<h2>Other Helpful Links</h2>
<p></p>
<h3>Federal</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.irs.gov/" target="_blank">Internal Revenue Service</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for information on taxes, business entity types, and obtaining an FEIN.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Government Printing Office</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for obtaining the official and authentic government publications of Congress and Federal agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.uspto.gov/" target="_blank">Patents and Trademarks</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for understanding the process of acquiring a patent or trademark and any applicable laws or regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.copyright.gov/" target="_blank">Copyrights</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for basic copyright information including fees, laws, and policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.sba.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Small Business Administration</a>
<ul>
<li>Offers basic information on starting a business, writing a business plan, and different federal loan and grant programs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fbo.gov/" target="_blank">Federal Contracting Opportunities</a>
<ul>
<li>Federal agencies use this site to communicate contracting opportunities and their buying requirements to potential suppliers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<h3>State</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.idfpr.com/" target="_blank">Illinois Department of Professional Regulation</a>
<ul>
<li>Offers information on obtaining licenses for businesses where it is important to promote health and safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.ides.state.il.us/" target="_blank">Illinois Department of Employment Security</a>
<ul>
<li>Provides information on unemployment insurance, employment services and guidance to workers, job seekers, and employers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.illinoisaccountants.com/Home~169891~13075.htm" target="_blank">Illinois Independent Accountant Association</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for information on the latest accounting news plus contact information of many professional accountants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/" target="_blank">Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity</a>
<ul>
<li>Offers basic information on starting a business and different Illinois loan and grant programs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/" target="_blank">Illinois Department of Labor</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for information on licenses, permits, and state labor laws.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.epa.state.il.us/" target="_blank">Illinois Environmental Protection Agency</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for information on certain state licenses or permits you may need for your business regarding environmental safety. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/" target="_blank">Secretary of State</a>
<ul>
<li>Useful for checking if there is already a business registered in Illinois with the same name that you wish to use for your business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.ipl.org/" target="_blank">Industry Associations: The Internet Public Library Associations on the Net</a>
<ul>
<li>A helpful research tool to use when starting a business and writing a business plan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://sell2.illinois.gov/" target="_blank">Selling to the State of Illinois</a>
<ul>
<li>Provides information on how your business can contract with the state of Illinois to sell your products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.icpas.org/" target="_blank">The Illinois CPA Society</a>
<ul>
<li>Helps you find a Certified Public Accountant for your personal and business financial needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.state.il.us/agency/iic/" target="_blank">Workers Compensation</a>
<ul>
<li>Provides a basic explanation of the workers' compensation program, benefits, and procedures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Marketing</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.bizminer.com" target="_blank">Industry Analysis and Marketing Plan Research</a>
<ul>
<li>Offers a variety of discussion papers, glossaries and reports to help you understand trends in your industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.marketresearch.com" target="_blank">Market Research Reports and Industry Analysis</a>
<ul>
<li>Provides companies with the business intelligence and market research you need to make informed decisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.marketingsource.com" target="_blank">The Marketing Resource Center</a>
<ul>
<li>Offers many different services that can help you market your company more effectively. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.zapdata.com" target="_blank">Sales and Marketing Solutions</a>
<ul>
<li>Helps you develop customer leads that can be used to market your target customer effectively. </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>