Useful links

Searchable database of federal agency regulations by keyword or title and section number

Full-text searchable database of federal bills, public laws, legislative history information and the Congressional Record

Fill-in boxes to check records online for corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies

This site provides news and Secretary of State notices to California businesses. It also has links to other pages under the Secretary of State's business programs section.

Business Entities main page with links to services offered for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other business entities; filing tips to meet statutory minimum requirements; name availability; FAQs; and more

Directory of forms, sample forms, and fees for different business filings, including VCC forms, some in fill-in format

Trademarks and service marks main page with links to forms and fees, name availability, FAQs, private service companies, and more

Fill-in boxes to file a Statement of Information for a corporation online

Summaries and links to new state laws affecting businesses

Full text of bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments, as well as their status, history, votes, analyses, and veto messages

Centralized legislative monitoring and tracking service listing bills of potential interest to members of the State Bar's sections and their committees

Webpage maintained by the State Bar of California with many helpful links regarding California's legislative process, pending bills, legislative calendar, committees, and other topics

Home page with links to downloadable state tax forms and publications

Home page with access to information about sales and use taxes, sellers' permits, forms, and publications

Home page; information concerning job placement and referrals, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, employment and training, the labor market, payroll taxes, and other topics

Access to information concerning the Cal-OSHA program

State agency dedicated to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of consumers

Home page with information for consumers as well as real estate licensees and examinees

Access to information on workers' compensation insurance

A step-by-step guide for starting a business in California

The Cal GOLD website provides links and contact information for California businesses concerning business permits, licenses, and registrations required by federal, regional, state, and local agencies. Information is searchable according to type of business

California Department of Corporations website providing access to securities and franchise filings

Access to information and forms concerning franchise registration

Access to forms, departmental publications, Commissioner's releases, opinions, and notices concerning the California blue sky laws

Home page with links to all California counties

Home page with downloadable forms and information on patent applications and trademark registrations

Notary public main page, with links to topics such as obtaining a notary public commission, handbook, authentications, apostille or certification, forms, and fees

UCC main page with links to UCC Connect (the Secretary of State's online service for UCC inquiries, filings, requests for copies and debtor search certificates, and more), financing statement forms and filing fees, administrative rules, FAQs, and other resources

National home page. There are separate regional Better Business Bureaus covering different geographical areas of California, each with its own website

Edgar Online, Inc. is a private company, not affiliated with the SEC, specializing in the extraction, packing, and distribution of public-company information contained in SEC filings

Subscription-based website offering research reports on public, private, domestic, and foreign corporations

Home page with links to publications and other resources for business lawyers

Home page of Dun & Bradstreet. Subscribers can request reports and run online queries in proprietary databases

Home page with links to rules and procedures

Site dedicated to helping individual accredited investors, SBICs, and institutional venture capitalists find small, growing companies through a secure Internet database, and providing ongoing training and research for entrepreneurs and small investors

Small business portal, with links to forms, directories, and resources on many topics

Links to topics such as starting a business, franchise advice, financing, and home-based businesses

Home page with links to practice areas, professional development, educational materials, meetings, and events

Free service offering links to annual reports of public companies

Compliance information and tools for employee benefit plan sponsors, service providers, and participants

Articles, links, and opportunity to subscribe to free newsletter

Business search engine and directory intended to help users find companies, products, services, and other business-related information; some features are fee-based

Home page of business and financial news cable network

General business news website offered by CNN and Fortune and Money magazines

Link for ordering popular guidebook published by National Register Publishing. The guidebook features over 1500 top investment sources and 1700 service firms for business entrepreneurs

The Corporate Library is an independent research firm providing corporate governance data, analysis, and risk assessment tools

A nonprofit organization founded by Prof. Lawrence Lessig of Stanford University that provides special copyright license forms and other free tools to enable authors, scientists, artists, and educators to share intellectual property

Free access to Entrepreneur magazine articles back to 1998

Access to FASB Statements of Financial Accounting Standards and other resources

Portal with links to articles and guides on starting a business, taxes and accounting, small business legal concerns, and more. Part of West Group

Venture capital fund for emerging technology companies

Organization promulgating the development and use of free software and the use of open-source software licenses

Business news headlines with links to full stories from news organizations around the world

A directory of small business resources

Portal with links to topics such as starting a business, choosing a legal structure, and financing

Subscription-based site with industry snapshots, company profiles, earnings, and other information

Home page with links to standing committees, programs, and publications

Trade association promoting responsible franchise development worldwide

Private agency responsible for global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers, including domain names (such as .com, .org, and country codes such as .fr), as well as addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols

Website sponsored by Franklin Pierce Law Center, with links to intellectual property resources around the world (including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, licensing, and technology transfers)

Home page with information about JAMS mediation and arbitration services and a search engine to assist in locating qualified mediators and arbitrators. The website also offers sample dispute resolution causes for commercial contracts

Subscription service offering proxy statement forms and strategies

Free database of market research reports representing all market and industry sectors

Comprehensive current information on market performance and investments

Association of the attorneys general of all 50 states, with contact information and links to enforcement initiatives

Nonprofit association's site for the self-employed and small business community

Home page with links to members and other resources

Comprehensive, current information on market performance and investments

Company offering payroll processing, human resources administration and compliance, and employee benefit administration services for small and midsized businesses

Commercial service enabling businesses to accept credit card and other payments securely on websites, by e-mail, or over the telephone

Business and finance news database with reports on business transactions, markets, small businesses, industries, the economy, and other topics

ABA-sponsored resource for business people launching e-commerce enterprises and for businesses venturing into online sales

Home page with search engine for public company credit ratings and other features

Portal with a meta-index of business, management, and information technology topics; it also provides search capabilities and full text articles on related issues

Free access to annual reports of over 2200 companies. Site also has links to the SEC's Edgar database for filings

Portal with tips on starting an online business, yellow pages, and some free and some fee-based services

Comprehensive source of information on generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

General business and financial news

Portal with links to a forms library and business and economic data

Free company profiles and stock charts for over 9000 public companies

Global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations

Home page of the Canadian equivalent to the SEC's EDGAR. Provides access to corporate filings of Canadian companies with Canada's securities regulatory authorities

Home page of the courts of the European Communities, with searchable case law and other information

Information on all foreign embassies in Washington, D.C. International Sites

Website providing direct free access to European Union law. Among other things, it includes the Official Journal of the European Union, treaties, legislation, case law, and legislative proposals

Nonprofit international organization that promotes the interests and development of franchising in Europe

INTA is an international nonprofit membership association dedicated to the support and advancement of trademarks and related intellectual property

Agency that administers the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which replaced the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in 1997. NAICS codes are used by statistical agencies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to classify businesses for the collection, analysis, and publication of statistical data related to the economy

Home page with links to UNICITRAL texts, including conventions, model laws, guides to enactment, legislative guides, legislative recommendations, and model contract rules. In particular, this website includes the text of the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)