As you consider starting or growing your business, you want to be sure you've got all of the information available to make your best decisions. A number of good starting places are listed below:

Missouri SourceLink

MOSourceLink helps small businesses across the state of Missouri start, grow and succeed. We provide small business with free, easy access to the help you need - when you need it. Call our hotline toll free at 866.870.6500 or go to mosourcelink.com.

Missouri Business Development Programs

Each year, the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center (MO SBTDC) successfully assists more than 10,000 businesses. The staff is uniquely qualified to help businesses get started, develop and thrive with Missouri Business Development Programs by offering both training workshops and consulting services.

The MO SBTDC web site gives you information so you can better answer the questions asked when registering your business with the various departments of the state. These resources include the following:

• • The book Starting a New Business in Missouri: this provides a nice overview of many of the aspects a person should consider when going into business.
• • Evaluating Your Business Idea: an excellent tool to evaluate the viability of your business idea.
• • Licenses and Registration Checklist: a checklist to help you locate the various forms needed to register your business.
• • Industry Specific Business Guides: provides research on some industries that are common in Missouri.
• • Doing Business in Missouri: provides more in depth information on the following topics:
• • The Basics (pdf)
• • The Business Plan (pdf)
• • Legal Formation (pdf)
• • Taxes (pdf)
• • Hiring Employees (pdf)
• • Financing Your Business (pdf)
• • Procurement Services for Contracting with Federal, State or Local Governments
• • The Missouri Federal and State Technology Program (MoFAST) provides assistance services which enable Missouri technology based businesses to obtain federal research and development grants.

Additional Missouri Research Resources

It's always best to confer with your legal and financial advisor about business matters. If you don't have an accountant, you can contact the Missouri Society of Accountants or the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. If you need an attorney, contact the Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service.

Several state level resources include:

• • Missouri Department of Economic Development
• • Missouri Secretary of State Business Services
• • Small Business Advocacy Center
• • Missouri Department of Revenue - Business Tax
• • Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Links to other state agencies can be found at:

• • Missouri State Government Offices

If your business involves commercial vehicles, you'll want to review the information in these sites:

• • Missouri Department of Revenue
• • Commercial Drivers
• • Vehicle Titling Manual
• • Missouri Department of Transportation
• • Motor Carrier Services

For minority or women owned businesses, the Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity can provide valuable assistance.

The University of Missouri Extension offers several resources:

• • University Outreach and Extension
• • Missouri Value Added Center
• • The Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board
• • Missouri Alternatives Center
• • Missouri Watershed Information Network
• • Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA)

Some clients may require that your business and its employees be "bonded." Corporate surety bonds are the preferred method of guaranteeing the performance or financial obligations of others. These guarantees include contractor performance and payment bonds, financial guarantee bonds, license and permit bonds and many others. Contact your insurance agency for more information or:

Surety and Fidelity Association of America
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 463-0600
Web: http://www.surety.org

Federal Research Resources

Doing business with the Federal Government can be especially challenging and rewarding. The federal government offers a portal to business information for businesses and non-profits with their Business Gateway.

The Small Business Administration offers a wealth of information for small business owners.

Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is the primary vendor database for the Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions. Through CCR, a business can register once.

Patents, trademarks, service marks and copyrights can be important to your business. After you consult with your advisors, you may want to visit these sites:

• • US Patent and Trademark Office
• • US Copyright Office

To get and remain in compliance with various environmental regulations, you'll want to visit the US EPA Small Business Gateway for assistance.

In conjunction with your accountant, you can also find business information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Conduct your own research. The Missouri Business Portal offers a variety of resources aimed at helping you start a business.