PageHeaderImage
Find resources to help support your small business needs.
Browse items from the catalog, online, and explore our services for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Featured Databases & Resources
Business Plan Handbook collection
A collection of actual business plans compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses in North America.
Morningstar Investment Research Center
Morningstar® Investment Research Center offers real-time access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments, spanning mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds.
Foundation Center Directory
A collection of data for over 68,000 foundations, corporate giving programs, and grant-making public charities. (This resources is only available at the Fletcher library.)
Reference Solutions
Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA) has vital information on every business and consumer in the United States and Canada. It assists business executives in finding valuable sales leads, conducting market research or competitive analysis, and provides an avenue for businesses to do effective marketing and outreach.
Selected Business Links
Federal
- Federal Employment Law Guide (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
- Business Law and Regulations (Small Business Administration)
- Internal Revenue Service
- Federal Occupational Safety & Health Admin (OSHA)
- Patents & Trademarks U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
State
- Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Maryland
- Maryland Entrepreneur's Guide (Wikibook)
- Maryland Business Licensing Information
- Professional and Occupational Licensing Information
- Maryland State Business Taxes
- Maryland Dept. of the Environment (MDE)
- Maryland Occupational Safety & Health (MOSH)
Local
Business Plans (How To Create)
- Business plan templates from SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business)
- Business Plan Basics
- Collection of free sample business plans
Counseling & Assistance
- SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business)
- MD Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Governor’s Office of Business Advocacy & Small Business Assistance
Educational Courses
- SCORE (Washington County)
- Hagerstown Community College (Continuing Education)
- Univ. of MD Cooperative Extension Service / Wash County
Professional Services
Personnel & Facility Space
Technology Assistance
Federal
- Federal Business Opportunities
- Federal Procurement Data System(government database of procurement information)
- Small Business Administration
- Minority Business Development Agency
State
- eMaryland Marketplace
- MD Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
- Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association, Inc.
Local
Links to Business and Government Websites
- United States Government
- Official business links to U.S. Government
- State of Maryland Government
- Maryland Manual On-Line (guide to MD government)
- Maryland Governor
- Maryland General Assembly (contains links to MD Annotated Code)
- Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Maryland State Data Center
Local Governments
Overview IRS.gov
Get Started
- Tax Information for Businesses
- Checklist for Starting a Business
- Business Structures
- Employer ID Numbers (EINs)
- Online Application - Form SS-4, Employer Identification Number (EIN)
IRS Forms and Publications
Electronic Filing
- e-file for Business and Self-Employed Taxpayers
- Electronic Federal Tax Payments (EFTPS)
- QuickAlerts "More" e-file Benefits for EROs
Employees
- Businesses with Employees
- Independent Contractors vs. Employees
- Employment Taxes for Small Business
- IRS Withholding Calculator
- Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
Talk With the IRS
Learning Center
Resources
Abusive Tax Schemes
Resources for Specific Communities (Disaster Info)
Grant Funding Resources
The Funding Research Center (FRC) is located at the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher branch and is accessible during normal business hours. Specialized assistance may be provided upon request by calling the Adult Services department at 301-739-3250.
The Washington County Free Library is part of the Funding Information Network of the Foundation Center, the nation's leading authority on philanthropy. WCFL provides free access to grantmaker directories, guides, and books on nonprofit management from the Foundation Center and other materials relating to grants.
Image
The Foundation Center
The Foundation Center provides a content-rich website with a variety of free search tools, tutorials, downloadable reports and other information updated daily. The Foundation Center offers a free search tool, FDO Quick Start, providing free, public access to essential information about over 100,000 foundations and over 250,000 IRS forms 990-PF.
Image
GuideStar by Candid
Use GuideStar to look up a nonprofit and access the most complete data available.
Image
Grants to Individuals Online
Grants to Individuals Online A searchable database of more than 7,000 foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grant-seekers.
Other Online Foundation Center Resources (Free)
- The Foundation Center Candid Learning
Resources for nonprofits including free webinars, videos, FAQ's and book recommendations. - The Foundation Center Philanthropy News Digest
Source for Requests for Proposals from funders, news in the nonprofit community, and job openings. - Catalog of Nonprofit Libraries
Contains citations and some abstracts from books found in the library collections at the five Foundation Center locations as well as select literature from other sources. - The Foundation Center Glass Pockets
Focuses on transparency in philanthropy - Board Source
Resource for nonprofit boards, including information and trainings for board members.
- Grants.gov
Source to find, apply for and track federal grants. - Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards. - IRS Charities and Non-profits webpage
Source for information on obtaining tax-exempt status, 990's, and other non-profit tax-related information.
- Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits)
Offers a wide variety of member services and encouragement to non-profits throughout Maryland. - Enoch Pratt Free Library Grants Collection
Helpful research tools and links to resources for non-profits. - State of Maryland Attorney General
Resources for organizations and donors including state laws, how to start a non-profit organization, and best practice policies. - Maryland Governor's Grants Office
Helps state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations find, win and manage grants. Provides a vast amount of information and training materials about grants and users can search for available grants.
- Community Foundation of Washington County
The mission is to promote philanthropy for the benefit of Washington County. - United Way of Washington County
One-stop resource for volunteer information in Washington County.
Library Events for Small Businesses
Image
WCFL offers a variety of financial planning, technology education, and other events and classes that might be useful to new business owners. Visit the Events Calendar to view upcoming events.
Related Library Services
Ask Us Anything
Ask a question and get answers via email or phone. Or schedule an appointment with a librarian.