A free learning platform for women entrepreneurs. Women own or co-own 45% of all businesses in the United States. Ascent is divided into major topics called Journeys, developed by experts in women's entrepreneurship. Within each Journey, you'll find Excursions with the tools you need to master a topic. Each excursion includes a time estimate for completion.

Youtube page with content focused on helping transitioning veterans begin their own business. Helpful for veterans and non-veterans who are looking to get base level understanding of the information needed to start a business.

Webpage providing access to resources regarding social entrepreneurship from Ashoka, an organization that supports social entrepreneurs globally. This resource is helpful for anyone looking to start or grow their social enterprise.

Information on chosing a small business accounting method. Compares cash vs. accrual.

10 minute read from indeed covering different essentials and style of business wear. Helpful for entrepreneurs looking to ensure they provide a professional image.

5 minute read from Stringam LLP discussing the common legal needs entrepreneurs have when starting their business.

30 minute read from Sprout Social covering general social media marketing strategies with visual examples of best practices.

Guide on how to establish good business practice by seperating and organizing business and personal finances. Also offers information on establishing business financing.

This resource helps in understanding how to read, analyze, and create financial statements so you can get a full and accurate understanding of your finances.

Guide on small business taxes including a "how to", and tax responsibilities based on business.

8 Tips for filing taxes for small business owners, including helpful tips such as credits to claim and deductions.

Homepage of Small Business Administration, with access to resources helpful for finding funding, gaining access to contracts, and general information. Helpful for small business owners inside the United States to develop their business strategy.

Webpage of resources for veteran owners of small business with access to funding and training resources.

Map of 891 national small business developmental centers run by the Small Business Administration.

Homepage of SCORE, a resource for free business mentoring and education, which helps small businesses in the United States. Helpful for those looking to begin their business or grow their early stage business.

List of locations of Veterans Small Business Development Centers. Helpful for veteran owners of small businesses nationally.

Map of 112 district offices of the Small Business Administration.

Page from U.S. VA with resources to help military veterans start careers. Helpful for veteran entrepreneurs looking to begin a venture.

Homepage for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where entrepreneurs must file patents to gain legal protections for their products/processes.

Guide on which debts should be paid off and in what order for those looking to increase their credit score.

Page with regulations concerning contracting for the U.S. government. Provides links to data as well as formating used in government contracts. Helpful for business owners looking to gain information on what is entailed in a government contract.

Employment agency/services for individuals with disabilities. Includes training, technical consultation, project development/management services, and services directory. Works with family, government agencies, businesses, and communities.

VET-Force advocates for the support of America's service-disabled and other Veteran-owned entrepreneurial enterprises, as one way for Veterans to provide economic security and prosperity for their families and for the communities they live in.

15 minute read from JustBusiness discussing the types of business that will need to file for a license or permit in order to operate.

5 minute read from Mental health America covering the basics of work-life balance.

Direct Access Program (DAP) offers unique opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) to build partnerships, maximize networking, and gain access to Procurement Decision Makers (PDMs) through structured, screened, and periodic events.

15 minute read from Forbes on free marketing tactics for small businesses.

Very short description on what to expect from a CPA, accountant, small business bookeeper and controller.

10 short tips on bookkeeping for small businesses, introductionary level information.

20 minute read from StylishlyMe covering best dress practices for professional women, as well as outlining common mistakes in the workplace.

Information page from the SBA association covering diversity suppliers. Covers data and resources for diverse businesses.

Article on common business risks, prevention, and how to manage risks. Includes examples and descriptions of physical, human, technology, location, and strategic risks.

Article describing various ways of calculating depreciation that professionals may use when working with a company's assets.

Portal with direct and organized links to federal services/tools/resources for veteran business owners.

Describes 7 common financial mistakes that are harmful to small businesses.

This resource provides crucial statistics and facts concerning American employers and businesses, along with facts regarding global trade, women-owned firms, GDP, and Employment.

This resource explains why women veterans are successful entrepreneurs. It discusses also the advantages of being a women-owned business.

This resource shows the Survey of Business Owners Survey results for the year 2012 regarding the demographics and business size.

This resource discusses the potential growth of women entrepreneurs in their start-ups.

Detailed steps in writing and preparing a grant or funding proposal.

Various business lessons adapted from Quentin Tarantino's success, featuring Robert J. Thompson, professor of Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, and Todd Dewett, a management professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

5 minute read from Web MD about the best health practices for work/life balance. Helpful for business owners who are dealing with burnout.

10 minute read from Entrepreneur that discusses helpful questions to ask prospective attorneys for small businesses. Helpful for entrepreneurs looking for legal representation who are unfamiliar with law.

5 minute read from Forbers on best practices for developing a work/life balance. Helpful for business owners who are dealing with burnout.

10 minute read from Entrepreneur on best practices for utilizing online courses for professional development. Helpful for business owners looking to generate new ideas from themselves or employees.

This resource discusses the challenges and struggles of the convicted people while re-entering the job market.

This resource discusses both qualitative and quantitative methods' strengths and weaknesses in research and their roles in product development.

10 minute read covering the basics of estate planning. Helpful for anyone who has an established enterprise and is looking to ensure long-term stability.

10 minute read addressing how to set up a thorough succession plan for private businesses. Helpful for people with established businesses to ensure long-term stability.

15 minute read from Entrepreneur with a brief walkthrough of potential exit strategies for small businesses. Includes discussions of selling, IPO, acquisition, and others. Helpful for late stage entrepreneurs looking to retire or otherwise close out their business.

The official YouTube channel of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Empowering small businesses to start, grow, expand, or recover.

List of resource articles from INC on how to find a mentor across multiple stages of the relationship. Helpful for early stage entrepreneurs looking for guidance.

The Census Business Builder (CBB) has demographic and economic data provided by the Census Bureau in an accessible and usable format. This includes a small business edition primarily for small business owners who need key data for their business plan or to better understand their potential market. It presents data for a single type of business at a time.

This website is a product of the Congressionally chartered Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission, which is made up of more than 20 Federal entities that are coordinating and collaborating to strengthen financial capability and increase access to financial services for all Americans. It includes information on managing money and reaching financial goals.

Compares rates from various lenders for loans. Also shows national daily average rates, and includes resources for finances.

A list of federal and national resources in preventing and recovering from identity theft.

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. [We] promote, support, protect, unify and advance the credit union movement". Works with policymakers, holds events, etc. You may have to be a member to receive services.

Access to a free annual credit report.

Definitions for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) lingo

Homepage for the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center through Warrington College of Business. Website has events, news, tools and courses. Also has information on the Gator Hatchery student incubator for students.

White papers, webinars, references guides, etc for business owners. Very extensive resource and information guide.

They work with advocacy groups, chambers of commerce, and small business coalitions to showcase small business capabilities and bring small businesses to the forefront of federal procurement opportunities. They offer services that include implementing policies set by the Small Business Administration.

Agency provides training, support and events for veteran business owners. Allows you to register for verification/registering as a verified business.

NOLO homepage which offers simplified legal resources. Helpful for early or mid track businesses seeking legal information.

HG homepage which offers legal resources. Helpful for early or mid track businesses seeking legal information.

Small Business Marketing Page from the Wall Street Journal. Helpful for business owners trying to stay up to date on marketing best practices.

Benefits resources from the SEC for military veterans and their families.

Homepage of Silent Professionals, a staffing firm for veterans looking for employment in the security sector.

Landing page at INC. for any articles with the topic "Exit Strategies". Helpful for late stage entrepreneurs looking to retire or otherwise close out their business.

Landing page at Free Management Library for e-commerce resources. Includes dozens of links to information on how to utilize e-commerce as a small business. Helpful for early or mid stage businesses looking to grow sales.

25 question quiz, to be used as a loose guide on whether your personality/skills are well-suited to own/run a business.

Front page of the eCommerce Times, new site devoted to best and upcoming practices in ecommerce. Helpful for established businesses to stay at leading edge of sales practices.

Homepage of American Corporate Partners, which pairs veterans with corporate mentors.

Landing page for Women TIES, an organization devoted to fostering female entrepreneurship. Helpful for female enterpreneurs at any stage of their business.

Homepage for the National Association of Women Business Owners, and organization devoted to fostering female entrepreneurship. Helpful for female entrepreneurs at any stage of their business.

Homepage for the US Women's Chamber of Commerce, which offers resources and certification for women owned businesses. Helpful for female business owners.

Homepage for Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, an organization devoted to supporting women owners of small businesses. Helpful for entrepreneurs who are women at any stage.

List of headquarters for the Small Business Administration, including legal, contracting, counseling, disaster assistance, financial assistance, international trade, management, and small business audiences.

Informational page on the UCEDD run by the AUCD.

Homepage of the NFIB, a special interest group for small businesses that advocates at national and state levels.

Homepage for the Association of Assisitve Technology Act Programs

Page for articles from "Entrepreneur" with the topic of social media. Helpful for those familiar with social media marketing to stay up to date on best social media practices

Describes the purpose and requirements of Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (MREIDL).

The Small Business Administration's guide on finding capital/loans for your small business. Includes eligibility requirements, loan partners, how to get free business counseling. Additionally includes Lender Match, which helps borrower find SBA approved loans with partners to ensure easier access to loans with reduced risk.

Events, articles, and initiatives to support entrepreneurs. Self describes as "The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital and startup community, NVCA advocates for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem".

Garage Technology Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital fund for businesses and resources for entrepreneurs. Also guides you on how to pitch to investors.

Homepage for Free Patents Onlines, which has resources for searching and filing patents.

Homepage of All Law which has legal resources across disciplines. Includes free legal resources.

Pearson's Higher education products and services page.

Homepage of FindLaw which focuses on providing links to legal resources focusing on Small Businesses. Helpful for small buiness at any stage looking for legal protections/information.

Kaplan continuing education page for Accounting. Helpful for small business owners looking to become more familiar with accounting and finance practices.

WIRED Magazine focuses on emerging trends in technology and how they apply to business and culture. Helpful for business owners looking to stay up to date on technology trends.

Inc Magazine focuses on the best and upcoming trends in business, with special regard for technology. Helpful for business owners to stay on top of best business practices.

Forbes Magazine focuses on best business trends and includes cultural topics that impact business. Helpful for business owners to stay on top of business related topics.

Fast Company Magazine is a business and lifestyle magazine that focuses on best business practices. Helpful for business owners who what to keep up to date on best company culture and business practices.

Bloomberg Businessweek covers news and trends in leading businesses. Helpful for business owners to stay current on business news.

Black Enterprise covers the intersection of culture and small business in their entrepreneurship section. Helpful for minority business owners or business owners trying to stay up to date on current practices in company culture.

Career Resources page from the Columbia University Center for Career Education with information of best etiquette including resumes, networking, and interviews. Helpful for veterans to take some time for personal development.

Homepage for IBIS World which covers news and research across corporate industries. Helpful for business owners looking to keep relevant information on their industry.

Commercial guides for international trade coming from the United States. Helpful for business owners looking to expand into international markets.

SEC homepage with small business resources from the SEC for small businesses. Provides data for small businesses on funding secured across various industries. Helpful for business owners looking to secure private funding.

Homepage for the US Copyright office, which allows business owners to register or research copyrights. Helpful for business owners looking to protect or license copywritten content.

Homepage for the U.S. Department of Labor offers various agencies, programs, and resources from the government.

Homepage of CFPB that provides Events, research, resources in regards to financial services.

Topics and subcategories such as workplace rights, benefits, information for employers, safety, research, laws, etc. published by the federal government.

Shortcuts to links/resources from the U.S. Department of Labor broken down by commonly searched terms and/or audience group.

Shortcut to programs/services by location. The website shows a map and users can select by state.

Homepage for Federal Trade Commission, which monitors commerce and protects consumers. Links to file a complaint, report identity theft, get consumer alerts, etc.

Resources page from the SBA discussing PTACs and how they can help small businesses.

Page from the Small Business Administration with resources for registering your business to participate in government contracts. Can register with a minority group status.

Resources page from the SBA discussing efforts to include women owned companies and how to take advantage of those programs.

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Page from the US Social Security Administration website with information on their program to help small and disadvantaged businesses.

Youtube channel page for the Harvard Business Review with content relating to best business practices. Helpful for business owners to stay up to date on best business practices.

Home page for Federal Reserve Education. It has history, functions, educational resources, and programs in regard to the Federal Reserve.

Home page for the FDIC which self-describes itself as "The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency created by the Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system. The FDIC insures deposits; examines and supervises financial institutions for safety, soundness, and consumer protection; makes large and complex financial institutions resolvable; and manages receiverships" (taken directly from website home page).

Disasters can strike at any time, and being prepared to rebuild is critical for a businesses success and longevity. These three steps will help ensure you're ready to manage any emergency.