Economic Almanac
Reports / Studies
Charts & Data Transportation Summit

Links

• SBA - Financial Statements
  The SBA offers a very thorough discussion of financial statements, how to use them and several templates for financial management.
• Database of QuickBooks ProAdvisors
  Is your QuickBooks a mess and in need of an overhaul?  Input your zip code for a list of Intuit ProAdvisors in your area.  Also, we recommend using the Search on the http://quickbooks.intuit.com/ website for FREE, on-line QuickBooks trouble-shooting.
• IRS Recordkeeping
  An IRS list of records to keep for your business and how to keep them.
• Accounting and Bookkeeping Forum
  Have a question about bookkeeping or accounting?  Would you like to browse articles about accounting topics?  Universal Accounting is for you!
• QuickMBA Accounting Resources
  QuickMBA is an online knowledge resource for business administration.  This page details a variety of useful links to accounting and bookkeeping resources.

• IRS Employment Taxes
  Answers to all your employment tax questions, including how to determine whether workers are independent contractors or employees.
• Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center
• IRS Small Business & Self Employed Tax Center
  This section offers a broad range of resources across federal and state agencies, as well as industry/profession specific information for self-employed entrepreneurs, employers and businesses.
• IRS Small Business Video and Audio Presentations
  The IRS Video portal contains video and audio presentations on topics of interest to small businesses, individuals and tax professionals. You will find video clips of tax topics, archived versions of live panel discussions and webinars, as well as audio archives of tax practitioner phone forums. In addition, please visit the Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop page for instructional, interactive lessons designed to help new small business owners learn their tax rights and responsibilities.

Business Plans

Downloadable Files (click to download the file)

• Business Plan Template
   

Additional Links

• SBA - Business Planning
  The SBA site with a good tutorial on writing a business plan, viewable or downloadable. It includes a detailed outline and definitions.
• SBA - Business Plan Resources
  A helpful site from the national SBDC with many links to business plan guides, planning tools, and specific business plan templates for a variety of industries.
• Sample Business Plans Resource Center
  This is an excellent site for anyone who needs to write a business plan. There are many sample plans, a starting cost calculator, and planning articles.
• Sample Business Plan Components
  The Business Owner´s Toolkit site with 5 general sample business plans, as well as related articles.  The business plans are not complete but are instead a demonstration of the various components found in a business plans.
• Will My Business Make Money
  A step-by-step guide for conducting a break-even analysis.

Buying Or Selling A Business

• A Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise
  This site sponsered by the Federal Trade Commission has a useful article about buying a franchise.
• Selling your Business
  This free, membership-based website has tips and tools for selling your business.
• Basic Deal Structures
  Discusses the difference between an asset purchase and a stock purchase. 
• Top Ten Tips for New Small Businesses
  Suggestions to help get your business off to a smooth start and keep it going!
• Selling your business the smart way
  How to think positively and devote resources to selling your business for the maximum price.
• Business Valuation Guide
  This valuation guide from Inc.com includes articles and valuation charts to help you determine your business´s market worth. Check it out!

Human Resources & Personnel

• Employee Handbook Guidelines
  This is a great article from the SBA on what to include in an employee handbook.
• Sample Employee Handbooks
  This site provides a list of on-line employee handbooks- mostly universities.
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration Homepage
  Education, training information and safety standards for the workplace.
• Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Guide for Small Businesses
  ADA Compliance Guide for Small Businesses, from the Department of Justice.
• CCH Inc. Research Network
  Human resource and employment law site.
• Small Business Compliance
  Searchable database from the Department of Labor for small business compliance publications.
• Small Business Information
  Employer information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• World at Work
  Information central includes reports on attracting and retaining employees, outsourcing and workplace motivation.  Membership is required.
• The Pros and Cons of Independent Contractors
  Should you hire an independent contractor?  This article explains the benefits and disadvantages.
• Workforce Management
  Workforce Management analyzes the human resources (HR) trends and provides the tools that drive business results.  The site contains links to a variety of articles that are updated monthly.  A subscription is required to view some articles. 
• WorkForce Occuption Explorer
  The best site for finding accurate salary information for the state of Washingtion or any of it´s counties.  Descriptions of occupations are also available.
• Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System
  The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System is used by the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) for defining occupations.  This site contains links to descriptions of all of the defined occupations.  This is an excellant resource for defining positions within a business.
• Health Savings Accounts
  The Department of the Treasury explains Health Savings Accounts.
• Guide to Health Insurance
  This site allows you to enter in generic business information to find out about health insurance options.
• Sample Job Description Form
  A sample job description form and information about job descriptions from Office Depot.
• Dept. of Labor and Industry
  The Washington state Deptartment of Labor and Industry.  L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington´s nearly two million workers. They provide labor laws and regulations, help employers meet safety and health standards, inspect workplaces, and administrate of the state´s workers´ compensation system.
• Washington State Workplace Rights
  The Washington state Department of Labor and Industry site detailing workplace rights.
• Employment Security Department
  The Washington State Employment Security Department site.  This sites offers a variety of services for businesses, including information on unemployment insurance taxes, finding workers and current wage rates, posting job openings and reporting new hires.
• IRA Calculator
  Calculate your IRA earnings and determine which type of IRA is right for you.

Leasing

• Negotiating Commercial Leases
  Negotiating a good lease can save you money. Learn where landlords are willing to make concessions.
• Understanding Commercial Leases
  Before you rent space for your business, be sure you understand these basic facts about commercial leases.
• Commercial Lease Checklist
  The checklist includes many items that are often addressed in commercial leases.
• Real Property Lease Checklist
  The real property lease checklist addresses the most common issues that you need to consider when you negotiate a real property lease. This comprehensive checklist identifies the terms and clauses that need to be addressed in a real property lease. It also contains questions under each term or clause that flush out the most important issues pertaining to that term or clause. It´s a good tool to use when you have a real property lease in hand from the property owner and you want to know whether the lease covers all that it should cover so that you´re properly protected.
• Landlord/Tenant Law
  Contains a brief introduction to landlord tenant law from the Wasington State Attorney General´s Office.
• Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords
  Tax advantage of all the tax deductions for owning rental property!

Marketing 

Downloadable Files (click to download the file)

• Marketing Plan Template

Additional Links

• Idea Site for Business
  Good site for advice from the marketing experts. Try the Idea-of-the-Day Online Newsletter.
• The Small Business Marketing Letter
  The Small Business Marketing Newsletter site, with a whole list of interesting reports such as "The Seven Biggest Marketing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them".
• Customer Satisfaction Survey Form
  The Business Owners Toolkit is an excellent site for all small business information. This link is to a customer satisfaction survey that you can use yourself to see what your customers are thinking.
• Catalog Production Tips
  A brief article about basic considerations when producing a catalog
• Sample Business Letters
  This site contains over 500 different business letters.
• Ultimate Trade Show Resource
  Search for trade shows, suppliers or venues.
• Marketing Plan for the Independent Inventor
  This tutorial on writing a marketing plan covers topics such as understanding the purpose of a marketing plan, identify strategies for conducting market research, target markets, competition, pricing strategy, promotional strategy and advertising strategy.
• American Marketing Association
  Great site for marketing articles, links and templates.
• Make the Most out of Trade Shows
  This article defines some easy ways to make a good impression at trade shows.  It is geared toward a company willing to spend time and plenty of money to make trade shows a worthwhile endeavor.
• Follow-Up Marketing
  A study done by the Association of Sales Executives revealed that 81% of all sales happens on or after the fifth contact. If you’re a small business owner and you’re only doing one or two follow-ups imagine all the business you’re losing.  This article describes a follow-up system which details types of follow-ups and useful marketing tools.
• Survey Information
  A helpful resource on types of surveys and samples.
• QuickMBA Marketing Resources
  QuickMBA is an online knowledge resource for business administration.  This page details a variety of useful links to marketing resources.
• Hoover´s
  Hoovers on-line delivers comprehensive company, industry, and market intelligence that drives business growth. This database consists of 12 million companies, with in-depth coverage of 40,000 of the world´s top business enterprises.
• Public School Demographics
  Demographics provided by the Superintendent of Public Schools.
• Direct Mail Tips
  Tips on how to conduct an effective direct mail campaign.
• What´s Your Signage?
  Good signs make good business, but what makes a good sign?  Too often, signage is an afterthought.  Visit this site and learn about how to create the most effective signs to help your bottom line, as well as enhance your community.  See the many factors to be considered when making a sign that works for you.

Training and Education

Skagit Valley College Business Resource Center

Bellingham SCORE Chapter

Online SCORE Workshops

Leadership San Juan Islands

WWU Small Business Development Center

Regional EDC

Bellingham & Whatcom County Economic Development Council

Economic Development Association of Skagit County

Island County Economic Development Council

Government Agencies

Friday Harbor

San Juan County

Access Washington

Choose Washington

Washington State: Department of Commerce

Washington State Department of Revenue

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries

Washington State Employment Security Department

Washington State Department of Licensing

US Small Business Administration

US Internal Revenue Service

US Social Security Administration

County Libraries

Lopez Island Library

Orcas Island Library

San Juan Island Library

County Chamber of Commerce

Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce

Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce

San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce

County Port Authorities

Port of Lopez

Port of Orcas

Port of Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

Other Boards

San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

San Juan Islands Conservation District

San Juan County Marine Resources Committee

Agricultural Resources Committee of San Juan County

Northwest Agricultural Business Center

Friends of the San Juans