from Entrepreneur Magazine, April 2009

By Mark Henricks

Surfing the web for top-notch research and advice to help your business grow? Save some time with these information-rich websites.

1. BizStats
   bizstats.com
   Free statistics and financial ratios for businesses by industry; find out what the average firm in your industry spends and earns.
    
2. Business.gov
   The central source for federal, state and local government information for businesses; learn about employment laws, where to apply for government grants and loans, and more.
    
3. BusinessFinance.com
   This lender-matching service offers a range of useful information on various ways to finance a business.
    
4. Entrepreneurship.org
   The Kauffman Foundation runs this site, which features hundreds of how-to articles for entrepreneurs, and data for policymakers.
    
5. Nielsen
   nielsen.com
   Snapshots of consumer trends in different markets, from groceries to movies, by one of the oldest and biggest market-research firms.
    
6. Ladies Who Launch
   ladieswholaunch.com
   Blogs, success stories, how-tos and more, all targeting women entrepreneurs.
    
7. Access eCommerce Guide
   access-ecom.info
   Even internet-illiterate entrepreneurs can learn almost everything they need to start an e-commerce business here.
   
   
8. Small Business Advancement National Center
   sbaer.uca.edu
   The nation's entrepreneurship researchers contribute to this trove of scholarly articles on small-business issues.
    
9. Small Business School
   smallbusinessschool.org
   View online videos and read transcripts of presentations on financing, hiring, exits and more.
    
10. Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
    census.gov/compendia/statab/
    The U.S. Census Bureau's comprehensive and authoritative rundown of statistics on America's economy and society.