Linking Policies

Criteria for Linking to External Websites

Business.gov links to other official Federal, State and Local Government websites when those sites contain information helpful to our users. Business.gov also links to quasi-government agencies, government-sponsored websites, and websites created by public sector/private sector partnerships

On occasion, Business.gov will provide links to websites that are not government-owned or government-sponsored as a public service. The U.S. Government and the U.S. Small Business Administration neither endorses nor guarantees in any way the external organizations, services, advice, or products included in these website links. Furthermore, the U.S. government neither controls nor guarantees the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of the information contained in non-government website links. (See Disclaimer of Endorsement for more information on this topic).

Before linking to an external website, we ensure the site meets all the following criteria:

• The site clearly relates to and complements existing information, products, and services on Business.gov.
• The site contains relevant and useful content and features that will benefit our users, which include, but not limited to:

• Content and features that help business comply with government regulations
• Regulatory compliance content that crosses agency and intergovernmental boundaries
• Content and features that enable businesses to conduct transactions online (e.g. filing taxes).
• Content and features that provide businesses with information they need to interact directly with the government (e.g. telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.).
• Content and features that provide information on performance (e.g., economic indicators, census survey results, etc.).

• The site clearly states and reflects its purpose, and provides overall quality and authoritative value to the Business.gov audience.
• The site contains accurate and timely information.
• The site is accessible to the widest possible audience.
• The site's approach to protecting the privacy and security of personal information is consistent with the Federal government's privacy and security policies.
• The site provides information at no cost. We do not link to sites whose primary purpose is to sell products or services.
• The site's content has excellent overall quality.
• The site is "user-friendly" and easy to navigate.
• The site is a credible source for information. Site must be free of typos and errors so that it does not detract from the credibility of the site.
• The site does not exhibit hate, bias, or discrimination.
• The site does not contain misleading or unsubstantiated claims, or conflict with the mission of Business.gov.

Reciprocal Links

Business.gov highlights links of special interest to our users by placing them in prominent positions on the website. Featured links are editorially selected by the Business.gov team based on topics of current interest among the business community. These links are not paid advertisements, nor do they represent reciprocal linking arrangements. Featured links are provided as a public service only, and are not endorsed by Business.gov or the U.S. Small Business Administration (See Disclaimer of Endorsement for more information on this topic).

Featured Links

Business.gov links to other websites whether or not other websites link to us. Business.gov does not engage in reciprocal linking agreements. However, we invite any website to link to Business.gov. Business.gov is a public website, which means you may link to us at no cost and without special permission.