Free to Bellingham Public Library Cardholders
ABI/Inform Trade and Industry
Search for full-text business magazines and newletters with a trade or
industry focus.
AtoZdatabases
Reference and Marketing Database including 30 million business profiles and 220 million residents. Ideal
for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, finding friends and relatives,
and much more!
Small Business Resources in Bellingham, Whatcom County and Washington State (library brochure)
Recommended Websites
Doing Business
access.wa.gov/business
Washington State’s online gateway website to business information
Office of Financial Management
www.ofm.wa.gov/localdata/what.asp
Gateway website for government produced statistics on Whatcom County.
Business and nonprofits
www.usa.gov
click on ‘Businesses and Nonprofits’
The federal online gateway to all types of business information.
Business and Industry
www.census.gov/econ/index.html
Economic data and analysis provided by the Economic Programs of the Census
Bureau
Bankrate.com
www.bankrate.com
This commercial website provides rate information for mortgages, auto loans,
home equity loans, savings and checking accounts and credit cards.
Big charts.com
www.bigcharts.com
Owned by Dow Jones and Company, this is a comprehensive investment research
website. Includes historical securities performance.
Investopedia
www.investopedia.com
Owned by Forbes, this site provides investor education information.
ThomasNet
www.thomasnet.com
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.
City
of Bellingham Finance Office
www.cob.org/services/business/doing-business.aspx
Business registration forms and links to other local and state small
business resources. A searchable database of existing business registrations
is included. The Permit Center has information regarding regulations on
commercial spaces.
Center for Economic Vitality
www.nwecon.org
Free, confidential counseling to small business owners and managers in
Whatcom County.
SCORE: Counselors to America’s
Small Business
www.scorechapter591.org
Free counseling on a wide variety of subjects for those starting or managing
a small business. Sponsored by the Small Business Administration
Northwest Economic Council – Whatcom
County
www.bwedc.org
Information and programs that sustain and enhance the economic vitality of
Whatcom County. The website contains Whatcom community profiles.
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
www.bellingham.com
A variety of services for members, including business related seminars and
group medical insurance benefits.
WorkSource Whatcom
www.go2worksource.biz or www.worksourcenorthwest.com
Assistance to small business owners with employees, including recruiting,
testing, and training.
Sustainable Connections
www.sustainableconnections.org
Access to information on the nonprofit network of independently owned
Whatcom County businesses and supporters.
Downtown Bellingham
Partnership
www.downtownbellingham.com
Find assistance for business owners in the downtown Bellingham area,
including cooperative advertising campaigns and networking opportunities.
Old Fairhaven Association
www.fairhaven.com
Support for business owners in the Fairhaven area.
Doing Business in
Washington
http://access.wa.gov/business
Information on starting and managing a business in Washington State.
Small Business Administration –
Seattle
www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3157
A range of services available to small businesses including small business
loans, counseling, market research and the publication Washington State
Small Business Resource Guide.
Business Licensing Service
bls.dor.wa.gov
Find what you need at the State’s one-stop website to business registration
and licensing information and interactive forms. They also register tradenames.
Department of Revenue
www.dor.wa.gov/content/doingbusiness
State tax information and consultation for prospective and established small
businesses.
Office of the Secretary of State
www.secstate.wa.gov/corps
The Corporations Division registers corporations, limited partnerships and
limited liability companies. They also register trademarks.
Washington State Department of Labor and
Industries
www.lni.wa.gov
Services and information for small businesses that have one or more employees.
Internal Revenue Service
www.irs.gov/smalbiz
Find the many resources available to the small
business owner including online classes, newsletters and many links to other
government agencies.