Starting a Business
Find valuable information from the City of Tucson, U.S. Small Business Administration, business research checklist, and more!
On this page:
Getting Started
- Startup Basics
- Provides practical, authoritative guidance for the new entrepreneur. Take the SBA Entrepreneurship Online Course which focuses on the most important areas of business for start-up and already operating businesses to achieve success, including deciding on a business, financing and accounting, buying a business or franchise, and more.
- Arizona Commerce Authority Small Business Services
- Help for starting or expanding a business with a website where you can find information on business licensing, statewide resources, certification, procurement opportunities, and much more.
- Small Business and Self Employed One-Stop Resource
- Provides information and a checklist for starting a new business. Learn about operating a business with employees, deductions and credits, recordkeeping and accounting methods.
- Business Research Checklist
- Offers a list of Main Library resources and Internet sites you can use to identify industry associations, trade shows, consumer trends and industry analysis.
Business Plans
Reference Books
More books on how to write a business plan can be located in the library's catalog by doing a subject search for "business planning".
- RMA Annual Statement Studies
- Provides a point of comparison to businesses in the same industry based on income statements and selected financial ratios.
Web Sites
- Business Plan Basics
- The U.S. Small Business Administration website offers an excellent outline of a business plan. A Spanish version is also available.
- Business Plan Links
- From the Small Business Development Center's National Information Clearinghouse. Includes a variety of links providing sample business plans and templates.
- Business Plans Handbook
- An multi-volume ebook collection of actual business plans for the manufacturing, service, and retail industries.
- Business Plan Templates
- From SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business).
Franchising
- U.S. Small Business Administration Guide to Buying a Franchise
- Step by step guide will help you determine the advantages and disadvantages of franchising. Also find links to directories with franchising opportunities.
Law
- Complying with Arizona and federal labor posting requirements
- Federal and Arizona laws require specified notices be posted in a conspicuous places frequented by employees and/or applicants.
- United States Department of Labor
- Helps workers and small business understand their rights and responsibilities.
Naming Your Business
- Arizona Corporation Commission: Corporation Name Search
- Search existing corporate names, limited liability companies, trade name or marks, or other business entities on file.
- Arizona Secretary of State
- Includes trademark and tradename application information.