Entrepreneurial Resources

TVA Economic Development Loan Funds

TVA offers a number of financing services and options to help start-up companies with the financial resources they need.

Energy Information Library

An electronic encyclopedia of technical information covering all aspects of energy use for commercial operations. For a given business type, all applicable electrotechnologies are shown. Offers a description of the technology, energy use information, and, where available, case studies, fact sheets, and vendor and manufacturer information.

General Business Resources

The following online resources provide valuable information on starting a business, accessing capital, and understanding business laws and regulations. Also see Best Sites for Entrepreneurs, a list of sites with a regional, national, or global focus on developing entrepreneurship.

Starting a business

Association for Enterprise Opportunity
The AEO provides information and resources for entrepreneurs and microenterprises.

Center for Business Planning
This library of resources contains links to hundreds of sites offering research materials on every area of planning a business, including writing a business plan, venture capital, market analysis, production management, legal issues, financial statements, and much more.

International Franchise Association
Resources to help you educate yourself about franchising, find opportunities, locate financial and legal assistance, and more.

My Own Business.org
This free Internet course helps you avoid the common mistakes people make in starting a business.

Toolkit
Here you'll find ready-to-use business tools to help you get the job done faster and easier, including model business documents, financial spreadsheet templates, official government forms, and many more.

Accessing capital

Kentucky Matching Grants for High-Tech Small Businesses
The state of Kentucky will now match federal Phase 1 and 2 innovation research (SBIR) and technology transfer (STTR) grants.

Raising Start-Up Capital
Starting a business can be intimidating. The challenge that many entrepreneurs find most daunting is raising start-up capital. Entrepreneurs don’t lack for options, but it takes careful research, good negotiating skills, and an unflagging commitment to launching your new business.

National Association of Seed and Venture Funds
An organization of private, public, and nonprofit organizations committed to building their local economies by investing and facilitating investment in local entrepreneurs.

National Association of Small Business Investment Companies
NASBIC is the trade association for SBIC funds.

National Venture Capital Association
NVCA represents America’s venture capital community. This site contains excellent data on venture capital investments.

Understanding business laws and regulations

Business.gov
An SBA resource guide that provides legal and regulatory information for small businesses.

Entrepreneur.com
The Small Business Tax Center offers tips and the latest news on doing your taxes.

IRS: Virtual Small Business Workshop
Presents a series of videos that can be viewed online on topics taught by IRS instructors. Includes payroll taxes, electronic filing, and record keeping.

Nolo: Law for All
Information on small-business legal structures, business taxes, protecting intellectual property, and other legal issues related to business.