Free and cheap resources for home-based businesses - directory of available government publications and services

Home Office Computing, March, 1992

Can't get a business loan because you have bad credit? These county services run budgeting workshops that can show you how to fix your credit problems and pay off your bills more efficiently. If your county Cooperative Extension Service doesn't hold workshops, you migh consider contacting the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, which runs nonprofit counseling services in most states.

Free Accounting Help

Contact your state's Office of Economic Development for the Small Business Development Center near you.

Many Small Business Development Centes have accounting experts who will help you develop your own accounting and recordkeeping systems. They can also help you work through accounting problems. If you don't have a Small Business Development Center near you, contact your nearest SBA Office.

How Much Should You Pay

Employees?

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212; (202) 523-1221. Or contact your state department of labor.

If you hire employees, you should know how much to pay them based on average wage rates in your area of the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled Occupational Compensation Survyes for professional, administrative, clerical, technical, maintenance, and material movement occupations across the country.

Find Out If There Is Legislation That

Will Affect Your Business

LEGIS, Office of Legislative Information, House Office Bldg. Annex 2, 2nd & D Sts. SW, Room 696, Washington, D.C. 20515; (202) 225-1772.

The Bill Status Office can tell you within seconds the latest action on any federal legislation. Every bill and resolution for the current session and all House and Senate legislation dating back to 1975 are contained in LEGIS, a computerized database. When you call, it is best to give a key or phrase (for example, product liability, hazadous waste), which will help the congressional aides search LEGIS. This office can provide such detailed information as:

Have any bills been introduced covering a given topic?

Who is the sponsor of the bill?

When was it introduced?

Which committees have the bills been referred to?

Have any hearing been held?

Has there been any floor action?

Has a similar bill been introduced in the other chamber?

Has the bill been sent to the White House?

Has the president signed or vetoed the bill?

Telephone assistance is free; printouts from LEGIS are available for 20 cents per page (there's a $5 minimum), but they must be picked up at the Bill Status Office. However, by making arrangments with your representative's or senator's office, you can avoid the fee and also have the printout mailed to your home or office.

How Labor Laws Affect Your Small

Business

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210; (202) 523-9148.

Just because you run a small business doesn't mean you don't have to obey federal labor laws as larger companies do. To find out what laws apply to your business in such areas as wages, overtime, pensions, and health and safety, send for a free copy of the booklet, Major Laws Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor Which Affect Small Business. You should also contact your state's labor department to find out what state laws you should know about.