Small Business

Information is Key to your Successful Business

Small business owners and entrepreneurs know that information is key to launching or expanding a successful business. The Auburn Public Library is pleased to direct you to the digital and community resources that will assist you in starting your business. Our expert staff will help you find valuable business information as well as connect you with colleagues through our popular networking events and programs.

For your convenience a listing of community and digital resources has been created based on the step by step process of starting a business. Please, visit these resources or call us at 333-6640 Ext. 4 to speak to our helpful staff.

Steps to Starting a Business:

Develop a Business Plan

SCORE business plan templates – Business plan and financial templates.
Tips on writing a business plan – This link from the Small Business Administration homepage has lots of information on writing and developing a business plan.
FAME business plan basics – A step by step guide to writing a business plan.
www.bplans.com – Business plans offers free sample business plans, business plan software, business calculators, and articles on writing a business plan.

Find a location for your business

SBA tips for choosing a location – From the Small Business Administration a link containing a number of tips on selecting a business location.

Locate funding for your business

www.thomasnet.com – This register lists more than 155,000 U.S. and Canadian companies and the products they produce. An effective tool to see what companies are in the market, where they are located, and what products they provide.
www.manta.com – Covering over 20 million small and mid-size U.S. companies, Manta provides information including location, estimated sales, and number of employees.
www.referenceusa.com – Select a location and do a radius search to look up the number of similar businesses in the area. This resource requires an access number from the Maine State Library which can be acquired by filing on-line at www.maine.gov/msl/services/libcard.htm.
www.censusscope.org – An easy to use tool to investigate U.S. demographic trends
http://www.avcog.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/24 – Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford County fact sheet from the 2010 United States Census.

Figure out your target market/market research

www.thomasnet.com – This register lists more than 155,000 U.S. and Canadian companies and the products they produce. An effective tool to see what companies are in the market, where they are located, and what products they provide.
www.manta.com – Covering over 20 million small and mid-size U.S. companies, Manta provides information including location, estimated sales, and number of employees.
www.referenceusa.com – Select a location and do a radius search to look up the number of similar businesses in the area. This resource requires an access number from the Maine State Library which can be acquired by filing on-line at www.maine.gov/msl/services/libcard.htm.
www.censusscope.org – An easy to use tool to investigate U.S. demographic trends
http://www.avcog.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/24 – Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford County fact sheet from the 2010 United States Census.

Determine the best legal structure for your business

Establishing a Business Type – From the SBA, this site provides a list of the ways to structure a business along with a write-up on each type of structure.
Forming a Corporation in Maine – How to form a corporation in Maine.

Register your business name

Steps to Register your Business – 5 steps to register your business.
Doing Business As registration – how to register a DBA name

Get a tax identification number

Register your Business with the Maine Revenue Service – This online service allows businesses to register with Maine Revenue Services for new Sales & Use Tax, Use Tax, Service Provider Tax, and/or Income Tax Withholding accounts.
Registering for a Tax ID Number – An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity. This link will bring you directly to an on-line application.

Obtain business licenses and permits

Maine Business Licensing Assistant – Provided by the Department of Economic & Community Development, Maine’s online Business Answers service provides free information about doing business in Maine. The online Business Licensing Assistant will lead you through a series of questions about the type of business you are trying to start, and provide a list of licenses, permits or qualifications you need.
Auburn Planning and Permitting Services – Contact information for members of the City of Auburn Planning and Permitting Services Department.
Lewiston Business Licenses – Contact information for the City of Lewiston Planning Department along with a list of business license types.

Understand employer and employee responsibilities

Maine employment laws – All the state of Maine employment laws and regulations.
OSHA Laws and Regulations – Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards
U.S Department of Labor Law Guide – Describes the major statutes and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Market your business

www.entrepreneur.com – Contains how to guides and selected articles on marketing and technology. Also has great how to guides on starting your own business which include raising capital and writing a business plan.
http://connect.manta.com/index.php#categories-21 – A link from the Manta site, this is the spot to get marketing tips from other small business professionals.
www.marketingpower.com – Offers a wide variety of information including best practices in marketing.
www.knowthis.com – One of the most comprehensive sources of marketing information for those involved in marketing, advertising, selling, promotion, and e-commerce.
www.marketingcharts.com – Articles on marketing and free downloadable marketing charts.
www.gaebler.com – A collection of articles on how to sell, market, and get your business off the ground.