Business and Nonprofit Resources

• Starting & Running a Business
• Laws & Regulations
• Government Contracting

Small Business Q&A 

What resources would be best for finding new customers for my small business in Fairfax County? 

AtoZ Databases and Mergent Intellect, accessible 24/7 via the library website, are best e-resources for market, consumer and company research that the library offers. 

Where can I find articles on business, management and marketing?

ABI Complete Collection from Proquest and Business Source Ultimate from EBSCO provide access to online archives for thousands of business-related magazines and journals, including Harvard Business Review. Our downloadable magazine collection from Overdrive includes Entrepreneur, Inc., Fast Company, Fortune, Money, Business Today, Home Business, Property Investor and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. 

I need to put a business plan together, where do I start?

How to write a business plan by Mike P. McKeever (658.152 M 2018) and Business Plans Kit For Dummies by Steven Peterson (658.4012 P 2016) would be two good books to start with. Multi-volume Business Plans Handbook from the Gale publisher is available online directly or via Gale eBooks, one of many library premium e-resources that can be accessed remotely with a library card.  

More questions? Ask at any library branch or contact our Ask Your Library service via chat or email. For help with business research, especially using library e-resources, also feel free to contact librarians Deb Smith-Cohen at Patrick Henry library (Deborah.Smith-Cohen@fairfaxcounty.gov; phone 703-938-0405, ext. 4) and Vlad Shutov at Tysons-Pimmit library (Vladimir.Shutov@fairfaxcounty.gov; phone 703-790-4019). Vlad is also available for brief 1-on-1 consultations on Zoom, by appointment only.  

• Community Business Partnership (CBP)
  CBP is a public-private partnership providing education and support services to small businesses. Programs organized by CBP include the Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Business Finance Center, the Business Incubation Center and the Veterans Business Outreach Center.
• Fairfax County—Business
  Fairfax County provides information and resources entrepreneurs need to start and grow a business in the county, including a step-by-step Starting a Business guide.
• Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA)
  The FCEDA helps businesses start, expand or relocate in Fairfax County. Its website includes the publication Small Business Start-up Guide: Six Steps to Starting a Business in Fairfax County and Where to Turn for Help. FCEDA also offers business counseling at their office in Tysons Corner through an arrangement with SCORE.
• Mason Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
  The Mason SBDC provides free counseling services for future and current business owners. The center is affiliated with George Mason University (GMU) and sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Virginia Small Business Development Center.
• SCORE
  The Service Corps of Retired Executives, a resource partner with the Small Business Administration, provides counseling and mentoring services dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
  Provides information on starting, financing, managing and expanding a small business. Includes an overview of laws and regulations governing small businesses, and provides links to local SBA offices.
• U.S. Census Bureau—Small Business
  Small businesses and entrepreneurs need data to make informed decisions about opening or growing a business. Here you will find detailed statistics about competitors, suppliers, customers and markets that are essential to help small businesses succeed and grow.
• Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
  The agency for state certification of small, minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Virginia Employment Commission—Employers
  This website includes online publications and forms, information on issues such as insurance and taxes, and links to relevant documents and agencies.
• Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBCDs)
  An organization of 29 local SBDCs across Virginia providing professional business counseling, training and information resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.
• Virginia.gov—Business
  Information and resources on starting, running or relocating a business to Virginia.

See also codes, statutes and regulations.

Local

• Licenses and Permits
  Information for new businesses on the licenses and permits required to do business in Fairfax County, Virginia.

State

• Registering a Business in Virginia
  Information on obtaining a Virginia tax account number from the Virginia Department of Taxation.
• Virginia Business One Stop
  Access to information on license, permit and registration requirements for business start-ups. Maintained by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance.

Federal

• elaws — Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses
  Information on federal employment laws and regulations. Provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center
  The IRS provides tax information for both new and established businesses.
• Small Business Law
  FindLaw provides information about the legal aspects of running a small business.

Local Area

• Selling to Fairfax County
  Information from Fairfax County Department of Procurement and Material Management.

Virginia

• eVA - Virginia's eProcurement Portal
  Learn about selling to the commonwealth and locate current Virginia business opportunities on this site developed by the Virginia Department of General Services.
• Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Program
  A statewide program to help businesses do business with the federal, state and local governments. This nonprofit program is cosponsored by George Mason University and the Defense Logistics Agency.<

Federal

• Contracting
  The U.S. Small Business Administration outlines the steps necessary to do business with the federal government.
• SAM.GOV - Contract Opportunities
  A searchable database of current federal government procurement opportunities.             
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