Entrepreneurship : Become an Entrepreneur

Links to standards organizations that offer free access to their standards.

Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

Provides help with SBA services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery.

The Massachusetts MBDA Business Center is part of a national network of business centers funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).

SBA partner provides mentoring service for entrepreneurs.

Provides advice from the Small Business Administration on writing business plans.

Find funding to start or grow your business, or to help you recover after a declared disaster.

Designed for small business owners. Select a geographic location and an industry to generate maps and reports.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is the world's foremost study of entrepreneurship. Through a vast, centrally coordinated, internationally executed data collection effort, GEM is able to provide high quality information, comprehensive reports and interesting stories, which greatly enhance the understanding of the entrepreneurial phenomenon.

Offers in-depth measures, reports, and accompanying interactive data visualizations that present entrepreneurial trends in the United States.

This resource guide cites "how to" books, reference books, directories, online resources and databases, all of which will be useful at some point in the process of becoming an independent business owner.

The Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) research program is designed to enhance the scientific understanding of how people start businesses.

What are the key trends, challenges, and opportunities that impact your business and influence your strategy in the coming year? Find your industry and gain perspectives and insights from some of Deloitte’s forward thinkers.

MaRS helps Canada’s most promising founders build successful companies. Explore advice, lessons, and tips from our community of entrepreneurs and operators.

Best of the Best Business Website Winner! Excellent resource with a variety of articles, videos, and other educational tools for entrepreneurs.

Lowe, the inventor of Kitty Litter, established the foundation to promote his philosophy of “economic gardening” which is a strategy based on the idea that entrepreneurs drive the economy. The Entrepreneur’s Resource Center contains materials on Building and Inspiring an Organization, Defining and Serving a Market, Acquiring and Managing Finances, Human Resource Management, and Legal and Tax Issues.

The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow.

National trade association of franchisees and dealers; works to improve the industry of franchising while protecting its members’ economic investments in their businesses.

ASBA is an advocacy group dedicated to protecting the interests of small business in public policy issues. Contains information on issues that affect small businesses, such as health care, taxation and technology, ideas for ways to get involved, and links for further reading.

Advocacy group for small businesses; tracks issues affecting small businesses, and provides tips for small business owners. NFIB has been ranked the most influential business organization in "Washington's Power 25" survey conducted by Fortune magazine.

Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, MBDA is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the creation, growth, and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the U.S. Assistance is provided to socially or economically disadvantaged individuals who own or wish to start a business. Such persons include: Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indians, Black Americans, Eskimos/Aleuts, Hasidic Jews, Native Americans, Spanish Speaking Americans, and Puerto Ricans.

TiE Boston is a member-based organization founded in 1997 by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals of Indian origin, to foster future innovators.

The Mass Technology Leadership Council is the leading destination for technology companies in New England. As the region’s largest technology association, MTLC is dedicated to convening leaders with diverse perspectives to solve pressing global challenges and boost economic growth in the area.

The world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship; more than 1,900 members in over 60 nations. While incubator managers and developers make up a large share of NBIA’s membership base, the association also represents other interested individuals and groups.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency under the Department of Commerce and is responsible for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. Their mission is to drive U.S. innovation and global competitiveness for the benefit of all Americans.

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