Welcome to the Baltimore County Public Library.

Counseling and Education

Counseling at BCPL

• Baltimore County Small Business Resource Center
  Counseling available on a variety of topics such as the development of a business plan and obtaining financing.
   

• Center for Closely Held Firms - Sellinger School, Loyola College
  Helps family-owned, privately held businesses through seminars, access to specialists in many fields and opportunities to network.
   

• Maryland Small Business Development Center
  Individual counseling (no cost) and workshops are offered on a variety of topics. Locate a local office from this directory. On a regular basis a program entitled "The Nuts and Bolts of Starting Your Own Business" is presented at the Towson Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.
   

• Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (MTECH) - University of Maryland
  Offers courses to high school abd college students and regional business startups.  The institute also offers mentoring and research grants, and sponsors competitions.
   

• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Counselors to America's Small Business
  Locally held workshops are offered on topics of concern to small business owners. The locations and schedules of these workshops are available on this site.
   

• Small Business Counseling at BCPL branches
  Obtain assistance with business plan development, marketing, loan preparation and minority business enterprise at an individual, one-hour appointment with an adviser from the Small Business Resource Center. For dates and times, see dateLines, our calendar of events for the following branches: Essex, Parkville, Randallstown, Rosedale, Towson and White Marsh.

   

Educational Opportunities

• Community College of Baltimore County-Continuing Education and Economic Development
  Offers continuing education for management skills. Designs / implements employee training programs in health care, information.technology,leadership and management training, and workplace literacy among many options
   

• Loyola College--Sellinger School of Business and Management
  Graduate and executive programs; part-time education for full time professionals. Courses geared to working managers who are seeking leadership credentials.
   

• Private Career Schools
  Listing of state-certified courses for refreshing or learning skills.
   

• Towson University - Division of Economic and Community Outreach
  Links to a variety of computer training and Information Technology programs.
   

• University of  Maryland - Business and Corporate Connections  One stop shop location for information on upgrading employee's skills, finding research partners, starting and growing the company and much more.

Incubators

• Technology Advancement Program (TAP)
  University of Maryland's dynamic environment for technology based start-up companies.
   

• Technology Council of Maryland
  Maryland's largest technology trade association which brings its members access to the regional technology industry. Provides valuable resources and benefits to help businesses succeed.

• TowsonGlobal Business Incubator - Towson University
  Offers resources such as office facilities, business counseling, and workshops for "early-stage" companies based in Maryland and foreign operations looking to start Maryland branches.
   

• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)-Research Park and Technology Center
  A 41-acre research and technology community with access to university expertise, students, technology, programs and facilities.

Disaster Preparedness

• Small Business Administration on Disaster Preparedness
  This Small Business Administration site lists topics that business owners should be considering such as:  insurance, computer system back-ups and location of alternate suppliers.
   

• Federal Emergency Management Administration
  The Federal Emergency Management Administration provides a great deal of information about protecting a company's physical plant. Obtain flood maps on-line.
   

• Institute for Business and Home Safety
  The Institute for Business and Home Safety, a nonprofit association whose mission is to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters, provides extensive information on preparing for earthquakes, floods, freezing weather, hail, hurricanes, tornados and wildfires. 

Finances

Tax Issues

• Tax Guide for Small Business [PDF]
  Be aware of the latest tax changes. A helpful downloadable booklet from the Internal Revenue Service.
   

• United States Internal Revenue Services--Tax Information for Small Business/Self Employed
  Tax information and helpful tips from the Internal Revenue Service.

• Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury
  Source of Maryland  business income tax information, tax tables, and forms.

  • Business Taxes

  • Overview of the requirements in Maryland

    • Tax Information for Starting a New Business

    • Tax Forms and Instructions Online

    • Combined  Registration Application (CRA)

    • Taxpayers Registration Assistance Center (TRAC)
      Office that provides on-the-spot help in answering questions on Maryland's business tax requirement

Obtaining Financial Support

• Baltimore County Department of Economic Development- Small Business Loan Partnership
  Local support for small business.
   

• Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury:  Guide to Business Tax Credits
  Brief summaries of each of the tax credits for which businesses may be eligible.
   

• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development-Business Financing Programs
  Many programs for financial assistance are available. Each available program is described.
   

• Direct Loan Programs for Business
  Introduction to the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF) and other programs.
   

• Small Business Loan Guarantees
  Local agencies are listed.
   

• Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS)
  MIPS grants are awarded to Maryland companies on a competitive basis. A firm does not need to be technology-oriented  to qualify, but the research must be in a technical or scientific area.  A program of the University of Maryland.
   

Franchising

• Franchise Classroom - Online Tutorial
  Created by the Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University, this clearly written, well organized site offers online training lessons, tools and business resources to help prospective franchisees learn the ropes.
   

• Franchise Direct
  This comprehensive website deals with franchise opportunities worldwide. The International listings are extensive.Tips as well as research news and articles about latest developments are also provided.
   

• Franchise Gator
  Franchise opportunities and business-for-sale listings. Top franchising concepts are showcased.
   

• Franchise Zone-Entrepreneur Magazine
  A comprehensive website that helps the potential franchisee to assess opportunities, find help and how-to information from experts and keep up to date with trends in the field (a feature that is updated daily).  Also features Opportunity Finder, an interactive tool to explore franchise and business opportunities.

Government Procurement

In Baltimore County

• Baltimore County Purchasing and Disbursements Division - Events Calendar
  The Office of Budget and Finance, Purchasing and Disbursements Division regularly schedules procurement outreach (formerly open house) events to provide an opportunity for vendors to:

  • Gain an Understanding of the Purchasing Process

  • Meet the County Buyers

  • Ask Questions

  • Learn about Bid Opportunities with the County

  • Review a List of Current Contracts

  • Network with other vendors

• Baltimore County Office of Budget and Finance - Purchasing Section
  Distributes bidder applications for all County purchases, except for the Public Library and Board of Education. Lists currently open bids that are updated weekly.
   

• Minority and Women Business Enterprise Online Directory
  Use this online directory to search for a certified minority or women owned business to use on Baltimore County or Federal-Aid projects.Includes firms that are certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).

In the State
 

• eMaryland Marketplace
  The state's primary procurement resource to create solicitations, accept bids and make awards, and purchase goods through on-line catalogs.
   

• Maryland Department of General Services - MBE Program
  Frequently Asked Questions sheets on the regulations for contracting with the department.
   

• Maryland Department of Transportation - Contract Opportunities
  Provides instructions and contacts.
   

• Maryland Department of Transportation--Minority Business Enterprise Program (MBE)
  The state requires companies to be certified through this department. State contracts are awarded when primary contractors meet MBE goals.

In the Federal Government

• Federal Acquisition Jumpstation
  The U.S. Government's one-stop virtual marketplace. Through this single point-of-entry, commercial vendors and government buyers are invited to post, search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.
   

• Federal Business Opportunities
  Learn about doing business with the Federal government using electronic data interchange (EDI).
   

• System for Award Management (SAM)
  Serves as a government-contracting portal and enables small business owners to register to do business with the federal government, and represent/self-certify as a small business all in one place
   

• Vetbiz.gov
  The federal web portal for veterans who want to start or expand their business. Information on prime or subcontract opportunities, getting started, marketing, mentoring sources, financing, etc.
   

• Womenbiz.gov
  This site targets the 5 specific stages that a woman business owner should go through to explore doing business with the government.

Home Based Business

• Home Business Magazine
  An on-line "zine" for home businesses. Updated daily.
   

• Home Business Research.com
  Highly regarded mega-site with links to tutorials, research, forums and newsgroups. There is a blog.
   

• Independent Homeworkers Alliance
  Posting of hundreds of contract and freelance telecommuting work-at-home jobs every day. Membership required. Works closely with United States Chamber of Commerce.
   

• United States Social Security Administration - If You're Self Employed
  Topics covered include paying Social Security and Medicare taxes; figuring net earnings and family business arrangements.

Human Resources

Benefits - Health

• Maryland Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan
  Based on Maryland law that guarantees small business access to health insurance. Offers the guidelines for purchasing the policy that is most appropriate.
   

• Maryland Health Benefits Exchange
  Maryland’s state-based health insurance exchange. Goal is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all Maryland residents, including the approximately 730,000 or 14 percent of Maryland’s 5.8 million residents who are currently uninsured.
   

• Maryland Health Insurance Partnership
  Provides an incentive for employers with 2-9 employees to offer health insurance for their employees; assists low and moderate income employees of these small employers in obtaining health insurance; promotes access to health care services and rewards participating individuals for efforts to improve their health and/or manage chronic disease.
   

• Virtual Compare
  A tool to help employers and employees compare health plans offered in the small group market.It is an information source only and does not allow you to apply for insurance on this site, but does provide you contact information for each insurance company and broker/agents who have chosen to register on this site

Finding Staff

• BaltimoreCollegetown.org
  An online internship database, resources for businesses and students, and links to area college career centers. Also includes sample projects, evaluation criteria, and sample job descriptions. Developed in part through a grant from the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development.
   

• Baltimore County Department of Aging - Senior Employment Service
  Aids employers in developing job opportunities for retired seniors.
   

• Baltimore County Department of Economic Development - Workforce Development Division
  Assists new and expanding businesses, provides assistance to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, workplace training and education is available as well.
   

• Maryland Workforce Exchange
  Pre-screened, job ready applicants available to be interviewed
   

• Md. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) - Maryland One-Stop Career Centers: Baltimore County
  Helps employers recruit qualified applicants, test applicants, receive tax credits for hiring certain applicants, receive reimbursement for training certain applicants.

Regulations

• Baltimore County Human Relations Commission
   

• Md. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) - Office of Unemployment Insurance
  This site features a Quick Reference Guide [PDF] which allows employer's to accomplish many UI tasks via the Internet.
   

• Maryland General Assembly:  Business Regulation in Maryland [PDF]
  Chapter II of this document covers the regulations for Employment and Occupational Safety and Health.
   

• Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Program (MOSH)
  Enforces regulations set forth in the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act.
   

• Worker's Compensation Commission
  The forms, hearing schedules, compensation rates and current news of regulatory changes for the state.

Training

• Maryland Workforce Exchange
  On-the-job training program for entry level positions. Tax credits for employers hiring from the program.
   

• Community College of Baltimore County - Office of Continuing Education
  Provides business and management development resources that are state-of-the-art and targeted to contemporary business needs.

• Maryland Technology Extension Service (MTES)
  MTES provides knowledge-based engineering, technical and management solutions for Maryland manufacturers.
   

• Private Career Schools
  Listing of state-certified courses for refreshing or learning skills.

International Trade

• Baltimore County Department of Economic Development - International Trade Assistance
  Provides services for businesses interested in exploring the potential of international trade. Helpful links to Maryland and federal resources are given.

• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development- Office of International Operations
  The place to start if you want to export products and services to consumers abroad. Offers trade information and export marketing assistance. One on one assistance is available.
   

• United States Export Assistance Center
  Assists Maryland firms in exporting by providing expert counseling and advice, information on markets abroad, international contacts and advocacy services.  The resources of the Commercial Service are combined with the finance expertise of the Small Business Administration, and can provide information on all Federal programs designed to support international trade
   

• United States Export-Import Bank (EX-IM BANK)
  The official export credit agency of the United States Government. Provides export financing and advice.
   

Legal Requirements / Regulations

Overview

• Find Information: Law
  presented by Baltimore County Public Library
  Find local and state codes, laws, and regulations and facts about our courts. Points way to legal assistance through a lawyer or other legal services. Find law libraries, legal forms and terminology, notary services, and legal research resources.
   

• Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Maryland [PDF]
  A general guide to the laws and regulations pertaining to business operations in Maryland. A joint publication of the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Business and Economic Development.
   

• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development - Permits and Licensing
  When starting a business in Maryland, there are a number of resources available for information on business licensing, registration, occupational licenses and other regulatory and compliance issues.

• Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury - Information and Services for Businesses
  A major starting place for those wanting to do business in Maryland and its Counties.  Information on tax credits, tax due dates, and filing withholding tax returns as well as sales and use tax returns electronically.
   

• Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury - Starting a New Business in Maryland
  Source for information on getting a business license and the Federal requirements for tax and wage reporting.
   

• Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation - Checklist for New Business
  To help ensure your business' success, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for starting a business in Maryland. The checklist provides a convenient starting point.
   

• Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
  Maryland's electronic licensing site. Obtain and renew a variety of occupational and professional licenses on-line.
   

• Maryland General Assembly: Business Regulation in Maryland [PDF]
  Legislative handbook describing the regulation of business in areas such as labor requirements; tax structure; fees; occupational health issues and consumer protection laws.

Legal Forms

• Baltimore County Bar Association
  County resource for locating an attorney.
   

• Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants
  On-line source for locating an accountant.
   

• Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation - Corporate Charter
  View and print a variety of forms to create, change, end, revive a business.

Patents, Trademarks, Trade Names

• Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
  Trade names may be registered with this State Agency. Download the form for creating a trade name, fill it in, then mail it.
   

• Maryland Secretary of State
  Trademark or Service Mark search and registration. Helpful Frequently Asked Questions section. Print out necessary registration form.
   

• Free Patents Online
  Search for patents and download in PDF format. Free registration.
   

• United States Patent and Trademark Office
  The Federal Department of Commerce site for information on patent and trademark registration searches

Permits, Licenses

• Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections
  Baltimore County resource for permit information.
   

• Maryland Business License Information System (BLIS)
  One-stop online source for information on the permits and licenses you may need to start, relocate or expand a business in Maryland.
   

• Maryland Department of the Environment - Small Business Assistance Program
  Guide to environmental permitting and compliance. Free assistance is available to small businesses.

Zoning Issues

• Citizen's Guide to Zoning in Baltimore County
  Baltimore County Department of Planning provides this document. Helpful definitions of the different zoning classifications are given.

Americans with Disabilities Act

• American With Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page
  This United States Department of Justice site provides access to enforcement, certification, and regulatory information concerning ADA compliance.  Links are provided to other federal agencies with ADA responsibilities. Also provided is the ADA Guide For Small Business.

Click button below to enter the Legal Forms database

Marketing

Major Resources

• Baltimore County Small Business Resource Center
  The local contact for all small businesses located in Baltimore County or wishing to conduct business in the county.
   

• Small Business Counseling @ BCPL branches
  Obtain assistance with business plan development, marketing, loan preparation and minority business enterprise at an individual, one-hour appointment with an adviser from the Small Business Resource Center. For dates and times, see dateLines, our Calendar of Events for the following branches:  Essex, Parkville, Randallstown, Rosedale, Towson and White Marsh.
   

• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Counselors to America's Small Business
  Individual counseling is available to help the business owner focus on the issues relevant to effective market planning.
   

• Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
  Provides free counseling on business problem solving, business plan development, marketing, loan package preparation to existing businesses and start-ups. Conducts low-cost seminars and workshops on topics of specific interest to small business. A program of the University of Maryland Center for Applied Policy Studies, Towson University, the United States Small Business Administration, and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

Demographic Sources

• Baltimore County Infobank - Demographics
  Population, household income, income statistics with emphasis on Baltimore County. A Baltimore County Department of Economic Development site.
   

• Baltimore Metropolitan Council - Regional Information Center
  Provides demographic data for Baltimore County.
   

• Maryland Office of Planning
  This department will create customized reports using population and housing census data. The site features helpful maps of Priority Funding Areas, Land Use/Land Cover as well as Existing and Potential Development Areas

Databases

Link to electronic resources that contain valuable business information. A library card registered with Baltimore County Public is needed to use the resources.

• Hoover's
  Provides company details such as description, contact information, competitors and key personnel. This information can be used for client meetings, sales presentations, vendor and partner negotiations, and marketing efforts. News from the business world and scheduled IPOs are also included.
   
• Reference USA
  Database of over 11 million company profiles including address and phone number, NAIC codes, numbers of employees, sales volume, product lines and corporate structure. Also includes a residential directory. Featured are:
  •  US Businesses
  •  US Standard White Pages
  •  US Healthcare
  • US New Businesses
  • Canadian White Pages Canadian Businesses
  • US Consumers/Lifestyles -  This module broadly applies census information from your neighborhood as well as other “public” records (such as what magazines you         subscribe to or memberships that you may have) and makes generalizations about your interests and marketing characteristics.  This information is downloadable for potential marketers.
  • US New Movers/Homeowners

Minority / Women Assistance

• Guide on Black Entrepreneurship - Maryland State Library Resource Center
  A comprehensive site containing links to on-line magazines, investment opportunities, leisure travel sites. Also features a searchable database: Find a Black Business" as well as links to the Black Business Association and a list of the nation's top ten black-owned businesses.
   

• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development - Small Business Resources
   

• Maryland Department of Transportation--Minority Business Enterprise Program (MBE)
  The state requires companies to be certified through this department. State contracts are awarded when primary contractors meet MBE goals.

• Maryland Governor's Office of Minority Affairs
  The mission of the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) is facilitating minority business enterprise activities through coordinating and promoting government programs aimed at strengthening and preserving the state’s 200,000 minority and women owned businesses.
   

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - United States Department of Commerce
  A national site committed to the growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses.
   

• Minority Business Enterprise - Maryland Department of General Services
  This State agency administers compliance with Maryland's Law regarding procurement and provides a directory of procurement contacts in state offices.
   

• Spanish Language Site (La Agencia Federal Para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa)
  Small Business Administration site with information on starting a business, obtaining government contracts and financing.
   

• Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore (WEB)
  Provides training, technical assistance and follow-up services for microbusiness start-ups/development in the Baltimore area
   

Newspapers / Periodicals

• Baltimore Business Journal
  Local weekly news as well as links to Business Journals in other cities.
   

• BusinessWeek online
  Online version of the national weekly.
   

• Daily Record
  Maryland business news.
   

• Jeffersonian
  County-based weekly with a focus on small business.
   

• BaltimoreSun.com
  The Baltimore Sun's online presence.
   

• StartupDigest.com
  A weekly email resource for startups in forty cities, including Baltimore.

  General Resources

• Enoch Pratt Free Library: Small Business Corner
  Comprehensive list of resources to help create a business or product or for expanding your existing business
   

• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) – Research Park and Technology Center
  This is an incubator which provides facilities and services that encourage the formation and survival of startup and growth technology enterprises with links to university research and expertise.
   

• BusinessUSA.gov
  A one-stop site for small businesses and exporters to quickly connect to the services and information relevant to them, regardless of where the information is located or which agency's website, call center, or office they go to for help.check for all of their compliance needs.
   

• United States Small Business Administration - Maryland District Office
  Whether you are starting a business or operating an established business, the United States Small Business Administration has a variety of programs to assist you. Counseling offered in the areas of finance, management, technology and procurement.