Business Resources

Welcome to the our Business Resource Center. Here you will find a wide range of information for starting and running an entrepreneurial enterprise at all stages of growth. 

If you are considering searching for venture capital, you may want to answer these questions for yourself. A Few Questions To Ask Yourself, If You Are Thinking About Venture Capital

Entrepreneurship Links
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur Associations
Entrepreneur Studies
Where to Begin
Form of Business
Business Plan
Due Diligence
Money
Executive Team
Board of Directors

Entrepreneurship

Bibliography

 

Entrepreneur Associations

The SCORE Association--Service Corp of Retired Executives




Entrepreneur Studies
, especially in the Saint Louis area.

McKendree College: Free Enterprise Lecture Series

Small Business Development Center at the University of Missouri - Columbia

Small Business Resources: University of Missouri, St. Louis

Jefferson Smurfit Center for Entrepreneurial Studies St. Louis University, John Cook School of Business

eWeb - The resource for entrepreneurship education St. Louis University, John Cook School of Business

School of Business: Southern Illinois University: Edwardsville

Olin School of Business: Washington University

School of Business and Technology: Webster University

Harvard Business School

Stanford School of Business: Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business

Compendium of Entrepreneur Programs

 

Form of Business

There are thousands of web sites regarding the potential legal form or structure of any business.  The SBA has a good starting point. We are quickly able to counsel clients regarding the right legal entity, because we practice the whole law, giving consideration to the legal, personal, and business considerations applicable to each unique business.

 

Business Plans and Other Internal Strategic and Tactical Plans

  • Why Put It In Writing?

Foremost, writing is a Management Tool- Many entrepreneurs don’t take the time to prepare a business plan solely for their own use but that is probably the most important reason to write a business plan. Running a business without a business plan is a lot like taking a long trip without a road map. You may need to revise the plan frequently as you learn more about your business, but it forces you to plan ahead. Furthermore, writing forces sound reasoning and decision making.  Why do we insist that courts and judges write opinions. Unconvinced, then read:

The Rise and Fall of the J. Peterman Company (this article is available free on line through the St. Louis County Library)

 

  • What it looks like, when you put it in writing?

Forbes ASAP May 29, 2000 (This is no doubt the first time that a national magazine has devoted a costly foldout to three old, yellowing pieces of business correspondence)  (Fairchild Semiconductor)

  • How to put in in writing. Start with the SBA, then use the following links.

How to Write a Great Business Plan (Harvard Business Review)

PraireFire (McKinsey's best work on business plans) (start with the participant guide, then review the site's knowledge events for additional material)

Outline for a Business Plan (E&Y)

PwC Entrepreneur Resource Center

Writing a Business Plan (PwC)

Preparing a Business Plan (PwC)

Start-Up Suite: The Business Plan (AA)

BUSINESS PLAN RESOURCES (MIT) (links)

FreePlan: Business Planning Freeware (free Word Template)

 

Due Diligence

It is imperative that every business prepare and keep updated one or more due diligence checklists.

Sample Due Diligence Checklist

Money

BusinessFinance.com

Executive Team

Board of Directors or Advisors