National Small Business WeekMay 2016

This year, National Small Business Week (NSBW) is May 1 to May 7. At Bplans, we’re happy to participate in National Small Business Week by giving you access to the best resources and advice we have for small businesses and startups.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or are an already established business owner looking to grow, there’s bound to be something useful for you.

If you’d like to learn more about National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a lot of great information for you on the event. They also offer video highlights from years past.

Our list of resources below will help your business take advantage of National Small Business Week this year. To make it easier for you to read, we’ve grouped the resources by whether you’re planning, funding, starting, or growing your business.

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Planning your business:

Free resources:

Great reads:

From the small business toolkit:

  • LivePlan: Our business planning software can help you when you’re starting out, and when you’re up and running, LivePlan will continue to help you keep track of your business.
  • Business Plan Writers: If you need a little more help, there are people that do it for a living.

You might also enjoy these business planning resources:

  • Our podcast, The Bcast, has wrapped up its first season and is available on Soundcloud and iTunes. Hosted by team members Peter Thorsson and Jonathan Michael, you’ll find each episode features business experts who discuss the latest trends in marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship. Skip the stuffy MBA classroom and get information and advice that will actually help you grow your business today. Here’s a great episode to start with:

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Funding your business:

Free resources:

Great reads:

From the small business toolkit:

You might also enjoy these funding resources:

  • Follow Bplans on Pinterest! We’ve got boards covering everything from specific industries to infographics and free resources.

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Starting your business:

Free resources:

Great reads:

From the small business toolkit:

You might also enjoy these resources on starting a business:

  • Subscribe to the Bplans Youtube channel, and check out the Bplans Explains Everything series. Here’s a great video about writing mission statements:

YouTube video

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Growing your business:

Free resources:

Great reads:

From the small business toolkit:

You might also enjoy these resources for growth:

YouTube video

AvatarJonathan Michael

Jonathan is the Engagement Marketing Manager for Palo Alto Software, and has spent the last 9 years developing and implementing digital marketing strategies. During that time, he has learned that empathy and authenticity are strengths by which companies can effectively engage with individuals at every point throughout the customer journey.