Need help starting your business? You've come to the right place. You can use your 
valid, full service Virginia Beach Public Library card to access resources listed on this page. When asked, enter your library card number with a capital D and without spaces.
Books & More
You'll find books, DVDs and other resources in the library catalog under the following subject headings:
entrepreneurship
new business enterprise management
small business management
small business planning
E-books & Audiobooks
Visit the Library's digital media site for downloadable audiobooks and e-books. Books are available in a variety of formats and may be transferred to a device. There are many titles listed under Featured Collections - View all Subjects - Business.
Online Research Tools
Business Plans Handbook: A collection of useful business plans created by entrepreneurs seeking start up funds. These plans are from businesses in manufacturing, retail and services industries.
Encyclopedia of Small Business: Entrepreneurs will gain how-to information that they can apply to their own business including financing, financial planning, business plan creation, market analysis, sales strategy, tax planning, human resource issues and more.
Small Business Reference Center: Use this resource to learn about business basics such as starting a company, operations management, sales and more. Search by business areas and find information by business types.
Hampton Roads Business Assistance
Doing Business in Hampton Roads: This website by the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center includes links to appropriate websites for starting a business in all cities in and surrounding Hampton Roads. Information includes licensing, zoning, taxation and much more for each locality.
Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance: This website will help match the needs of your company to successfully relocate to the Hampton Roads area by identifying appropriate sites and connecting the business with experts in the field.
Virginia Business Information
SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business: This is the place where entrepreneurs can get the help they need to start a business or improve results. Experienced volunteer consultants share their many years of business knowledge and expertise with men and women who are currently operating their own businesses and those contemplating starting their own businesses, all at no charge.
Steps to Establish a Small Business in Virginia: The Library of Virginia has compiled this guide to starting businesses in Virginia. Along with the steps to establish a business is information on financing, business law, government contracts, taxes, and franchising.
The State Corporation Commission: This website includes forms to help you prepare documents that will meet the requirements for filing under Virginia law. Most forms can be downloaded as a Word document to your computer, where you can make the adjustments you need or desire.
Small Business Start-up Guides
Business.gov: This website will assist you with the process of starting a business. It involves complying with a number of laws and regulations - from writing a business plan to setting up a location. Here you will find guidance to help you successfully and legally start and run your business.
Business.gov: provides guides that are tailored to meet the needs of specific audiences and business types. The following resources provide information that help specialized audiences start their own businesses including home based businesses and women, minority, and veteran owned businesses. There are also in depth guides for 18 different industries.
The Small Business Administration: four free self-paced courses on starting online businesses, writing business plans, franchising, and technology for small businesses.
Small Business Planner: A site from the Small Business Administration’s includes topics such as how to pick a business location, finance a start-up, obtain licenses and permits, get insurance, manage employees, and much more.
The License & Permit Index: This site from the Virginia Department of Business Assistance is a website directory of all Virginia departments that issue licenses and permits.
Virginia Business One Stop's Business Wizard: This site provides specific licensing, permitting and registration requirements for the user's business situation and assists with partial completion of the necessary forms. A fee is required for full use of the OneStop wizard.
My Own Business, Inc: is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people succeed in business. This free course is geared toward the entrepreneur who wants to start his or her own business, and the individual who has an established small business and would like to see that business grow and expand.