Q. How do I find support for my small business?

Online collections

Start with:

Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the U.S. – Covers more than 23,000 organizations in categories such as trade, business, and commercial; legal, governmental, public administration, and military; cultural; educational; veterans, hereditary, and patriotic; athletic and sports; fan clubs, and many more.

DemographicsNow (Gale Business) – data on income, age, education level, consumer spending, and housing

Entrepreneurship (Gale Business) – how to start, finance or manage your small business; sample business plans, how-to guides, articles, forms and websites

Gale Ebooks – management, finance, marketing, training, and much more

Salem Online – fundamental principles of business, characteristics of best cities for living and business, and a handbook of business information sources.

Dive deeper with:

LinkedIn Learning for Library – video courses including Entrepreneurship Learning Pathway or Become a Small Business Owner

O'Reilly for Public Libraries – streaming books (not downloadable) covering e-commerce, economics, finance & accounting, gig economy, human resources, operations, productivity tools, project & product management, sales & marketing, strategy, eBay, PayPal

Catalog searches

Here are some search suggestions. You can combine some terms with and to narrow your focus; for example, new business enterprises and finance.

• small business united states
• small business--finance
• new business enterprises
• entrepreneurship

Local/state organizations

Greater Knoxville SCORE – A local service agency with free counseling and low-cost workshops. The "Library" of information sheets on the website includes topics for nonprofits.

Knox Devs – An online community for the Knoxville area software development community putting developers and companies in touch with each other.

Makers – Organizations and spaces that support creative work in the Knoxville area.

Knoxville Area Urban League – Provides computer workshops and job counseling, helping clients with job search tools and online applications. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), offers CO.STARTERS Entrepreneurship Training Program and small loans for business.

Knoxville Entrepreneur Center – A business accelerator that serves as the front door for entrepreneurs in our region, and a resource for anyone looking to start or grow a business here.

Small Business Mentorship Services of Knoxville Chamber – Personal guidance from established, profitable community leaders and certified business counselors can provide help for struggling small businesses.

StartupKnox Ecosystem Guide (PDF) – "A comprehensive guide to the local startup ecosystem in the greater Knoxville area."

Tennessee Business Enterprise Resource Office – Provides information for starting a business in Tennessee, including free publications.

Tennessee Secretary of State–Business Services division – Services for start-ups and databases for or about current businesses. Search for a business by business name to view the business detail.

Tennessee Small Business Development Center – A network of professional business consultants with 20 locations geographically disbursed throughout the state, providing expert business advice to all types of businesses.

University of Tennessee's entrepreneurship support – The University of Tennessee's Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation presents resources for start-up capital, incubator facilities, and mentoring.

Websites

AllBusiness.com – Many tips for starting and running a business. Under "Resources," a Business Bootcamp section provides articles, forms, tools, and checklists to help you turn your idea into a business.

Business on USA.gov – Quickly connect to business-related services and information from 14 participating agencies of the United States government.

Franchise.org – All about franchising, a directory of franchisors, and suppliers by category.

International Labour Office Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety – A comprehensive tool for data and other information about safety and health at work.

Entrepreneurship.org – Provides educational tools and resources covering the latest issues and insights affecting entrepreneurs.

Google My Business – Make sure your small business is listed correctly in Google search results.