Comprehensive Workshops, Courses and Reference Material:  [Top]
Below are a series of comprehensive workshops, courses and reference material available online in video, audio and slideshow formats.  These will provide you with a broad introductory overview of key topics in starting and running a small business.  These are supplemented by more detailed topic sections further below.
          Small Business Primer: Strategies For Success (Slideshow) sponsored by SBA.gov
          Virtual Advisor (Slideshow) 26 topics sponsored by SCORE.org
          SmallBizU (Slideshow) requires Internet Explorer 20 topics sponsored by Indiana Economic Development Corp
          Introduction to Business  (Video) 19 lectures by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Small Business Guide Series (PDF) 10 guides sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Small Business Resource Center (Video) 13 topics sponsored by the New York Public Library
          MyOwnBusiness.org 14 course session topics with text, video and audio
          Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT (Video and Audio) 50 webcasts from small business experts
          Leadership Forum Archive (Video and Audio) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting (see Description ).
          Entrepreneurship and Business and Course Materials (Audio) 32 audios by Carnegie Mellon University
          AllBusiness.com (Video) small business interview clip library
          Minority Business Development Center by the Akron Urban League
          A Guide to Resources for the Akron-Area Entrepreneur by the Akron-Summit County Public Library
 

Writing Your Business Plan:  [Top]
SCORE advises that all business owners write a business plan and update it at least annually.  While this document does not need to be more than 30 pages long, it does need to be well thought out and analyze key aspects of your business.  After you develop a working draft, you can meet with a SCORE counselor to review your plan and obtain feedback and suggestions.
          Business Plan Outline (Video) sponsored by SCORE NYC and New York Public Library (first two videos)
          Developing a Successful Business Plan (Video) sponsored by the SBA and Palo Alto Software
          Creating a Business Plan (Video and Audio) sponsored by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          The Business Plan   (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Developing a Business Plan (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          The Entrepreneurial Strategies (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Crafting a Business Plan (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Starting a New Business (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Developing Your Business Plan (Slideshow with Video) by the Maine SBDC (requires free registration)
          Write a Business Plan by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          Developing Your Small Business Idea  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Building a Business Model For Success  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Creating a New Business Plan That Works For You (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Business Plan by MyOwnBusiness.org
          A Step-By-Step Business Plan Guidebook (PDF) by Small Business Advancement National Center
          Writing an Effective Business Plan (PDF) by Deloitte & Touche
          Essential Business Plan Handbook (PDF) and Business Plan Guide (PDF) by Growthink.com
          Handbook of Business Planning (PDF) by JIAN.com
          Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning by Tim Berry
          Business Plan Slides and Resources by Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado at Boulder
          The Nuts & Bolts of Business Plans (PPT presentations) by MIT Entrepreneurship Center
          Articles:  SCORE.org  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  About.com  AllBusiness.com
          Articles:  eVenturing.org  StartupNation.com  MoreBusiness.com  WomanOwned.com  AARP.org
          Books:  Akron-Summit County Public Library  Amazon.com
          Sample Plans:  Bplans.com  Businessplans.org  FundingUniverse.com
          Templates:  SCORE.org  Microsoft.com  PlanWare.org
          Software Reviews:  WebCPA.com  AllBusiness.com  HomeOfficeReports.com  CNET.com  About.com 
          Free Software:  Download.com  OpenOffice.org (opens, edits and saves Microsoft Office files)
 

Selecting Your Business Entity Legal Structure:  [Top]
You have several choices in the legal structure of your business entity including Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company, Partnership and Corporation.  Many small businesses start as a sole proprietorship due to its simplicity and low start-up cost and then convert to other structures as the the business grows or due to liability, tax or investment considerations.
          Business Entity Comparison by BizFilings.com
          Should You Form a Corporation or LLC? (Audio) by NoloCast.com 
          Structuring Your Company (Video and Audio) sponsored by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          Forms of Incorporation   (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Determining Your Company's Legal Structure (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Choosing a Legal Structure for a Business (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Corporations and LLCs (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Business Entities (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Choose a Structure by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          How to Really Structure Your Business (PDF) sponsored by Inc., The Company Corporation and SCORE
          Business Organization by MyOwnBusiness.org
          Incorporation & Legal Structures by FindLaw.com
          Business Structures by the Internal Revenue Service
          New Business Legal Clinic low cost services offered by the University of Akron School of Law
          Articles:  SCORE.org  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  About.com  AllBusiness.com  Nolo.com
          Books:  Amazon.com  Nolo.com  Also visit the Akron-Summit County Public Library
          Incorporation Services:  LLC-Made-Easy.com  DoTheResearch.com  LegalSpring.com  
 

Establishing Your Business:  [Top]
Once you have completed your business plan and selected the appropriate legal structure for your business entity, you will need to establish and register your business through various federal, state and local agencies.  The following links will guide you to the required forms and application procedures.  In addition, SCORE recommends that you also call each agency to request application kits and forms by mail for review and ask questions to ensure your understanding before you complete any paperwork.  Also ask if the agency offers or sponsors any workshops to help you through the registration and application process. Note that once you register with a particular agency, you will need to stay in compliance with its reporting requirements. Therefore, only register once you are ready to transact business. 
          Get Licenses and Permits by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          What Licenses and Permits are Needed to Start a New Business? (Audio) by NoloCast.com 
          University of Akron Entrepreneurship Program:  How to Start a Business
          Basic Business Operations  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          IRS:  Online Classroom  Understanding Taxes  One-Stop Resource  EFTPS.gov  Local Offices
          Ohio Department of Development:  1st Stop Business Connection  Business Information and Links
          Ohio Secretary of State:  Business Services  Name Availability   Filing Forms / Fee Schedule
          Business.Ohio.gov:  Licenses and Permits
          Ohio Department of Taxation:  Services for Business  Ohio Taxes  Taxpayer Service Centers
          Ohio Business Gateway:  Electronic Filing and Registration Services
          Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:  Office of Unemployment Compensation
          Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation:  Application  (Greater Akron Chamber offers Group Rating)
          Summit County:  Fiscal Office  Summit Business Partnership
          Portage County:  Auditor's Office  Office of Economic Development
          Medina County:  Auditor Forms  Economic Development Corporation
          Wayne County:  Permits  Economic Development Council
          City of Akron:  Assessments And Licenses  Income Tax  Office of Economic Development
 

Accounting For Your Business:  [Top]
Accounting is considered the language of business.  It will be used for many purposes and will help you understand your financial position, comply with your tax obligations, obtain credit and raise equity investment.  While you may hire employees and work with outside professionals to help you track, organize and prepare your accounting books and statements, SCORE recommends that you have a good understanding of the terms, principals and relationships involved and how your "numbers" are put together.  
          Corporate Accounting (PDF) concise summary by MIT Sloan School of Management
          A Simple Start To Managing Your Business Finances (PPT) provided by Intuit QuickBooks
          Beancounting 101 (Slideshow) sponsored by A-Systems.net
          Financial Management Essentials  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Accounting & Bookkeeping Essentials (Video) sponsored by SCORE NYC and New York Public Library
          Accounting 101 (Video and Audio) sponsored by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          Preparing a Balance Sheet (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Creating a Profit and Loss Statement  (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Accounting 101: The Fundamentals (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Accounting: Keeping Score (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Accounting: The Rules (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Accounting: The Financial Statements (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Accounting and the Business Environment  (Videos) by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Foundations of Accounting (Video) lectures by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Cash Flow and Accounting by MyOwnBusiness.org
          So, you want to learn Bookkeeping! tutorial by dwmbeancounter.com
          Accounting Policies and Procedures for Early Stage Companies by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
          How to Read a Financial Report by Merrill Lynch
          PrincipalsOfAccounting.com complete online textbook by Larry Walther, University of Texas at Arlington
          Financial Accounting Principals (Video) lectures by Harvard Extension School
          Lecture Notes for various accounting courses offered by MIT Sloan School of Management
          More accounting and bookkeeping tutorials by dwmbeancounter.com (scroll down for exhaustive list)
          Articles:  SCORE.org  BusinessTown.com  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com
          Articles:  eVenturing.org  StartupNation.com  About.com
          Amazon.com Book Search:  Accounting  Bookkeeping  Also visit the Akron-Summit County Public Library
          Software Reviews:  AICPA.org (1 & 2)  AccountingSoftwareNews.com  AccountingSoftwareWorld.com   
          Software Reviews:  About.com  WebCPA.com (1 & 2)  PCMag.com  HomeOfficeReports.com
          Free Software:  Download.com  Microsoft.com Templates
          Switchboard.com Local Seach:   Bookkeeping Services (enter your zip code and sort by distance)
 

Financial Modeling of Your Business:  [Top]
A financial model describes your business revenue, cost of sales, expense, cash flow and balance sheet over time including monthly, quarterly and annually.   It can be a key tool in helping you understand historical trends and projected performance so you can plan and manage your business finances. Once you develop your model, you can use it to budget, run scenarios, and make ongoing comparisons against your actual performance in order to see where you need to make adjustments or if you need additional financing. A computerized spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Office Excel or OpenOffice.org CALC (unlimited free license to download and use) is very helpful for financial modeling and analysis purposes.
          Break Even Analysis Primer (Video) sponsored by WIBO.org and New York Public Library
          Finance & Forecasting  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Financial Management, Analysis & Ratios  (Video) by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Cash Flow: Life Blood of Your Biz (Video and Audio) sponsored by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          Managing Your Cash Flow (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Running A Profitable Company (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Analyzing Your Financial Ratios (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Creating Financial Projections (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Preparing Financial Projections by PlanWare.org
          Financial Modeling For Startup Companies (Slideshow and Model) sponsored by Stanford University
          Financial Projections for Start-up Businesses (PDF Slides) sponsored by Stanford University
          Building Financial Projections (PPT Slides and Model) sponsored by MIT Sloan School of Management
          Foundations of Finance  (Video) lectures by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Budgeting and Cash Forecasts (Links) by dwmbeancounter.com
          Articles:  BusinessTown.com  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com
          Articles:  eVenturing.org  StartupNation.com 
          Amazon.com Book Search:  Excel  Building Models  Financial Projections
          Sample Models:  SCORE.org  Microsoft.com  Key.com  PWC.com  exinfm.com
          Sample Models:  Leeds School of Business  Stanford.edu  MIT.edu  JIAN.com
 

Marketing Your Business:  [Top]
Marketing is a critical tool to business success because it will help determine who your customers are, what they want and need, how they perceive value and quality, and where and how they can best be reached. Many new business owners make the critical mistake of using price as the primary lever to attract customers. This will generally result in significantly lower profits and lower perceived value by potential customers. Therefore, SCORE advises that small business owners use superior product quality, service and selection over price.
          Marketing (Video) sponsored by SCORE NYC and New York Public Library (videos 3 through 7)
          Marketing 101: The Fundamentals (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          The Strategic Marketing Process (PDF) sponsored by MarketingMO.com
          Marketing Matters For Your Small Business  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Marketing: Part 1 and Part 2 (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Marketing Introduction  (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Identifying the Target Market  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Targeting Your Market (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Business Analysis & Strategy  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Classic Business & Marketing Strategies  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Marketing Strategy  (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Conducting a Marketing Analysis (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Conducting Market Research (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Market Research: Information Resources For Small Business (Video) sponsored by the New York Public Library
          Analyze Your Competition (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Competitive Strategy  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Creating a Competitive Advantage (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Competitive Positioning  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Positioning (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Building Your Brand (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Product Management  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Product Development, Branding, Packaging (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Pricing Products & Services  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Price & Place (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Pricing Products and Services (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Pricing Strategy and Tactics (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Promotion  (Video) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Promoting Your Business (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Advertising  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Advertising Your Business (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Understanding Advertising and Promotions (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Personalization Strategies to Attract and Retain Customers (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Marketing Budgets  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Marketing on a Budget (Slideshow Video) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting Leadership Forum
          Creating Buzz: Marketing on a Budget (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Direct Marketing to Generate Results (Slideshow Video) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting Leadership Forum
          Principals of Modern Marketing (eCourse) sponsored by Free-Ed.net
          Marketing (eBook) sponsored by Dallas County Community College
          Marketing 200 (Video) course lecture series by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Sales Introduction (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Strategic Selling (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Identifying Your Sales Strategy (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Break The Rules And Win More Business (Video) sponsored by the New York Public Library
          Four Keys to Sales Effectiveness (Slideshow Video) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting Leadership Forum
          Devise Unbeatable Sales Strategies (Slideshow Video) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting Leadership Forum
          Articles: SCORE.org   Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com   About.com
          Articles: eVenturing.org  StartupNation.com  MoreBusiness.com
          Amazon.com Book Search:  Marketing  Product  Pricing  Promotion  Sales  Selling
 

Building and Promoting Your Website:  [Top]
Much like having a business card, a website has become an indispensable marketing and sales tool in today's business environment.  At a minimum, a website provides a detailed description of your business, and its products and services to prospective customers. With online shopping carts, it can also act as a store front and process sales orders and accept payments electronically. With proper information and editorial content, it can become an online community destination that stimulates brand awareness and results in repeat business. Key Internet marketing techniques to increase traffic to your website include Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click Advertising.
          Creating Your Website: DIY or Go With a Pro? (Audio) sponsored by StartupNation.com
          Planning for a Website (Audio) sponsored by StartupNation.com
          Building a Website (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Internet Business & Search Engine Marketing by MyOwnBusiness.org
          So, you want to build a Website! tutorial by dwmbeancounter.com
          HTML Tutorial by w3schools.com
          Web Marketing (Tutorial) sponsored by SuperPages.com
          Directing Online Traffic to Your Business (Video) presentation sponsored by Brigham Young University
          How to Really Market on the Internet (PDF) published by Inc., sponsored by SCORE, Verizon and SuperPages
          Beginner's Guide To SEO sponsored by SEOmoz.org
          Search Engine Marketing sponsored by SearchEngineGuide.com
          Get a Higher Profile on the Web (Video and Audio) sponsored by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          ZenCast.com Audio Search:  Search Engine Optimization
          Google.com Video Search:  Keyword Research  SEO Tutorial  Pay-Per-Click
          Articles: SCORE.org   Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com   About.com  StartupNation.com
          Articles:  WebsiteGoodies.com  SEOChat.com  SelfSEO.com  PayPerClickUniverse.com
          Amazon.com Book Search:  Build Website  Internet Marketing  Search Engine Optimization  Pay Per Click
          Domain Registrars/Web Hosts: Yahoo.com  GoDaddy.com   NetworkSolutions.com  Register.com
          Paid Host Reviews:  PCMag.com  ConsumerSearch.com (1 & 2)  Hosting-Review.com  Web-Hosting-Review.biz 
          Free Web Host:  Microsoft Office Live   (Domain remains property of Microsoft, see CNet.com  review)
          Google.com Help:  Webmaster Guidelines  AdWords  Analytics  Checkout  Web Search
          Yahoo.com Help:  Webmaster Resources  Marketing  Search    MSN.com Help:  SiteOwners  AdCenter
          Free Tools:  WebsiteGoodies.com  HTML Editors  File Transfer  SelfSEO.com  SEOBook.com  
          Switchboard.com Local Search:  Web Design Services  (enter your zip code and sort by distance)  
 

Funding Your Business:  [Top]
Unfortunately, there is no easy money available for new small business owners.  More likely, small business owners start with their own personal financial resources and borrowing capacity, then solicit friends and family.  To minimize risk, SCORE advises starting and proving your business on a small scale (for instance, part-time from home) before quitting your day job, investing large amounts and incurring major debts and contractual obligations. While government grants and loan guarantee programs do exist, their supply is limited relative to demand and are difficult to obtain.  If the business venture can demonstrate a large potential market, private "angel capital" from local high net worth individuals may be a possibility.  Professional venture capital and initial public offerings are reserved for a select few and are out of reach of most small business owners.  Once your business establishes a track record of profitability and positive cash flow, traditional banking credit will be more accessible.  When seeking a Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan, SCORE suggests contacting the main downtown Akron office of your bank and requesting to speak with the SBA lending department. 
          Where To Go For Money (Video and Audio) by Microsoft Small Business SUMMIT
          Funding Your New Business  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          How To Finance Your Business by MyOwnBusiness.org
          Assessing Your Company's Financial Needs (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Finding Money For Starting A Business (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Growing with Partners and Investors (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Finding And Attracting Investors (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Entrepreneur Videos (Video) by ActiveCapital.org
          Funding the Company  (Audio) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Short Term Financing: 1 and 2 (Video) lectures by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Creating A Loan Package (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Credit Management & Credit Repair For Entrepreneurs (Video) sponsored by the New York Public Library
          Small Business Guide to Government Grants and Loans by Business.gov
          SBA.gov:  Local Office  FAQ  Podcasts  Finance Start-Up  Finance Growth  Financial Assistance  BuzzGate    
          Ohio Treasurer of State:  GrowNow Loans
          Access to Capital (PDF) sponsored by EntrepreneurOhio.org and Small Business Development Centers of Ohio
          Ohio Department of Development:  Strategic Business Investment Division  Ohio Business Connection
          Local Economic Development:  Akron  Summit  Portage  Medina  Wayne  SBDC Ohio 
          TechLift:  Services  Funding Resources  Entrepreneurial Resources
          Articles: SCORE.org  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com   About.com  BizInfoLibrary.org 
          Articles: eVenturing.org  StartupNation.com  MoreBusiness.com  StrongBusinessCredit.com
          Amazon.com Book Search:   Small Business Financing  Angel Capital   Small Business Loans 
          Funding Databases:  IdeaCrossing.com  BusinessFinance.com  FundingUniverse.com  vFinance.com  
          Other Credit Resources:  Dun & Bradstreet   VirginMoneyUS.com   Prosper.com   LendingClub.com     
          Switchboard.com Local Seach:  Banks  (enter your zip code and sort by distance)   
 

Buying an Existing Business or Franchise:  [Top]
As an alternative to starting a business from scratch, an entrepreneur can consider buying an existing business or franchise.  Of course, all three approaches have different risks and costs.  SCORE recommends comparing a build from scratch scenario against a buy scenario.  This exercise will help you identify the tangible assets (equipment, accounts receivable, inventory, customer contracts, etc.) relative to the intangible assets (employees, customer lists, brand names, intellectual property, goodwill, etc.).  By valuing each component of the business separately, it will be easier to determine if the purchase price and premium are reasonable.  SCORE also recommends working with professional advisors when purchasing a business or franchise as there are many complicated legal, liability, valuation and tax issues to consider.   
          Buying a Business (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Valuing a Business (Slideshow) by Virtual Advisor
          Buy a Business by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          Buy a Franchise by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          How To Buy a Business - Part 2 (Audio) sponsored by the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
          Buying a Business (Video) selected videos by BrightCove.com
          Buying a Business (Video and Audio) podcasts by SmallBusinessTransitions.com
          Buying a Business or Franchise by MyOwnBusiness.org
          An Introduction to Franchising  (PDF) sponsored by the International Franchise Association
          Introduction to Franchising  course sponsored by the International Franchise Association
          Mergers & Acquisitions (Part 1 and Part 2): (PDF) course sponsored by EXINFM.com
          Sample Due Diligence Checklists:  CapitalHunter.com  Lannigan.org  eVenturing.org
          Articles: SCORE.org  Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com  eZineArticles.com  FTC.gov
          Articles:  BizQuest.com   MBBI.org  Nolo.com  FranchiseHandbook.com
          Amazon.com Book Search:  Buying a Business  Business Valuation  Due Diligence   Buying a Franchise            
 

Employees and Your Business:  [Top]
Recruiting, hiring and managing employees is a difficult task for any business.  Payroll and employee based costs are usually the largest categories of expenses for most businesses.  In addition, inappropriate and lax employment policies, procedures and practices can generate substantial employer liability and lawsuits. Nonetheless, the successful growth of your business will depend on how well you can attract, motivate and efficiently organize your employee workforce.   
          Organizations & People  (Audio & Slides ) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entrepreneurship course
          Hiring and Managing Employees (Slideshow) by SmallBizU
          Basic Human Resources  (PDF) sponsored by CitiGroup.com
          Human Resources Management (PDF) by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          Introduction To Human Resources Practice (Video) 24 lectures by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Employment Law (Video: Skip first 7 minutes) lecture by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
          Employment Law Guide  by DOL.gov
          Employment Law and Human Resources from FindLaw.com
          Employment Law Information Network:  Guidebook  Policy  Forms  Contracts  Laws 
          Human Resources guide to government information by Business.gov
          Hiring for Integrity, Reliability & Work Ethic (Slideshow Video) by Microsoft Live Meeting Leadership Forum
          Manager-Tools.com (Audio) podcast series covering various topics in human resources management. 
          NoloCast.com Podcasts:   Employee  Hiring  Job Description 
          Manage Employees by the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)
          Employment Background Checks by PrivacyRights.org
          See Establishing Your Business for information on Payroll Taxes, Workers' Compensation and Unemployment
          Healthcare 101 (PDF) sponsored by EntrepreneurOhio.org  
          GreaterAkronChamber.org:  MemberChoice Plan  Approved Healthcare Brokers  
          Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in Ohio  (PDF) by HealthInsuranceInfo.net
          Leadership Forum Archive (Video and Audio) by Microsoft Office Live Meeting (see Description ).
          HR & Hiring Manager Advice by JobDig (Audio)  podcast series available on ZenCast.com   
          One More Tome: How Do You Motivate Employees? (PDF)  by Frederick Herzberg (also see HBR Article )    
          Articles: SCORE.org   Entrepreneur.com  Inc.com  AllBusiness.com   About.com  StartupNation.com
          Articles: eVenturing.org  PPSPublishers.com  HRTools.com  USChamber.com  HealthCoverageGuide.org 
          Amazon.com Book Search:   HR  Hiring  Compensation   Benefits   Payroll Appraisal  Handbook
          Sample Forms and Templates:  HR.com  Microsoft.com
          HR Audit Checklists:   Lapiana.org  JJKeller.com  AuditNet.org  (1 and 2)  
          Required Labor/Employment Law Posters:  DOL.gov  Ohio.gov  RegionalChamber.com
          Chamber of Commerce Benefits: GreaterAkronChamber.org  NOACC.org  COSE.com  Local Chambers
          Payroll Service Providers and Reviews:  IRS.gov  CNET.com  WebCPA.com  AICPA.org
          Switchboard.com Local Search:  Payroll  Employee Benefits  (enter your zip code and sort by distance)