If your small business needs U.S. Customs forms, then visit the Customs and Border Protection’s forms website that contains may commonly used forms. Customs and Boarder Protection is the arm of the United States government responsible for overseeing the enforcement of a variety of customs-related laws and regulations.
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The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) sets out Nine Principles for an Effective Compliance Program. Compliance with these principles may mitigate penalties levied against you as a small business exporter. Check out the the BIS web site that contains a publication entitled Don’t Let This Happen to You, which includes the nine principles (page 6) and a number of illustrations of non-compliance. There is also a short presentation concerning similar subject matter with a checklist tool that the BIS utilizes.
If you have preliminary questions about trademarks and service marks, then take a look at the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s small business specific website. The site features direct answers about trademarks and service marks as possible beneficial additions to your small business. The site also discusses international registration of United States trademarks.
If you are thinking about hiring a foreign worker under the H-1B visa program, the U.S. Department of Labor has an H-1B Advisor that provides basic information about the requirements of the program and eligibility. The focus is on regulations related to U.S. employers who utilize this visa program. The Advisor leads you through an initial question of who is seeking information on the H-1B visa and then provides numerous links to topical information about various aspects of the visa program. Explore the Advisor to learn more about this type of lawful immigration for U.S. employers to utilize foreign workers in their U.S. commercial activities.
Many small business entrepreneurs are faced with the difficult decision of which business structure/entity to house the operations of their small business. The Internal Revenue Service provides a concise break down of different U.S. business structures available to American small business. Whether your small business will elect to be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S corporation, or a limited liability company impacts the governance and taxation of the company. The site features links to short explanatory sections as well as links to tax information and forms.
If you are looking for information about SME (Small and Emerging Enterprises) and the European Union’s approach to SME as well as polices related to SME operations at the European Community level, then take a look at the Good practices in SME policy website of the European Commission.
On the site you will find links to Applying the Think Small First principle; Simplifying start-up procedures; Internationalisation of SMEs; Education for entrepreneurship; Bankruptcy and fresh start; and Reducing the administrative burden. All of the links provide good information on these essential areas to all SME operations.
If you are looking to discover news and information about the new governmental agenda to reform export administration rules and regulations take a look at the National Export Initiative’s website. http://www.export.gov/nei/index.asp
The site features a fact sheet that concisely explains the key areas of the reform initiative and how such reforms could impact small business.
You might also want to check out the Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act of 2009, which is currently pending in the Senate. A summary of the bill is viewable at the following link. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:SN02862:@@@D&summ2=m&
Looking for information on taxes applicable to your small business? Try the IRS Virtual Tax Workshop sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, which is a multi-lesson video format program answering basic questions about taxes levied on small businesses. The workshop may be accessed via http://www.tax.gov/virtualworkshop/
The Small Business Association’s ARC Loan Program may help your small business that faces immediate financial hardship. Explore the Small Business Administration’s website to learn about eligibility and additional information on these loans by clicking here.
If you are interested in searching for federal government contracting opportunities, then check out the government’s database of business contract projects. The site includes Recovery and Reinvestment Act opportunities. Try a search of the site by clicking here.
Looking for information on good practices to comply with EU regulations? Check out the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s website focusing specifically at these issues. The contains links to databases, topic, sectors, and more, which cover various areas relating to occupational health and safety.
Looking to expand your small business overseas? Take a look at the trade leads gathered by the U.S. government’s Commercial Service located on their trade leads database.
Are you looking to comply with the positing requirements of several regulations applicable to small businesses? Take a look at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Poster page to acquire the posters you need.
Take a look at the Small Business Administration’s regulations to see if your business qualifies in its particular industry classification as a small business. Click here to determine your Small Business Size
There is also a table for easy reference indicating industry and monetary size for review of whether your company is a small business. Click here for the table
The Small Business Administration has an express loan program called Export Express for exporters with loans up to $250,000.00. Check out the Small Business Administration’s site especially detailing this program.
Keep tabs on pending and proposed legislation before the U.S. House of Representatives. The House Committee on Small Business is chaired by the Representative from New York. The site contains reports, statements, press releases, and a newsletter.
Thinking of starting a small business in this economic downturn? Take a look at the Small Business Association’s outline about what such a plan should include. Click to check it out!
Looking for information on New York City Small Business Services try http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/home/home.shtml
The site is a wealth of basic information of issues and items relevant to small business in New York City.
Take a look at the following site that describes the process in California to be certified as a Women Owned Business through the Public Utility Commission
http://www.asianinc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=35
Is your small business looking for statistics on trade volume or tariff information. Take a look at the WTO’s statistics site, which breaks down trade volume into imports or exports as well as gives detailed tariff information for all WTO members. The database is searchable and you are able to select specific criteria to search by utilizing a straight forward interface.
Looking for financial assistance in exporting as a small business.
Take at look at the Import-Export Bank of the United States.
Take a look at the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) guidance on identifying red flags concerning your overseas customers.
http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/knowyourcustomerguidance.htm
The site indicates the importance of ensuring small business compliance with the BIS regulations.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) provides financing and political risk insurance to small business. Take at look at their website for more information. http://www.opic.gov/smallbusiness/
The Securities and Exchange Commission has resources devoted to small business. Check out the Commission’s small business website http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml for a host of resources concerning small business.
The FDA assists small business in the areas covered by the agency.
Take a look at the FDA’s small business specific website.
If you are looking to expand your small business activities into Australia, then explore the Australian government’s website concerning small business.
Take a look at the Small Business Report prepared by the Irish government.
http://www.smallbusinessforum.ie/
The Report contains information on the climate for small business operating in Ireland and proposals for improving the transaction of small business enterprises within the country.
If you are looking for a resource to find information about small business in the UK, then explore the UK’s Enterprise Directorate website specifically about small business http://www.dti.gov.uk/bbf/small-business/index.html
The links on the right-hand side of the page lead to helpful information on taxation, finance, and a variety of other business information.
If your interested in starting or growing your small business exports, then take a look at the US Chamber of Commerce’s Trade Toolbox http://www.traderoots.org/fsMain.asp?i=tt
The site features county reports, stats, market, and industry reports. A wealth of information for growing your small business export capacity.
Take a look at the United States Patent and Trademark office’s website specifically devoted to small business http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/
The site features explanations, links, and pdf guides addressing may intellectual property issues concerning small business.
Check out the definition of a ‘Societas Europaea‘ or European Company provided by the UK’s Companies House to discover the basic constitution and requires for creating one.
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gb06.shtml
Take a look at the variety of business entities a company may utilize in the US by visiting the New York City government’s business site http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/starting/business_legal_structure.shtml
Compare the legal structures listed by the New York City government with those discussed on the UK’s Companies House website http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gbf1.shtml
Check out the resources referenced in the Library of Congress’ African Business Guide, which provides both internet and print sources for information concerning the business climate for small business in Africa. http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/african/africanhome.html
The US government operates a site that assists small business in all aspects of expanding your business into China. The site contains trade leads, events, and trade policy documents.
Take a look at http://www.export.gov/china/ to discover useful information for small business to enter the Chinese market. See if your small business is ready to trade in China and the assistance the US government provides to small business in determining if China is a viable place to export your goods/services.
