a profit; estimate of annual revenues; estimate of annual pre-tax profit; and important operational and marketing information. All information is based on government and industry data.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- U.S. Copyright Law
- A compendium of resource materials on copyright law in the U.S. and related links.
- Web Resources for Small Businesses
- A comprehensive list of links to sites on the Web with information and resources for small businesses.
Services and Information
There are many services provided on the web by various agencies that can be of help to the online business person. This is a small sampling of individual sites. Some of these require fees in order to access their services or portions of their services.
- AT&T 800 Directory on the Internet
- Claris Small Business Web SIte
- Software solutions and general advice for small businesses.
- Corporate Agents, Inc.
- An online guide to incorporating. Information on advantages and disadvantages of incorporating, and types of corporations.
- Experimental Stock Market Data
- FEDEX HOME PAGE
- Imageworld
- The internet marketing association of global enterprises. Free marketing newsletter and web site with ideas for promoting your internet business.
- Internet Domain Survey
- Who's on the internet?
- Internet Link Exchange
- A free and easy way to promote your website
- Let's Talk Business Network
- One stop entrepreneurial community, radio show, resources.
- LEXIS/NEXIS Background File
- A commercial information provider. Online legal, news and business information services One of the largest legal and full-text databases
- Morebusiness.com
- advice on everything from business plans to financing options. Contains an interesting discussion area.
- National Federation of Independent Businesses Online
- The voice of small business on the Web
- NETworth by GALT Technologies
- If you are an individual investor, check out NETworth. Some very good information here including free stock quotes and weekly market outlooks.
- news:misc.entrepreneurs.moderated
- An excellent newsgroup where entrepreneurs ask questions and offer advice to each other.
- QuoteCom Home Page
- A commercial source for financial market data and other information.
- SBA: Small Business Administration Home Page
- Discussion on operating a business.
- SEC EDGAR Database
- The Internet EDGAR Dissemination project will allow you to receive any 1994 and 1995 filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available to the public.
- SOHO America
- The small-business benefits association. Another comprehensive resource for supporting small businesses.
- STAT-USA
- A part of the Economics and Statistics Administration of the the U.S. Department of Commerce. Access to data generated by over 50 Federal sources. Partially commercial.
- The Department of the Treasury: Internal Revenue Service
- Its true,... the IRS is on the WWW. Get forms, instructions, and the IRS FAQ!
- The National Technology Transfer Center Home Page (NTTC)
- NTTC is the hub of a national network linking U.S. companies with federal technologies. Very interesting.
- The U.S. A. Home Based Business Information Superhighway
- The National Association of Home-Based Businesses' site gives members and subscribers a quick and reliable source of trade, business opportunities, management, direct and network marketing information.
- Venture Capital Online
- Sponsored by a venture capital firm. The discussion area is visited by people looking for projects to fund.
Commercial Sites
What businesses are operating on the WWW? Click on these links to explore online business and commerce. Buy the latest novel or get free upgrades from your favorite software provider.
- eBay's AuctionWeb
- A huge online auction that allows anyone to buy and sell items in a thriving global marketplace.
- Comdex
- One of the largest conferences on emerging computer and telecommunications technologies.
- Hot Hot Hot
- An example of a small retail business that became highly successful when it started selling its products on the Web
- Internet Mall
- One of the most comprehensive shopping sites out there
- Internet Shopping Network
- Buy from over 600 companies online.
- Mail Boxes, Etc.
- A full-service franchise handling mailboxes, packaging & shipping.
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. -- SchwabNOW!
- Virtual Vineyards Table of Contents
- Another business that has been very successful in offering products on the Web.
Electronic Commerce Information & Resources
By most predictions, electronic commerce on the Internet is about to explode. If you are thinking about doing transactions online then these links will lead you to a wealth of information on the current state of security in the industry, as well as emerging payment systems, and how to set up shop online.
General Resources
- Center for Advancement of Small Business: Guide to Electronic Commerce
- EC Net
- Electronic Commerce Jumpstation
- Electronic Frontier Foundation's Guide to Electronic Commerce
- iWORLD's Guide to Electronic Commerce
- Mailing Lists Devoted to Electronic Commerce
- Transaction Net
- Electronic commerce - reviews of all emergent online payment possibilities. Links and essays pertaining to electronic commerce.
- World Wide Web Consortium's Resources on Electronic Payments
- Yahoo Section on Business and Economy:Electronic Commerce
Merchant Server & Catalog Building Products/Solutions
- IBM CommercePOINT
- iCat Corporation | iCat Family of Products
- INTERSHOP Online
- Open Market Home Page
- Mind The Virtual Store
Electronic Payment Systems & Internet Security
- CyberCash
- The preferred method for enabling secure credit card transactions on the Web.
- CyberCoin
- The fast, easy and secure way to spend pocket change on the Internet.
- DigiCash home page
- This company is a pioneer of Internet micro-payment systems.
- ecash home page
- Digicash's explanation of ecash.
- First Virtual
- An alternative to Cybercash. This system enables credit card transactions via the Web without transmitting sensitive information across the Net.
- Mark Twain Bank
- The first Internet-only bank.
- Mastercard: The Future of Money
- Find out what this credit card giant is doing to facilitate online transactions.
- Mondex
- This European company is among the first to develop and test "Smart Card" technology.
- Netscape's Treatise On Security
- Learn about the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology that is currently being deployed to ensure the secure transmission of data across the Net.
- RSA Laboratories
- Everything you've always wanted to know about cryptography and encryption.
- VeriSign Digital ID Center
- Digital certificates represent the future of secured transactions on the Internet.
- Visa: Tomorrow
- Another credit card giant answers questions about the SET (Secure Electronic Transaction) standards that are about to change the face of transactions online.
