Small Business Resources

Find small business resources, selected and curated by Librarians.
We have something for everyone, whether you're starting your own business or making your business even better.

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Find it on our shelves

Popular Subjects & Keywords

Use these links to find titles in our online library catalog.

Business (Print or Digital)
Entrepreneurship (Print or Digital)
Home-based Business (Print or Digital)
New Business Enterprises (Print or Digital)
Self-employed (Print or Digital)
Small Business (Print or Digital)

Shelf Locations

Find titles on our shelves using the following Dewey Decimal Classification numbers:

332: Financial Economics
338: Production
346: Private Law
381: Commerce
382: International Commerce
384: Communications; telecommunication
650: Business
658: General Management

Databases

Have your library card number handy if you are searching from outside the library.

Go Accel5 Business Library

Accel5 Business Library: Features short videos on topics including business competencies, leadership and management, personal effectiveness, summaries for business and leadership books, and articles by industry leaders on current working world issues. To log in:

Go to https://www.accel-5.com/learn/sign_in?client=library-of-virginia and enter the username/password libraryva@accel5.com/V1rgin1a (note the numeral 1 in place of the letter i for the first and last instance of i)
You can also create an account to keep your place in publications, track what you’ve read, and get recommendations.

Explora in the Library or outside the Library: Your one-stop research source with authoritative general information covering a wide range of subjects from magazines & journals, books, and encyclopedias.

Gale Legal Forms: Get a comprehensive look at various types of legal documents, including forms and templates for business needs, and create accurate, reliable legal documents with little hassle or stress.

Universal Class: Learn something new or update your existing skills with online courses. Try the Learn Essential Business Skills track.

Accel5 Tutorial

Accel5 - Tutorial from EBSCO on Vimeo.

Online Resources

eBooks and audiobooks are also available through OverDrive on the website or in the Libby app.

Magzter: Includes current and back issues of Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., and more. Many titles are focused on particular global markets/sectors.

Recommended Websites

8(a) and Small Business Resources

Accelerators, Financing, and Venture Capital

Angel Capital Association (ACA) Member Directory
Bridging Virginia
Garage.com
Grantable (AI-assisted grantwriting tool)
Kiva
Lighthouse Labs
National Venture Capital Association
Sam.gov (Federal Domestic Assistance)

Accommodation

Job Accommodation Network

Accounting

Business Plans

Demographics & Data

E-Commerce

CommerceNet
eMarketer by Insider Intelligence
ECommerce Guide
eVA: Virginia's Total e-Procurement Solution
Practical eCommerce

Franchising

Getting Started

Home-Based Business

Guru.com

Legal Resources

The American Bar Association
Findlaw Small Business Toolkit
Intellectual Property and Transactional Law Clinic at University of Richmond's Law School
Free Advice.com
LawGuru.com
Nolo Self-Help Law Center