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Buying A Franchise

• American Association of Franchise Dealers (AAFD): The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States
• American Association of Franchisees and Dealers: The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States
• American Franchisee Association: The AFA works to improve the industry of franchising while protecting its members’ economic investments in their businesses.
• FRANNET: FranNet consultants work individually with clients who would like to buy a franchise. Consultants use a specific profiling and consultative process to determine a business model unique to each person.
• SBA Franchise Workbook

Operating Your Small Business

• Business Broker Net: Database of business for sale which connects prospective buyers and sellers.
• Business.Gov: Helpful information for Maryland Small Businesses.  Provides steps to starting a new Maryland business, ongoing requirements such as annual filings and licenses and local government regulations.
• CNN Small Business: Small business articles and tools from CNN Money.
• Entrepreneur Magazine: Online site of Entrepreneur Magazine, containing a wealth of information of interest to small business owners
• IRS Guide to Business Operations: Federal tax information for currently operating businesses
• IRS Guide to Terminating a Business: Federal tax information relating to terminating and winding up of a business
• Maryland Intellectual Property Legal Resource Center: University of Maryland School of Law center which provides free counseling on IP issues to small business owners.  Also assists businesses in the preparation and filing of IP registration.
• Maryland Marketing Research Resource Guide: A list of business research resources designed to assist Maryland businesses with marketing their products and services.
• Maryland Small Business Development Center: The Network, a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Maryland College Park, links private enterprise, government, higher education and local economic development organizations to provide management, training and technical assistance to Maryland’s small businesses.
• New York Times Small Business News: News and tips for small businesses.
• SCORE of Washington, DC: Source of free small business advice and services, including accounting assistance.
• Washington Post Local Business News: Business news from the Washington, DC metro area.
• Winmark Business Solutions: Winmark Business Solutions is a one-stop resource for all your business information needs, including downloadable business forms, checklists, calculators and many other business tools.

Tax and Estate Planning

• Dangers of Drafting Your Own Will: NY Times analysis of the pitfalls inherent in do-it-yourself estate planning.
• Montgomery County Register of Wills: Website for the Montgomery County, Maryland Register of Wills, the office responsible for appointing personal representatives to administer decedents’ estates and for overseeing the proper and timely administration of these proceedings.
• Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog: Compilation of blogs on wills, trusts and taxes from leading university tax professors.

Business Formation

• Bplans: Lots of information on how to draft a successful business plan.
• Comptroller of Maryland Combined Registration Application: Every new Maryland business must file a Combined Registration Application with the State of Maryland, Comptroller of the Treasury. This form registers the business with the State and will result in the State providing forms for filing sales and use tax, State withholding tax, State Unemployment Insurance and sales tax license.
• Delaware Division of Corporations: Information on formation and management of businesses in the State of Delaware, including forms, filing fees and tax schedules
• Delaware's One Stop for LLC Formation and Registration: The State of Delaware´s One Stop Business Registration and Licensing System.  Enables  owners to register a business with the Division of Revenue, the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Office of Workers Compensation.  Also provides links to the Division of Corporations to access incorporation forms and reserve a legal entity name, and to the Internal Revenue Service, to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
• District of Columbia Corporations Division: Information on forming and managing a business in the District of Columbia, including forms, filing fees and tax schedules
• Equity Participation Investment Program: A Maryland program designed to is to enhance business ownership of socially or economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Financial assistance is provided through the use of loans, loan guaranties and equity investments.
• Guide to Doing Business in Maryland: Publication of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development which provides introductory information on business formation issues including choice of entity, Maryland taxation, employment law, securities law, business financing and small business assistance programs.
• IRS Guide to Starting a New Business: Federal tax information for newly formed businesses
• Maryland Business Licensing Information Center: Helpful site for Maryland small businesses to obtain professional licensing information and applications
• Maryland New Business Checklist: Step by step instructions for forming a new business in the state of Maryland
• Maryland Small Business Incubators: A list of small business incubators; organizations that offers a range of business support including low-rent space, shared office services, business counseling and access to funding sources.
• Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: Information relating to business formation and management in the state of Maryland, including forms, filing fees and tax schedules
• Maryland Venture Fund: A state-funded seed and early-stage equity fund; an evergreen fund that receives annual allocations from the Maryland State Legislature.  The Fund makes direct investments in technology and life science companies and indirect investments in venture capital funds
• Startup Company Lawyer: Legal Blog relating primarily to start up corporations seeking venture capital financing
• Washington DC Small Business Incubators: Affinity Lab is an entrepreneurial launch platform serving a rich community of creative businesses, non-profits and start-ups in Washington DC. The Lab provides shared office space and manages the business and operations needs of its member organizations, allowing them to better focus on mission and execution.

Legal Information

• Cornell Legal Information Institute: Comprehensive data base of statutes, court opinions, regulations and legal summaries for all areas of law

Local Business Resources

• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce's mission is to build an environment that encourages small business to grow and prosper within a thriving Bethesda-Chevy Chase community.
• Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce: The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce is a vital, dynamic organization of 400 members, which fosters business-to-business relationships through monthly networking events throughout the year. 
• Maryland Business Innovation Network:

  The mission of the Business Innovation Network is to support the development of growing small businesses that have the potential to create jobs in Montgomery County, Maryland and bring new, innovative products to market.  The Business Innovation Network offers local entrepreneurs facilities, services an environment in which they can prosper.  Locations throughout Maryland, including Rockville, Shady Grove, Germantown, Silver Spring and Wheaton.

• Maryland Small Business Development Center: The Maryland Small Business Development Center (MDSBDC) Network has provided sound advice, counseling and support to entrepreneurs and small to mid-size businesses across the state.
• Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce:

  The Voice of Montgomery County Business, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is seen as the preeminent business organization in the County.  The Chamber provides valuable County-wide educational, marketing and networking opportunities; timely research, information, programs and events; and other quality services to help members grow their businesses, connect to new opportunities, and engage more fully in the community.

• Montgomery County Maryland Chamber of Commerce: The MCCC provides valuable education, marketing and networking opportunities; timely research, information and events; and other quality services to help our members grow their businesses, connect to new opportunities, and engage more fully in the community.  The Kramer Law Firm is a proud member of the MCCC.
• Montgomery County Maryland Dept. of Economic Development Small Business Tools: Government-provided resources for establishing new businesses in Montgomery County, Maryland, including licensing and taxation issues.
• Prince George's County Business Development: The Business Development Division pursues and contacts business prospects that are expanding, moving within the county, or relocating to the county from another jurisdiction
• Rockville Chamber of Commerce: The Rockville Chamber of Commerce is a one-stop shop for small businesses in and around Rockville, Maryland.
• Rockville Economic Development, Inc.:

  Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), is a public-private partnership formed in 1997 by the City of Rockville, Maryland, to strengthen and broaden the city's economic base through business recruitment, retention, and expansion programs.  Rockville is committed to Helping Your Business Prosper and Grow with economic development initiatives and through proactive efforts to support existing industry and attract new businesses. There is no charge for REDI's services. REDI offers guidance and support to ensure that business ventures in this city are successful.

• Washington Business Journal: Business news from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Federal LLC Tax Forms

• Form 8832: Entity Classification Election: IRS form to elect whether an LLC will be classified for federal tax purposes as a corporation, a partnership, or an entity disregarded as separate from its owner.
• IRS Publication 3402: Taxation of Limited Liability Companies:
  This publication provides federal income, employment, and excise tax information for limited liability companies.

General

• Delaware State Courts: Official web site of the courts of the State of Delaware, including the Court of Chancery
• District of Columbia Courts: Official web site of the courts of the District of Columbia
• Maryland Judiciary: Official web site of the courts of the State of Maryland
• Supreme Court of the United States: Official web site for the Supreme Court of the United States

FAQ