Entrepreneur Toolkit

There is a lot of information out there on starting your own business. If you’re looking for quick tips on delivering an elevator pitch, need an executive summary or investor pitch deck template or could use a guide to forming an advisory board, here are a few links to useful resources.

Here are a few useful, downloadable documents:

• Protecting Your Position: The Importance of IP (PDF)
• Tips for delivering an elevator pitch (PDF)
• Executive summary template (PDF)
• Investor pitch deck template (PDF) 
• Guide to forming an advisory board (PDF) 

The following links also may be helpful for entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow a business:

• How to Name a Business 
• 5 Steps to Registering Your Business 
• Incorporating Your Business 
• IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center 
• The Process for Obtaining a Patent 
• The Process of Registering a Trademark 
• PubMed (a tool for conducting healthcare research)
• American FactFinder (a tool for conducting demographic research)
• FedStats (statistics from more than 100 government agencies to help in your market research)

Need to know what the Affordable Care Act means to your business? Read on.

The podcasts below feature Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, investors and advisors weighing in on topics important to company founders:

• Human Resources For Startups + Small Businesses: A Panel Discussion (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)
• Accessing A Startup Accelerator (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)
• Finding Financing (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)
• Perfecting Your Pitch (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)
• LLC, C-Corp or S-Corp: What's Right for My Business? (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)
• The Rapid Innovation Fund And Related Funding Opportunities From The Department Of Defense (JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network Podcast)