There are incredible resources for people who are interested in starting their own business. The list below changes often so feel free to check often.

The Virtual Incubator process and www.bizstarter.com were included in the most recent list of Kiplinger’s 2007 "Best of Everything" rankings.

Bizstarters Wins Kiplinger's
Best Of Everything Award

The November issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine features their annual "Best of Everything" list.

Recognized resources range from the best mutal funds to the best wine to the best last-minute travel website.

Among the awards for most useful websites, we are proud to have been selected as "Best Guide For Entrepreneurs".

Here's what the Kiplinger editors said about us:

" Entrepreneurs 50 and older can get help developing and launching their own businesses (there's an emphasis on Web-based enterprises). Business start-up courses begin at $200".

Bizstarters is a company related to the Virtual Incubator. For those wishing to attempt to start-up their own business by themselves, the Bizstarter web site offers many great tools. Go to http://www.bizstarters.com/

You'll find all of the "Best of Everything" winners detailed on page 88 of the magazine, including a two-page fold-out.

If you don't already subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, I strongly urge you to look at a copy of the November issue.

You're going to want to use the "Best of Everything" list throughout the  year

SCORE

Probably the best one stop source for business counseling and free coaching is the web site for SCORE. This organization has Chapters throughout the United States and has in excess of 10,000 counselors. I am proud to represent the St Louis SCORE Chapter.

Go To www.score.org to see all the information on the national web site and go to www.stlscore.org to see what is available in the St Louis Missouri area. The local chapter has many low cost seminars and workshops. To see a list of these workshops go to http://www.stlscore.org/seminars.asp.

Dictionary of Small Business

Have you ever heard a business term and needed a good definition?

An associate of mine, Carl Trautmann, has spent many years putting together a “Dictionary of Small Business”. It is a great resource for new entrepreneurs.

Go to http://www.small-business-dictionary.org/

Fidelity Investments

Before you consider a new business you should look at your personal financial situation.

I have had a long term relationship with Fidelity Investments and the company has some great tools to assist you online.  Take a look at Fidelity' Retirement Planner for more information.  

Other print & online Articles

Retire, Schemtire
Washington Business Journal

Launch A Business After Fifty
CNN Money

CNN/Money: Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business Quiz
Scroll down the page to find the start of this 10-question multiple-choice quiz which if answered honestly is quite revealing about your real readiness to head down the entrepreneurial path.

Employee Benefit Research Institute: The Ballpark E$timate

There are many interactive worksheets online to help you calculate how much you must save from this point on in order to retire with some financial security. I like the ease of completion of this worksheet. (Don't get overanxious if your result is higher than you thought. Self-employment after 50 is a great way to boost your retirement savings!)

Life Transition Resources

Thinking about how you want to proceed after you leave your corporate job can be a bit confusing – so many options and so many factors to consider.
You know one thing however, you'd like to continue working, at least for the next five to six years...or more.And you certainly wouldn't mind doing work you enjoy and boosting the 'ole retirement savings at the same time.
The following resources can be useful to you in creating your individualized post-corporate life plan.

Retirement Planning
2 Young 2 Retire

This website is built around the authors excellent primer on how to systematically review each aspect of your life before you make any final retirement-related decisions. The authors, Marika and Howard Stone, have certified a team of life coaches in many states to present their proprietary retirement planning workshop. You can search by state on their homepage.

My Next Phase

This website features a series of assessment tools which will help determine your outlook about retirement and how prepared you are to enjoy it to the fullest.

Working Differently

This talented team of career coaches, outplacement executives and personal coaches work with employers to offer innovative pre-retirement planning programs.