• 11 Strategies to Keep Customers Coming Back - The customers you need to grow your business may already be doing business with you. Great incentives used by successful businesses are reviewed in this article.
• Connecting With Customers - This article highlights seven factors that tend to influence customer behavior and relationships, and includes eight tips for creating and solidifying customer relationships by delivering resources via e-mail.
• Customer Service Counts - Pointers for how to keep customers coming back by providing customer service that is better than that of your competition.
• How Can I Communicate the Customer Service Message to My Employees? - Training employees to follow the steps of service and credo of the Ritz-Carlton could help any business desiring to excel at customer service.
• Taking Care of Customers - A brief overview of the do's and don'ts of superior customer satisfaction.

• Better Business Bureau's Security & Privacy - Made Simpler - Toolkit to help small business owners manage security and privacy challenges. Includes tips for preventing hacking, phishing, data theft and employee theft. Offers guidance on whom to notify in the event of data infringement.
• Building Your Brand During a Downturn - Savvy marketers will use an economic downturn as a means of improving client relationships
• Business Plan ... Marketing Plan ... Security Plan - Tips for keeping your workplace safe, with a focus on home office security.
• Business Survival Tips for a Tight Economy - Twelve survival tips to help businesses remain competitive during challenging economic times.
• Business Survivor's Checklist - Developed by the Washington and Arizona SBDCs, this self-assessment tool will help business owners and managers evaluate an operation's health during this time of economic uncertainty.
• The Consumer's Guide to Small Business Insurance - Guide developed by the Independent Insurance Agents of America
• Cost Saving Strategies for Small Business - Ideas for helping small business managers to reduce business costs and improve profits while conserving energy.
• Curtailing Crime—Inside and Out - Part of SBA's Crime Prevention Series providing entrepreneurs with measures to safeguard against employee dishonesty, shoplifting, bad check passing, burglary and robbery.
• Disaster Assistance - Part of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) web site. Provides disaster preparedness information, tips, fact sheets, loan and application documents.
• Disaster-Proof Your Business - Preventive measures, in the form of business interruption insurance, can protect you and your business in case of disaster
• Does Your Business Have a Crisis Management Plan? - Business crises can take many forms; is your business prepared?
• Do You Have What It Takes to Handle Tough Times? - Nine characteristics of people who do well in tough times and refuse to quit
• Emergency Management Guide For Business & Industry - Part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency web site. A step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response and recovery for companies of all sizes.
• Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) - From food safety to field safety, from the physical to the psychological, and from governmental process to community development, shared timely resources to reduce the impact of disasters.
• "Hometown Business: We All Pay the Cost -- Stop the Shoplifters" - Suggestions for managing retail theft. (Note: University of Missouri Extension Guidesheet.)
• Institute for Business and Home Safety - Provides an "Open for Business: A Disaster Planning Toolkit for the Small Business Owner" to help control the possible impacts of a natural disaster. This kit helps business owners assess risk for a variety of natural disasters, conduct a business impact analysis, and develop a recovery plan.
• Insurance Options for Business Continuation - Part of SBA's Management Planning Series discussing the life insurance needs of a small business owner and how important business life insurance is when planning for the future of business.
• Is Your Business Flirting with Disaster? - Small business owners and managers should take the time to develop a documented disaster plan. This article explores a variety of disaster concerns to consider planning for.
• Is Your Workplace Safe? - A sound safety and security program requires a commitment by management. Effective programs include an assessment of the workplace, a proposal for correcting deficiencies, employee education and training, recordkeeping and evaluation.
• Small Business Insurance and Risk Management Guide - Part of SBA's Management Planning Series providing entrepreneurs with help in strengthening insurance programs by identifying, minimizing and eliminating business risks.
• The Problem of Employee Theft - Employee theft can take many forms. Proper processes and procedures can help prevent problems and manage them if theft is suspected.
• Thriving in Tough Times - Survival guidance, including four mistakes that business owners and managers make and with suggestions to avoid those mistakes
• Weather Extremes and Emergency Planning - Links to special News section with help for disaster, flood, drought, storm, university alerts and general preparedness.

The Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information - Part of the Library of Congress' web site. List of printed resources to help beginners (and established business owners who keep meeting new problems) find sources that can guide them to the right questions and the best answers.

• Family Firm Institute - Professional membership organization providing interdisciplinary education and networking opportunities for family business advisors.
• IRS/SBA Small Business Resource Guide: What If You Employ a Family Member - Highlights federal tax laws that apply to hiring family members.

• 401khelpcenter.com - Updates on 401k trends, legislation, discussions, opinion, news, products and events. Includes information on small business retirement plans in the "Small Business Channel."
• ADA Highlights for Small Businesses - What business owners need to know about ADA requirements to avoid penalties and litigation. Includes references and links to aid in gathering more detailed information.
• Avoiding Burnout Blues - Tips for recognizing job burnout and steps to take to get back on track.
• Avoid Legal Trouble With Employees - Tips for properly handling employee problems to keep your business protected legally while retaining high morale and productivity among workers.
• Behavioral Interviewing - Asking the right questions is an art and a science.
• BenefitsLink - Employee benefits compliance information and tools. Site includes "benefits buzz" with links to hundreds of articles and "Q&A Columns"
• Benefit News.com - Comprehensive resource for benefits professionals and business owners.
• Circadian Technologies, Inc.-Optimizing the 24/7 Workforce - Resources and tools to help 24/7 operations and employees.
• Customizing Your Compensation Packages - Factors affecting employee morale most and a list of traditional and creative benefits to offer employees.
• Drafting Quality Players - Hiring choices are crucial to building a winning team. Tips to hiring for the right traits, proper screening, interviewing skills and not settling are included.
• Drug-Free Workplace - Provides drug-free workplace information, fact sheets and policy development.
• elaws - Part of the Department of Labor's web site including employment laws assistance for workers and small business. Includes interactive tools and forms.
• Employee or Contractor: 20 Tests - 20 factors or "tests" used by the IRS when determining whether a person is an employee or an independent contractor
• Employee or Contractor (What is the Difference?) - If the IRS determines a person is an employee and they have been treated as an independent contractor, you may be liable for back taxes. Learn how the IRS determines if a person is an independent contractor or employee.
• Employee Wage Laws - Is Your Small Business Compliant - Summary of recent changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) laws affecting most small businesses.
• Employment Law Guide - Part of the U.S. Department of Labor web site. Laws, regulations and technical assistance services.
• Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses - Human resources section from the Department of Labor's elaws Advisors site helping employers and workers understand rights and responsibilities relative to wages, retirement, health and other benefits
• Expanding Your Circle: Hiring Employees - Compliance rules and regulations plus costs to be aware of when you hire employees.
• Finding and Keeping Good Employees - Considerations for finding employees that are a good fit for your business plus tips for retaining them.
• freeERISA.com - Provides the latest available pension and benefit information for U.S. employers. Contains information on retirement and welfare benefits of groups as the data appear on Form 5500 and/or 5500 C/R.
• Hiring Employees - Fifth section of "Doing Business in Missouri". Provides information on the requirements involved in hiring and paying employees.
• See"Hiring Employees" section in "Doing Business in Missouri"
  
• How Can I Communicate the Customer Service Message to My Employees? - Training employees to follow the steps of service and credo of the Ritz-Carlton could help any business desiring to excel at customer service
• How Can I Retain Good Employees? - Once you've found good workers in a tight employment marketplace, what can you do to ensure they don't venture elsewhere?
• How to Make Vacations Benefit Your Business - Steps to release you and your staff for vacations while keeping your business running smoothly
• Ignoring Employee Conflicts can be Dangerous - Work conflicts can damage careers and interfere with teams if left unresolved. Acknowledging and addressing the conflict effectively is part of a manager's responsibility and duty.
• Making the Exceptional Normal: Dealing with Difficult Employees - Methods for recognizing and dealing with overly optimistic, excessively cautious or consistently poor employees
• Military Leave and the Workplace - With reservists being called into active service, a review of policies regarding military leave and reemployment rights is important, as well as an update on financial assistance available from SBA.
• Missouri Business Links - Links to state agencies that answer common questions that startups and business owners have concerning state permits, regulatory requirements, forms, fees and contact information for their particular business.
• Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - Main page for Department of Labor. Addresses workplace needs of employers and employees.
• Monica, Paula and You - Sexual harassment can be an issue in any work setting. This article defines the types of sexual harassment, describes harassing behaviors and discusses prevention and liability issues.
• New Employee Orientation Programs Key to Starting Employees Off Right - An effective orientation, involving the employee as a team player, is key to productivity and retention.
• Presentation Skills Evaluation Form - Sample presentation skills evaluation form for attendees to complete to help gauge seminar or meeting.
• PSCA.org-Profit Sharing/401K Council of America - Offers practical, cost-effective assistance with profit sharing and 401(k) plan design, administration, investment, compliance and communication.
• Reducing Employee Turnover - Causes for turnover and strategies to retain good employees.
• Resource Guide for Employers - Provided by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Questions and answers about Missouri regulations and responsibilities under unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, discrimination, safety and more.
• Salary Guides & Guidance - The Riley Guide's links to a variety of industry specific salary information sources and surveys
• Sample Application Form - A brief, simple job application form.
• Sample General Employee Performance Review - A brief, sample general employee performance review form.
• Sample Seminar Checklist - A simple checklist for the event coordinator's use to help plan training events or meetings.
• SSA Employer Reporting Instructions and Information - Part of the Social Security Administration's web site. Provides information and instructions for payroll reporting.
• Society for Human Resource Management - Provides education and information services to human resource professionals and business owners.
• Small Businesses with Employees - Part of the IRS site providing information and tax legalities for hiring, recordkeeping and other critical issues for small businesses with employees.
• The Employee Handbook - a Necessary Evil for Small Companies - A discussion of the benefits and key reasons why small businesses need a handbook.
• The ERISA Industry Committee - ERIC - Association of America's largest employers committed to the advancement of voluntary retirement, healthcare coverage and other employee benefit plans.
• The Problem of Employee Theft - Employee theft can take many forms. Proper processes and procedures can help prevent problems and manage them if theft is suspected.
  
• Using Employee Benefits to Attract, Retain Employees - More and more businesses are offering unique collections of stress reducers and workplace enhancements to retain hard-to-replace staff.
• Wanted: Top-Notch Employees - Five steps to improve the interview process, from preparing a good job description to checking references
• What Me Worry? - A discussion of job stressors, working conditions that can cause stress and remedies management can take advantage of to boost employee morale and productivity.
• Workforce - Comprehensive directory of human resource topics, products, services and tools to implement human resources.

• Business Week: Small Business Legal Guide - Legal information on starting, financing and managing a small business.
• Edward Lowe Resource Center - Articles with solutions gleaned from CEOs and business owners. Includes perspectives on managing growth in key areas such as communication, finance, marketing and sales, HR management, legal issues/taxes and technology.
• Entrepreneur.com - Information for starting and growing a business. Includes free business forms and agreements.

Supplier Information and Directories:

• Arts/Crafts Business - "About" guide to more than 700 craft-related web sites.
• CNET Shopper - Where to buy online.
• "Hometown Business: Let's Make a Deal: Vendor Relations" - Evaluating vendors (University of Missouri Extension Guidesheet)
• "Hometown Business: Plan and Control Your Inventory" - Details methods for determining how much money should be spent on various categories of merchandise. Examples provide a guide for developing a plan to assist in controlling inventory (University of Missouri Extension Guidesheet)
• InterShipper - Service that compares rates among multiple shipping carriers. Provides tracking, drop-off locating, pickup scheduling, ZIP code lookups and more. 30-day free trial.
• Manufacturers' Agents National Association - Promotes profitable relationships and ethical standards among multi-line professional sales representatives, their principals and their joint customers.
• Institute of Packaging Professionals - Global resource for information about packaging.
• PriceWatch - Find street prices on new and used computer hardware.
• Thomas Food & Beverage Marketplace - Buying guide to locate food industry suppliers.
• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers - Buying guide to find manufacturers of industrial products and services.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Web site for small businesses created by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Provides articles and information on management practices, laws, regulations and other matters affecting entrepreneurs.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Main page for SBA.