RESOURCES
Links to business information resources.

BUSINESS
Startup Checklist.I'm ready to start a business! I have a product/service and I'm sure that it will fly, so what do I do now?

FORMS
Here you will find the forms available for download from the City of Tuscaloosa, the City of Northport and Tuscaloosa County. Download Forms

STRUCTURES
Ways to set up a business.One of the key decisions to make after deciding to start you own business is what type of legal structure you should use to define the type of company you own.

Business Resource CenterBusiness Resource Center

Opening a new business used to involve standing in long lines, asking the same questions to dozens of people and trying to decipher numerous forms and permits.
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Resources and Links

This page is your guide to information for establishing and running a business. There is no single source for all of the information needed to be successful, but the following links and downloadable materials may be helpful.

One Stop Contact Phone Numbers
This link lists the phone numbers for various departments within the City of Tuscaloosa, Northport, Tuscaloosa County as well as the State Department of Revenue, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce's Relocation Phone Numbers
This link provides a list of useful phone numbers for the Tuscaloosa area. Developed by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, this site provides information on many frequently called numbers.

The Chamber's Small Business Online Training Center
This is an online training center for small businesses in West Alabama. From customer service training to taking your business online, this site is a must. Note: You will need to be a member of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama to view this section.
For password information, call (205) 758-7588.

Small Business Startup Kit (downloadable pdf)
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Startup Kit provides information on developing and running a business in the U.S.
Note: This is an extensive handbook. The download may take several minutes.

Alabama Handbook of Licensing Requirements (downloadable pdf)
This license handbook has been prepared by the State of Alabama as a guide to the issuance of Alabama's state and county licenses. This information has been revised to reflect the amendments through the 2001 session of the Alabama Legislature. The license amounts shown in this handbook are the combined amounts for the state & county.
Note: This is an extensive handbook. The download may take several minutes.

"SCORE" Small Business Counselors
SCORE is a service organization focused on small development.

Alabama Department of Revenue's Sales, Use & Business Tax Division
This site has a wealth of information for companies doing business in our state. You will also have access to downloadable returns & forms for the state.

Alabama Department of Revenue's Starting A New Business Brochure (pdf)
An educational brochure for new taxpayer businesses. A helpful tool in understanding the basics of what is expected of a new business from the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Small Business Development Center
The SBDC provides a wide range of small business services including training and government procurement services. If you would like to download the client registration form.
[ click here ]

Traffic Counts for Tuscaloosa County (downloadable pdf)
This is a report published by the West Alabama Regional Commission. If you are looking at a business location this traffic count report is great tool.
Note: This is an extensive handbook. The download may take several minutes.

Chamber of Commerce's Business Links
This is a comprehensive site with local governmental, business, and community links. Developed by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration offers various loan programs and financial assistance. They also provide business counseling services through Small Business Development Centers and SCORE. The SBA's page also provides information on Grants and other business resources.

Industry Data Reports
Get the data you need for your business plan, loan application, or strategic growth plan. This clear, easy-to-read information is excellent for start-ups and ongoing businesses.
Receive:

  • Key Statistics
  • Benchmark of 19,000 Business Segments
  • Interactive Online Profiles

The All Business Network
This is a variety of resource materials including newsletters, books, magazines and data bases.

Entrepreneur Magazine's Small Business Square
This is an on-line small business publication that offers help in operating your own business.

EntreWorld - an entrepreneurial service of the Kauffman Foundation
This page says, " We search every corner of the Web and deliver the best resources, so you can devote your attention to your business."

Inc. Online
This is Inc. magazine's on-line publication for entrepreneurship, with advice and perspectives.

Business Resource Center
Articles covering all facets of running a business, plus downloadable templates, product reviews and news.

Retail Small Business Resource Center
Here you will find daily and weekly updates, interactive business tools, events, and discussions.

Winning with Small Business Course
This is a course to help you decide if you have the ability to acquire wealth through ownership of your own small business, or through commissioned sales. From the American Success Institute, a nonprofit research, publishing, and educational corporation headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts.

Internet Guide for Small Business
This is a guide to starting, financing, marketing, growing and dispensing of your business.

State of Alabama Business Services (alabama.gov)
Alabama.gov provides a number of resources for small business seeking information specifc to Alabama. It provides information about starting or relocating a business in Alabama, selling services in the state, and much more.

Alabama Information Technology Association
The AITA helps give insight into emerging IT industries in Alabama. You must be a member of the AITA to receive the full benefits of the organization.

Alabama Community Development Corporation
The ACDC offers free support to small businesses. The support is groups by service or by agency.

Small Resource Business Network
The BUZGate is a gateway to link businesses with state divided resources. It allows you to chose a state in which you would like to receive information from pertaining to productivity improvement, training services, and one-on-one business counseling.

Federal Grant Opportunities

Big Online
Big Online is a powerful, easy-to-use website that lists over 30,000 of North America's best funding sources - representing over $100 billion in granting power from corporations, foundations, and government. This site will allow one to quickly pinpoint appropriate funders for his/her organization, discover where organizations get their funding - and how much, access important biographical information on corporate executives, locate influential peopl and the boards they sit on, and search and find grant preferences, histories, funding capability, matching gifts, sponsorship opportunities, and more.

Foundation Search
This is a revolutionary new research product dedicated to providing your organization with every funding opportunity available. Foundation Search is the first fully searchable, online database of all private US foundations for the serious prospect researcher. This site contains the listings of over 80,000 american foundations - spanning the years 1997 - present and beyond.

Other Available Links