Starting a Small Business

Useful Web Sites

Business Quick Guide
A quick and easy online quide to 150 non-profit agencies offering business development assistance to the 10-county region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Created by The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center and Small Business Councils.
Pittsburgh Business Times
Yahoo's Small Business Information
Provides hundreds of classified and selected links to a wide array of internet resources for small businesses.
Research Databases: Business
Find magazine, newspaper and journal articles about starting a small business, business planning, marketing, and stories about the successes, failures, and techniques of individual business. Use company databases to identify competitors or potential customers. You can also use many of these databases at home with your library card.
Business Plans & Profiles Index
Locate a sample business plan or profile for your specific business (some are in print on our shelves, and some just a click away.) Includes links or citations to over 800 sample plans.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), Pittsburgh Chapter
Provides free and confidential business counseling for starting and growing a small business. SCORE counselors are available at the Downtown & Business location the 3rd Thursday of the month, and at the Squirrel Hill location the 1st Monday of the month, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development
Entrepreneur's Guide Starting and Growing a Business in Pennsylvania
The complete guide to starting a business in Pennsylvania. Provides detailed information about free services, checklists, helpful tips and licensing procedures along with address, telephone and website for each partner organization.
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Starting a Business in Pennsylvania
This practical guide covers business registration, ein numbers, record keeping, financial and tax matters. You may pick up a copy of this publication at Downtown & Business.
Pennsylvania Department of State Corporation Bureau
A Guide to Business Registration in Pennsylvania
Explains the different legal entities available to register as a business in Pennsylvania. Outlines the steps in the registration process, discusses fees and filing procedures. You may pick up a copy of this publication at Downtown & Business.
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA Small Business Resource Western PA
Gives general guidelines for starting a business, and details about the multitude of SBA programs that support business development and financing, along with the local contacts needed to make use of them. You may pick up a copy of this publication at Downtown & Business.

Further topics for start-ups and existing businesses: