Business Quick Links
Small Business |
Directories |
Nonprofits |
Investing & News |
Furniture Industry |
Taxes & Government Info |
Industries & Companies |
Statistics and Calculator |
(Accessible outside the library with a library card number.) ReferenceUSA is the leading provider in business and consumer research! Offering a full-service platform, ReferenceUSA helps users create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, raise funds and locate people. Our database selections and real-time access to more than 20 Million Businesses, 222 Million Consumers, U.S. New Businesses, U.S. New Homeowners and Movers, make research easy and fast! ReferenceUSA’s quality information helps researchers, students and job-seekers.
Hoover's Online Database: (Accessible outside the library with a library card number): Business
research platform allows you to search U.S. and international company
listings by industry, size, & geography to create marketing plans,
conduct competitive analysis, and raise funds.
Grant Research With Foundation Center Resources
The High Point Public Library is now a member of the Foundation Center nationwide network of Cooperating Collections. As a Cooperating Collection, the library offers free public access to the Foundation Center's databases of grants and grant-making organizations:
- Foundation Directory Online is a the nation’s premier online funding research tool. Nonprofit organizations seeking funding can use this powerful database to search through about 100,000 grant-making organizations and 2.1 million recent grants.
- Foundation Grants to Individuals Online is an online database of over 8,500 grantmaking organizations that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grantseekers.
- Philanthropy In/Sight is a new interactive mapping tool for anyone interested in visualizing the impact of philanthropic activity. Use Philanthropy In/Sight to create maps that reveal patterns of giving and the funding relationships between grantmakers and grant recipients.
Come to the research services desk on the second floor of the library for more information, or contact John Raynor at (336) 883-3670 or john.raynor@highpointnc.gov. Access to the Foundation Directory Online and the information resources from the Foundation Center is free, but is available only within the library building.
Tax Forms
- North Carolina State Tax Forms and Publications
From the North Carolina Department of Revenue
The NC Department of Revenue will no longer be providing forms to libraries, post offices and other locations. Go to the above link to order forms online, print forms, or file your return electronically. - Federal Tax Forms and Publications
From the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. - 50 States Tax Forms
Tax forms from all 50 states. - IRS Spanish Language Site
Small Business:
Guides to Starting a Business
- SBA Small Business Startup Kit
- www.business.gov
- www.franchise.com
- www.captureplanning.com
Learn about proposal writing and business development. - Guilford County Interactive Business Resource Wizard
Provides a customizable list of local and regional resources to assist the small business owner for business planning, training, operational assistance, loan source identification, economic incentives, and other needs. - NC Small Business and Technology Development Center
This site includes the Business Start-up and resource guide and the Capital opportunities for small business that are updated either every year or every other year.
Free Business Counseling
- NC Small Business & Technology Development Center
Free counseling and assistance in writing a business plan and financing your business. Call 334-7005 or 1-800-NC-SBTDC - GTCC Small Business Center
Provides counseling services, referrals, courses and seminars relating to starting and operating a small business - SCORE: Service Core of Retired Executives
Free counseling on starting a business. Individual consultations. Contact them at 882-8625.
Start-up Contacts
- High Point Economic Development Corporation
Along with other business information, you can see a list of available buildings and business sites. - Guilford County Register of Deeds
Record your business name and file an Assumed Name Certificate with the Guilford County Register of Deeds. Call 373-7556. - Business Link North Carolina
a service of the State of North Carolina that connects you to services and other resources provided by state-supported agencies, many of which are free.
- NC Secretary of State: Business License Information Office
To determine if your business requires a license from the state of NC, call 1-800-228-8443. This site includes licensing requirements, business forms, tax information, guide to incorporating, and business name registration. - NC Secretary of State: Corporations Division
This site includes information, guidelines, and forms on corporations, and the corporation name search database. Call (919) 733-4201. - NC Department of Revenue
Call 334-5656 in Greensboro or 919-733-3991. - NC Department of Commerce: Doing Business in North Carolina
Search for a building or site. This site also includes economic incentive programs and state, county and regional economic data. Call (919)733-4151. - US Internal Revenue Service: Small Business/Self-Employed
- High Point Chamber of Commerce
- www.bizplus.com
Business Plans
- SBA: Business Planning
- Bplans.com
- Microsoft Small Business Center
- Entrepreneur.com
- BizPlanit’s Virtual Business Plans
- About.com’s Business Plan Samples
- CCH Small Business Toolkit
Financing a Business
- NC Department of Commerce: Finance Center
A center for financial assistance to businesses in NC. Includes information on grants, loans, industrial bond issues and tax credits. - SBA: Financing Your Business
Government Procurement - Central Contractor Registration
Register to do business with the federal government.
Federal Business Opportunities
- http://www.fedbizopps.gov/
The single government point-of-entry (GPE) for Federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. - NC Purchase and Contract
- City of High Point Financial Services - Purchasing Department
- Womenbiz.gov
Information for women-owned businesses selling to the government.
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights
- US Patent and Trademark Office
- Free Patents Online
Search for patents. - NCSU’s Patent and Trademark Depository Library website
This includes an excellent seven-step patent searching strategy
International Trade
- NC Department of Commerce: Exporting
- US Customs Service
- US Department of Commerce: International Trade Administration
- Export.gov
The U.S. government export portal
Links to Small Business Sites
- CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
- Entrepreneur Magazine
- Inc
- SBA: Women's Business Center
- US Chamber of Commerce for Small Businesses
- US Small Business Administration
- WSJ.com Startup Journal
- NC Department of Labor 1-800-NC-LABOR
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Office of Small Business Assistance - Safety and Health Resource Guide For Small Businesses
This is the online version of their "Safety and Health Resource Guide for Small Business". - Constant Contact
helps small businesses, associations, and nonprofits connect with their customers, clients, and members by providing email marketing and online surveying services.
Nonprofits:
Forming a Nonprofit
- NC Secretary of State: Corporations Division
This site includes information, guidelines and forms on nonprofit corporations, and the corporation name search database. Call (919) 733-4201. - IRS Charities and Nonprofits
Includes rules, policies, procedures, instructions, and guidelines. - North Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act
Chapter 55A of the North Carolina General Statutes.
Start-up Contacts
- Guilford County Register of Deeds
Record the name of your organization and file an Assumed Name Certificate with the Guilford County Register of Deeds. Call 373-7556. - NC Secretary of State: Business License Information Office
Check if your corporation needs a license to operate. - NC Department of Revenue
To obtain tax exempt status with the State of North Carolina. Call 334-5656 in Greensboro or 919-733-3991.
Free Counseling
- NC Small Business & Technology Development Center
Free counseling and assistance in writing a business plan and financing your business. Call 334-7005 or 1-800-NC-SBTDC - GTCC Small Business Center
Provides counseling services, referrals, courses and seminars relating to starting and operating a small business. - SCORE: Service Core of Retired Executives
Free counseling on starting a business. Individual consultations. Contact them at 882-8625.
Proposal Writing
Grants and Funding Resources
- Foundation Directory Online
Search 77,000 grantmakers and over 400,000 grants from the Foundation Center. Ask for login assistance in Business Research Services. Login not available through remote access. - Foundation Grants to Individuals
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Science Foundation
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- National Institutes of Health
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
- Foundations.org
- Foundation Center
- Council on Foundations Looking for Grants
- Chronicle of Philanthropy: Gifts & Grants
Directories of Nonprofit Organizations
- Idealist, a project of Action Without Borders
"In this site you will find over 23,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 153 countries..." - Give.org - BBB Wise Giving Alliance
- GuideStar
A comprehensive database with access to 990 forms. - Charity Navigator
Rates selected charities on the basis of financial health.
Links to Nonprofit Sites
- Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Council on Foundations
- Nonprofit Gateway
A network of links to Federal government information and services - NC Center for Nonprofits
Furniture Industry:
- Furniture World (magazine)
- Furniture Today (magazine)
- HFN (magazine)
- American Home Furnishings Alliance
- High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority
- International Home Furnishings Center
- Bienenstock Furniture Library
- International Textile Market Association (Showtime)
Industries & Companies:
Industries
- Standard Industrial Classification Manual
This is the SIC code website. - North American Industrial Classification System
Site of NAICS Codes. - BuyUSAinfo
from the U.S. Department of Commerce. "The most comprehensive source for commercial information about the United States of America." - Current Industrial Reports
From the US Department of Census - Industry Information: EPA Sector Notebook Reports
Here you will find information on many different industries and manufacturing processes. Emphasis is on environmental matters.
Companies
- North Carolina Secretary of State: Corporations Division
Search for a NC company and their state filings. - US Securities and Exchange Commission
Search the Edgar Database for 10k reports of publicly held companies.
Directories:
- Better Business Bureau
Directory of Better Business Bureaus nationwide. - MNIGuide to U.S. Manufacturers, suppliers and business services. (Manufacturer's News Inc.)
- Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
- Yellow Pages.com
- Local Faith Directory(283 KB PDF)
Fill out this application to be added to the Faith Directory - Local Non Profit Directory(204 KB PDF)
Fill out this application to be added to the Non Profit Directory - Local Minority Business Directory(367 KB PDF)
Fill out this application to be added to the Minority Business Directory
Investing & News:
- Yahoo! Finance
- Google Finance
- Bankrate.com
Includes average rates on mortgage loans, savings deposits (money markets, CDs, interest checking), auto loans, personal loans, and credit cards.
Taxes & Government Info:
Tax Forms
- Federal Tax Forms and Publications
From the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. - IRS Spanish Language Site
- North Carolina State Tax Forms and Publications
From the North Carolina Department of Revenue
The NC Department of Revenue will no longer be providing forms to libraries, post offices and other locations. Go to the above link to order forms online, print forms, or file your return electronically.
- 50 States Tax Forms
Tax forms from all 50 states.
Tax Departments
Local Government Information
State Government Information
- North Carolina Statutes
- Official Web Site of North Carolina
Includes all NC government agencies, education and financial information.
Federal Government Sources
- First Gov
Links to all other government web sites. - National Archives and Records Administration
Includes Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, Public Laws, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, and U.S. Congress information.
Statistics and Calculators:
Regional and State Statistics
- High Point Economic Development Corporation
Statistical information on High Point including population, cost of living, quality of life, education, real estate and taxes. - North Carolina: State at a Glance
Includes state or metropolitan area statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. - North Carolina Department of Commerce: NC Statistics
North Carolina Economic Profiles
- NC Employment Security Commission Labor Market Information
- Civilian Labor Force Estimates for NC
- LINC (Log Into North Carolina)
Statistical data from many federal and state agencies
Federal Government Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- Consumer Price Index
From Bureau of Labor Statistics. - Bureau of Economic Analysis
Has stats like GDP and GSP - Internet Public Library: Statistics References
- Monthly Labor Review
- Consumer Price Indexes Report
- Statistical Abstract of the US
Calculators
- Bankrate.com Calculators
Mortgage, car, credit card, CD, savings, budgeting, investing, small business, moving, spending power, and currency calculators. - Salary.com
Calculate salaries by choosing a job and a location. - International Salary Calculator
- Oanda Currency Converter
- Savings Bonds Redemption Calculator
- Kelley Blue Book
New and used car prices