Business Resources

Training/Mentoring

 

• Center for Corporate and Professional Education

www.capecod.edu/ccape/ 

 

• SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands

https://capecod.score.org/

 

• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center

www.msbdc.org/semass/

 

• Center for Women & Enterprise

www.cweonline.org/

 

• Cape Cod Community College

www.capecod.edu

 

• Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll)

www.eforall.org/ma/cape-cod/

 

• MassHire (computer training)

https://www.masshire-capeandislands.com/ 

 

• Cape Cod Community College: Computer Skills for the Workplace

https://www.ed2go.com/capecod/online-courses/computer-skills-for-the-workplace/ 

 

• Coursera: E-Commerce Courses

https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=e-commerce 

 

• Udemy: E-Commerce Courses

https://www.udemy.com/topic/e-commerce/?srsltid=AfmBOoryTJsXwlHa7DTD8J4R5AyW8Byj_V3CxXo4JCZizyxs2HmptSYJ 

 

Business Planning

 

• Small Business Administration: Write Your Business Plan

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan 

 

• SCORE: Business Plan Template for a Small Business

https://www.score.org/resource/template/business-plan-template-a-startup-business

 

• SCORE: Business Model Canva Template

https://www.score.org/resource/template/business-model-canvas-template

Company Structure

 

• State of MA: Starting a Business in MA

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/starting-a-business-in-massachusetts 
 

• MA DOR Registration and Tax Requirements for Sole Proprietorships

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ma-dor-registration-and-tax-requirements-for-sole-proprietorships 

 

• Chamber of Commerce: How to Start a Sole Proprietorship in Massachusetts

https://www.chamberofcommerce.org/sole-proprietorship/massachusetts 

 

• Secretary of the Commonwealth of MA: Check your business name

https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corpweb/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx

 

• Small Business Association: Choose a Business Structure

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure 

 

• Employer Identification Numbers (EIN)

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers-eins

 

• State of MA: Getting a Business Certificate (DBA)

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/business-certificates-dba-in-massachusetts 

 

• File with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (unless a sole proprietorship)

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/filing-by-subject/corporations-file-by-subject.htm 

 

Insurance

 

• Homestead Protection Registration 

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodhom/homidx.htm

 

• Small Business Administration: Business Insurance

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-business-insurance

 

• Legal Zoom: Business Insurance: When You Need It and When You Don't

https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/business-insurance-when-you-need-it-and-when-you-dont 

 

• Workers’ Compensation (Department of Industrial Accidents)

http://www.mass.gov/lwd/workers-compensation/

 

Borrowing

 

Be sure to look at interest rates and terms on all loans. This is not an endorsement.

 

• Lower Cape: Community Development Partnership, Eastham

www.capecdp.org/

 

• SEED Corp (Southeastern Mass)

http://seedcorp.com/

 

• Coastal Community Capital

www.coastalcommunitycapital.org/

 

• SBA

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans

 

Human Resources

 

• Independent Contractor vs. Employee  

www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee

 

• Mass. Wage and Hour regulations 

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/minimum-wage-and-overtime-information

 

• MA Wages & Working Conditions

https://www.mass.gov/topics/wages-working-conditions

 

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

www.eeoc.gov

 

• U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services

www.uscis.gov

 

• Safety Regulations (OSHA)

www.osha.gov

 

General Business Guides and Forms/Information

 

• Massachusetts government business resources/regulations

https://www.mass.gov/topics/business-resources

 

• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center

www.msbdc.org/semass/publications.html

 

• SCORE

www.score.org

 

• Small Business Administration

www.sba.gov

 

• Smart Brief/Small Business (online newsletter)

www.smartbrief.com/industry/business/small-business

 

Taxes

 

• Massachusetts Department of Revenue

www.mass.gov/dor

 

• Tax Calendar

www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/irs-tax-calendar-for-businesses-and-self-employed

 

• Tax Hints for Operating a Business

www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/operating-a-business

 

• MassTaxConnect (electronic tax filing for businesses)

www.mass.gov/dor/e-services/masstaxconnect.html

 

Consumer Data

 

• Data Cape Cod

www.statscapecod.org

 

• United States Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/barnstablecountymassachusetts/PST045224 

 

Business Licenses (always check with the town where your business is located to confirm local requirements)

​

• State Requirements by Industry

www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/license-types/

 

Patents and Trademarks

​

• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

www.uspto.gov

 

Business Certification Programs

 

• Massachusetts Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE), and Portuguese Business Enterprises (PBE)

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-diversity-certification-as-a-massachusetts-based-business

 

• Center for Women and Enterprise

https://cweonline.org/build-your-business/certification-programs 

​

Marketing Resources

 

• CORE marketing templates

Business Planning & Financial Statements Template Gallery | SCORE

 

• SCORE: seminars on marketing

Business Education Events and Webinars | SCORE

 

• Small Business Administration

Marketing and sales | U.S. Small Business Administration

 

• Shopify

What Is a Marketing Plan and How To Write One (+ Template) (2024) - Shopify

 

• Harvard Business School

How to Create a Digital Marketing Plan: 4 Steps | HBS Online

 

• Coursera

What Is a Marketing Plan? And How to Create One | Coursera