Click a unit number below to view resources for that unit.
The Web sites of other organizations and agencies can answer your questions. Or you may need to write down an address or phone number so you can call or visit the organization in person.
Documents are PDF forms and letters provided by government agencies and other organizations. You may want to print them if they are particularly important for your business planning.
Library books are available for check-out from the Minneapolis Public Library. Ask a reference librarian for help if you have trouble locating them.
Resources for Unit 4
These resources can help you in planning your business:
A manual of style for contract drafting:
A guide to writing effective contracts.
A guide to writing effective contracts.
AccountAbility Minnesota:
This local organization provides volunteer assistance to low income individuals and sole proprietorships. Look for their Off Season workshops that may answer many questions about small business taxes.
This local organization provides volunteer assistance to low income individuals and sole proprietorships. Look for their Off Season workshops that may answer many questions about small business taxes.
Beans: four principles for running a business in good times or bad:
A story of one business' success.
A story of one business' success.
Business and legal forms and templates:
This site has many templates for all parts of running a business.
This site has many templates for all parts of running a business.
Business location and leasing:
This site provides excellent summary information on leasing versus buying space for your business.
This site provides excellent summary information on leasing versus buying space for your business.
Business Town on Contracts:
Ready answers to questions about creating and using contracts in your small business.
Ready answers to questions about creating and using contracts in your small business.
Contracts:
Several articles about contracts and small businesses are provided here, along with sample contract forms.
Several articles about contracts and small businesses are provided here, along with sample contract forms.
Department of Labor and Industry (Minnesota):
This site gives information on codes and licensing, workers compensation, labor standards and occupational health and safety.
This site gives information on codes and licensing, workers compensation, labor standards and occupational health and safety.
Don:
Checklist and guide to hiring new employees.
Checklist and guide to hiring new employees.
Employee Id Numbers (EIN):
Find out if you need to get an EIN and how to get one. Be sure to check carefully to see if you need an EIN.
Find out if you need to get an EIN and how to get one. Be sure to check carefully to see if you need an EIN.
Employee Id Numbers (EIN):
Find out if you need to get an EIN and how to get one. Be sure to check carefully to see if you need an EIN.
Find out if you need to get an EIN and how to get one. Be sure to check carefully to see if you need an EIN.
Everyday employment law:
Solid information on the legal side of hiring and managing employees.
Solid information on the legal side of hiring and managing employees.
Find the right small business insurance:
You will get clear explanations of the types of insurance available for small businesses and a discussion of the insurance needs of small businesses.
You will get clear explanations of the types of insurance available for small businesses and a discussion of the insurance needs of small businesses.
Find the right small business insurance:
You will get clear explanations of the types of insurance available for small businesses and a discussion of the insurance needs of small businesses.
You will get clear explanations of the types of insurance available for small businesses and a discussion of the insurance needs of small businesses.
Finding and renting space for your business FAQ:
A handy set of information that answers many questions about leasing business space.
A handy set of information that answers many questions about leasing business space.
Free management library:
This resource has a great deal of information about all aspects of doing business. It is an excellent place to look for information.
This resource has a great deal of information about all aspects of doing business. It is an excellent place to look for information.
Frequently asked questions: legal considerations in selecting a type of business and registering a business name:
This is a good overview of the different types of businesses that can register in Minnesota. It also gives information on the pluses and minuses of the different types of business registrations.
This is a good overview of the different types of businesses that can register in Minnesota. It also gives information on the pluses and minuses of the different types of business registrations.
Guerrilla marketing weapons : 100 affordable marketing methods for maximizing profits from your small business:
Get the most profit from your business.
Get the most profit from your business.
Guerrilla marketing weapons : 100 affordable marketing methods for maximizing profits from your small business:
Get the most profit from your business.
Get the most profit from your business.
Hiring Employees:
Nolo Press provides a 10 step check list for hiring employees. Clear directions are easy to follow.
Nolo Press provides a 10 step check list for hiring employees. Clear directions are easy to follow.
Hiring employees (FAQ from Minnesota DEED):
A guide to hiring your first employee.
A guide to hiring your first employee.
Insurance Coverage for Small Business (My Own Business):
This site has useful information on the types of insurance small businesses might need, tips on choosing an insurance agent, and the Top 10 do's and don'ts for small business owners.
This site has useful information on the types of insurance small businesses might need, tips on choosing an insurance agent, and the Top 10 do's and don'ts for small business owners.
Job Description:
This document is a sample job description and a blank form you might find useful for writing your own. In a job description you want to be as specific as possible about what you expect from your employee.
This document is a sample job description and a blank form you might find useful for writing your own. In a job description you want to be as specific as possible about what you expect from your employee.
Key contracts for small business success:
A selection of information about contracts and their importance for small businesses.
A selection of information about contracts and their importance for small businesses.
Leasing office space:
This article also provides links to information on negotiating a lease and a discussion of should you rent or purchase.
This article also provides links to information on negotiating a lease and a discussion of should you rent or purchase.
Legal Corps:
This organization provides volunteer lawyers for micro-entrepreneurs. Their lawyers may be able to help you.
This organization provides volunteer lawyers for micro-entrepreneurs. Their lawyers may be able to help you.
Legal Corps:
This organization provides volunteer lawyers for micro-entrepreneurs. Their lawyers may be able to help you.
This organization provides volunteer lawyers for micro-entrepreneurs. Their lawyers may be able to help you.
Manage Employees:
Once you've hired employees you need to make sure you manage them. This site provides guidelines for managing employees.
Once you've hired employees you need to make sure you manage them. This site provides guidelines for managing employees.
Manage Employees:
Once you've hired employees you need to make sure you manage them. This site provides guidelines for managing employees.
Once you've hired employees you need to make sure you manage them. This site provides guidelines for managing employees.
Minimum wage law in Minnesota:
Find out what the current, legal, minimum wage is.
Find out what the current, legal, minimum wage is.
Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers:
This umbrella organization provides a wealth of services to small and micro businesses in Minneapolis.
This umbrella organization provides a wealth of services to small and micro businesses in Minneapolis.
Negotiating the best commercial lease terms:
Great advice for negotiating a lease for your business space.
Great advice for negotiating a lease for your business space.
Office space: lease or buy:
A quick guide that highlights the pros and cons of leasing space versus leasing space.
A quick guide that highlights the pros and cons of leasing space versus leasing space.
Operational Planning -- who will do what?:
Everyone has a job to do or a role to fill in a business. Use this chart to decide who will do what in your business.
Everyone has a job to do or a role to fill in a business. Use this chart to decide who will do what in your business.
Plain English Guide to Hiring:
This resource brings together information from many government web sites and provides you with reliable information about hiring employees
This resource brings together information from many government web sites and provides you with reliable information about hiring employees
Planning and goal setting for small business:
Here's one approach to planning and goal setting.
Here's one approach to planning and goal setting.
Quick start for business tax payers:
This site links to information about taxation and small business in Minnesota.
This site links to information about taxation and small business in Minnesota.
Small business forms and contracts:
Sample forms and contracts for small businesses, plus information on using them.
Sample forms and contracts for small businesses, plus information on using them.
Small Business Forms and Publications:
Here are listings and links to forms and publications related to operating a small business. When in doubt, ask for help from the IRS or from your accountant.
Here are listings and links to forms and publications related to operating a small business. When in doubt, ask for help from the IRS or from your accountant.
Small Business Insurance:
Tips from Nolo press on finding and understanding small business insurance.
Tips from Nolo press on finding and understanding small business insurance.
Small Business Insurance Center:
This website has tools available that allow you to identify what types of insurance you might need and a terrific glossary of insurance terms and what they really mean.
This website has tools available that allow you to identify what types of insurance you might need and a terrific glossary of insurance terms and what they really mean.
Small Business Liability Tool:
Select what type of business you are opening and you will get a list of the risks associated with it. You will also get a list of what types of insurance to consider purchasing.
Select what type of business you are opening and you will get a list of the risks associated with it. You will also get a list of what types of insurance to consider purchasing.
Small Business Taxes -- Online Classroom:
This page has a video tutorial for each topic a small business owner needs to know about for filing taxes. You can view the video and/or print out the transcript for a reminder of what you need to do and where to go.
This page has a video tutorial for each topic a small business owner needs to know about for filing taxes. You can view the video and/or print out the transcript for a reminder of what you need to do and where to go.
Small Business Taxes from IRS.GOV:
This page from the IRS describes all the types of taxes and filings that your small business may need. If you are unsure, call the IRS or your accountant for advice.
This page from the IRS describes all the types of taxes and filings that your small business may need. If you are unsure, call the IRS or your accountant for advice.
Smart hiring:
Save yourself some time by getting tips on how to hire the best employees.
Save yourself some time by getting tips on how to hire the best employees.
Standard Job Application:
This is a sample job application for you to review. Remember when you write yours that there are some questions that you cannot ask. If in doubt, ask an attorney for assistance.
This is a sample job application for you to review. Remember when you write yours that there are some questions that you cannot ask. If in doubt, ask an attorney for assistance.
Tax information for business owners:
Taxes are complicated and can be messy, but it is extremely important to fill out the correct forms. This document is a guide to the main types of taxes your business may have to pay.
Taxes are complicated and can be messy, but it is extremely important to fill out the correct forms. This document is a guide to the main types of taxes your business may have to pay.
Ten tips for making solid business agreements and contracts:
This article provides information on the common elements of business agreements and contracts.
This article provides information on the common elements of business agreements and contracts.
The law (in plain English) for small businesses:
A great guide to all aspects of starting a business and writing a business plan.
A great guide to all aspects of starting a business and writing a business plan.
Work relationships:
This website has a series of articles about working with people as part of a business. It has tips on hiring, working with employees and working with customers.
This website has a series of articles about working with people as part of a business. It has tips on hiring, working with employees and working with customers.