UH SBDC - Join the multiple thousands of small businesses that have prospered and grown with the help of the University of Houston Small Business Development Center (UH SBDC). Since 1984, UH SBDC has provided businesses assistance in the areas of business management, government procurement and international trade. Our expertise is available to entrepreneurs in the start-up mode as well as to experienced business owners who want to take their companies to the next level. Today, we offer business consulting and training services at 14 centers, three specialty centers and nearly 60 satellite offices. UH SBDC assists small businesses through the cooperation of our founding partners: the College of Business Administration at the University of Houston and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA - The SBA website contains many articles of interest to a small business person. These articles will be a great help to the business person, whether they are start-up or have been in business for years.

Texas Road Map to Starting a Business - The Texas Road Map is an excellent resource for people interested in starting their own business. This site contains directions to get your business off the ground. The website covers eight steps to starting a new business; The Feasibility Study, The Business Plan, Cash Flow Requirements, Legal Issues, Permits, Employee and Contract Labor, Financing Options, and Tax Responsibilities. Note: Your computer must have Adobe Reader installed to access this information. To get a free download of Adobe Reader copy this web address into your browser. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html Limited quanity Spanish Edition available at Lee College S.B.D.C. office.

Texas Roadmap to Starting a Business in SPANISH

Google - Google has become the premiere internet search tool by offering more than just simple searches for words and phrases. Google will search for images, news articles, shopping catalogs, as well as many other internal features. A Google toolbar can be downloaded to your Internet Explorer page for easy access to its many features.

Office Depot - The Office Depot website offers more than a place to buy paper clips and staples. The Small Business Handbook is an excellent guide to starting your own business. The link to the Small Business Handbook can be found near the bottom of the Office Depot home page. The Handbook contains articles on planning your business, financing your business, taxes, employees and many other timely subjects for the small business person.

Switchboard - Switchboard is an Internet directory that can be used like the white pages and yellow pages of your local phone book. You can customize your searches for people or businesses to look locally, statewide and often nationally. In the "Find a Business" section, you can find by using the category search suppliers, competitors, even a name for a new business by looking out of state.

Altavista - Altavista is an excellent website in itself, but it also offers a unique resource for the international business person. On the Altavista home page, listed under tools can be found a language translator. It will transpose text, or even a whole web page into several foreign languages.

Census - The U.S. Census Bureau website gives you access to the vital data information you need on people, business, geography and much more to help you make informed decisions about where to locate your business.

HCAD - The Harris County Appraisal District website is a great resource for finding the owner, taxable value and annual taxes for a potential business site.

ASBDC - Association of Small Business Development Center's mission is to represent the collective interest of our members by promoting, informing, supporting and continuously improving the SBDC network, which delivers nationwide educational assistance to strengthen small/medium business management, thereby contributing to the growth of local, state and national economies. The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) is a partnership program uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations.

Newspaper Links - This website is a gateway to local, national and international newspapers.

Coserve - This website address provides veterans exciting information on services provided by Veterans' Business Outreach Center and useful information from their partners.

American Express - OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express is designed to provide small businesses with a way to exchange ideas and advice. The OPEN Network also offers financing tools, including charge and credit cards, lines of credit, and business loans.

Baytown Chamber of Commerce

Highlands Chamber of Commerce

Liberty/Dayton Chamber of Commerce

Crosby Chamber of Commerce

Anahuac Chamber of Commerce

Dayton Chamber of Commerce

West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce

Winnie Chamber of Commerce