Starting and Growing a Business in Fresno County
Starting and Running a Small Business
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Presents a startup kit as well
as counseling and training resources
http://www.sba.gov/ca/fresno/
http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/startup/guide.html - Central Valley Business Incubator for a fee, provides workshops and auxiliary
services that include professional office equipment and space, revolving
loan fund, mailboxes, room rental and much more.
http://www.cvbi.org/workshops.htm - SCORE Get free, confidential business advice from an expert via email.
Find a counselor in Fresno
http://www.score.org/ - Accelerator Online managed by the University Business Center at California
State University, Fresno offers assistance and training both free and
fee-based and in Spanish
http://www.acceleratoronline.com - My Own Business: A free online class on How to Start A Business
http://www.myownbusiness.org/index.html - Entrepreneur.com Online and print (the Library has it) small business
publication. Information to help start, grow or manage a small
business
http://www.entrepreneur.com/ - How E-Commerce Works Learn how to build and implement an e-commerce
web site and the accompanying challenges and benefits
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ecommerce1.htm
Business Plans
- Small Business Institute. Craig School of Business. California State University.
Fresno Prepare a preliminary business plan in order to test your idea
http://www.busplan.cc/english/eng_start/index.htm - Yahoo! Small Business the "process" of creating a business
plan is as valuable as the end product itself
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-57747-m-1-sc-112-step_3_create_a_business_plan-i
Finance
- Valley Small Business Development Corporation, Fresno helps farmers and
small business people apply to over ten lending sources.
http://www.vsbdc.com/ - Federal Grant Programs Information on federal grants for special
purposes
http://www.calbusiness.ca.gov/cedpgybfafedg.asp - Small Business Information Center …. provides a wealth of ideas
on financing new businesses
http://sbdcnet.org/SBIC/finance.php
Licenses, Permits, and Fictitious names
Various permits and/or licenses may be required, depending on the type of new business. Generally, a city business tax certificate or permit is required within city limits. Certain types of businesses may require additional permits. For these certificates and permits in the City of Fresno, see http://www.fresno.gov/Government/departmentDirectory/finance/businesslicenseandtax/printableforms.htm.
Other city contacts are as follows:
- Clovis: http://www.ci.clovis.ca.us/UMAP.asp?ID=344&FolderID=140
- Sanger: http://www.ci.sanger.ca.us/innerpage.asp?forlevel=11&objectid=19&levelno=2§ionid=4
- Contact the City Hall of other cities in Fresno County:
http://www.reedley.com/
http://www.coalinga.com/
A special business permit may be required in unincorporated areas of Fresno County. Contact the Auditor Controller/Tax Controller, Treasurers Division, 2281 Tulare Street, Room 105, P.O. Box 1247, Fresno, CA 93715-1247. 559-488-3487.
- Fresno County. Department of Public Works and Planning. Online Building
Permits - Apply for some types of permits and obtain telephone numbers
for others
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/4510/permit.aspx - Fresno County Clerk - Register a fictitious business name in Fresno
County
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/2850/Post/FBNapp.pdf - CalGOLD: Business Permits Made Simple provides detailed information on
the above and all other California business permit, license and registration
requirements from all levels of government. Search this database by location
and by type of business.
http://www.calgold.ca.gov/
Customers and Suppliers
- ReferenceUSA: Use this subscription database to prepare customized business
lists complete with contact names, mailing lists of consumers, and to locate
sources of goods and services. (From outside the library with library card)
http://www.fresnolibrary.org/reference.html - City of Fresno Bids Online vendors register and receive automated service
and commodity solicitations via email
http://www.planetbids.com/fresno/bidsearchform.cfm?StateID=52 - California State Contracts Register: a one-stop information source for
state contracting opportunities.
http://www.cscr.dgs.ca.gov/cscr/ - U.S. Export Assistance Center of Fresno: helps with market research, finding
international partners an more
http://www.buyusa.gov/fresno/ - ThomasNet.com: for suppliers of industrial information, products, services,
CAD drawings, and more…
http://www.thomasnet.com/
Further enhance your business knowledge with Fresno County Public Library’s printed materials. Browse library shelves and the online catalog to find titles such as Start Your Own E-Business and Weekend Entrepreneur. At the Library read the latest business news from newspapers and magazines such as The Business Journal and Business Week. Ask librarians about other excellent resources. Contact the Business Services Librarian, Louise Richardson by e-mail at louise.richardson**fresnolibrary.org (replace ** with @ to send email) or by phone at 559-488-2976.
Finding Investment, Finance, and Directory Information
- Morningstar.com - Library Edition subscription database on over 20,000
stocks, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Provides
regularly updated independent analyst reports on 4,000 stocks and mutual
funds.
(From outside the library with library card)
http://www.fresnolibrary.org/reference.html - Yahoo! Finance - Covers news and opinion, personal finance,
historical stock prices, bonds and options, and much more.
http://finance.yahoo.com/ - Switchboard.com - Directory of people, businesses, and toll-free numbers.
Find residence or business by phone number (reverse directory)
http://www.switchboard.com/ - WhitePages.com -Directory of people and businesses. Find residence or
business by address or phone number (reverse directory)
http://www.whitepages.com/ - 1-800Free411 - Get free directory assistance by calling 1-800-373-3411
Or look up phone numbers on this web site as well as find residence
or business by address or phone number (reverse directory)
http://www.free411.com/index.php - California Business Search - Addresses of California corporations, limited
partnerships and limited liability companies. Also name & address
of agent for service of process. No phone numbers. From the Secretary
of State's
office.
http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/list.html
