Small business owners need specific small business help. Although you won't have as many clients and employees as larger businesses, you will still have many things to keep track of, such as business expenses, tax forms, employee information and clients.

Some business owners find business startup advice with some of the many software programs and Internet sites available. These sites can help provide you tools, advice and services for starting and running your small business. You should start with a few basics.

1. Use the Internet and software to find small business startup advice.

2. Use different resources to find small business advice.

3. Find small business legal advice, small business tax advice and small business banking advice.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find small business startup advice

Starting a small business is not an easy task. You should do a lot of research and determine what services your business will need. A small business plan can help you determine what you'll need to start your business. Small business startup programs include software for preparing a business plan and small business startup help.

I recommend: The Microsoft Startup Center takes you through a step-by-step process to help you set up a personalized to-do list that will give you a plan to launch your business. Business Plan Pro 11.0 through Bplans.com gives you the choice of starting your business plan from scratch, or modifying a sample business plan, has sample business plans to help get you started, easy step-by-step instructions, and special documents, such as charts and graphs, you can add to your plan.

Find small business advice from different resources

Your small business will need all of the advice it can get. By networking with others, and keeping communications open, you'll find an abundance of resources and help for your small business.

I recommend: Comcast Business Class is an all-in-one office tool that allows you to communicate from anywhere you have Internet access, protect your computers from viruses, host meetings from your computer, keep in touch with customers and advertise. Facebook is a free business network from Visa that allows you to connect with other small business owners, learn to manage your business more efficiently and find many new clients.

Find small business legal advice, tax advice and banking advice

As the owner of a small business, you have a lot of forms you'll have to fill out and keep track of. There are many tools available that can help give you small business legal, tax and banking advice.

I recommend: FindLaw offers legal forms your small business will need, such as corporate forms, employee forms and LLC forms. The Internal Revenue Service offers forms you can download for your small business, including those you'll need to start your business, forms for general business expenses and employee benefit forms. SunTrust offers small business banking advice and many services to small business owners for keeping track of all of your finances.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You may also want to look for resources that can help you with small business marketing advice.