- Office equipment and computers: B&W and color printers, copier, scanner, faxing, Windows and Mac computers, and free wireless Internet.
- Devices available for checkout: laptops with MS Office 2016, LCD projectors, Wi-Fi Hotspots, and more from our Library of Things collection.
- A wide variety of magazines and newspapers.
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Public Records (from home)
Search public records for new homeowners, new businesses, foreclosures, and bankruptcies for Illinois. Includes Check Illinois database for background check information. This database works best on a computer or tablet and may not be accessible on a phone.
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Reference Solutions
Directory of over 80 million U.S. and Canadian businesses (including historical data) and 147 million residential phone numbers. Search by industry or heading.
Getting Started- Research is a great way to gain insight into your community’s demand for your product or service
- Market Research, Demographics, and Analysis Tools - Doing smart research is a great way to gain insight into your community’s demand for your product or service. You can pinpoint where to focus your marketing efforts and to whom.
- Census Business Builder - Small Business Edition contains key data for business plans or to better understand potential markets.
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports - Information produced by the CRS for the United States Congress. Continually updated to provide timely, objective, and authoritative research and analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate. Use appropriate keywords, such as “small business” to begin.
- QuickFacts - Get the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau about the community where you live and do business.
- Small Business Administration - Gather detailed information on small businesses at the state level, including demographics of owners, small business income, and more.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
Local Partners - Learn more about starting your business with our local business partners
- Darien Chamber of Commerce
- Fox Valley SCORE
- Small Business Administration Illinois Office - Business guidance from the SBA's Illinois office
- Willowbrook/Burr Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Write Your Business Plan
- Business Plans and Finance Templates from SBA’s SCORE
- Census Business Builder - Small Business Edition contains key data for business plans or to better understand potential markets. It presents data for a single type of business and geography at a time.
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports - Newly available to the public, information produced by the CRS for the United States Congress. Continually updated to provide timely, objective, and authoritative research and analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate. Use appropriate keywords, such as “small business” to begin.
- How to Write a Business Plan from the Small Business Administration
Financing - Your business may qualify for seed money grants and bank loans available for small businesses
- Business Owner’s Toolkit – Getting Financing for Your Business
- Business Owner’s Toolkit – Loans from Banks
- Grants from the Federal Government
- Illinois Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP)
- Loans and Grants info from the SBA
Naming Your Business - Choosing a name is part of the registration process- Be original and avoid trademark violation
- Advice on Naming Your Business
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Small Business Association Register a Business Name
- The United States Patent and Trademark Office
Business Registration Application Forms - In order to operate your business, you’ll need to register with the state
- City of Darien Business License
- Illinois Business Registration, Licenses, and Permits
- Village of Burr Ridge
- Village of Willowbrook
Taxes and the IRS - To pay taxes on your business, you’ll need to file with the IRS. The IRS also provides a wealth of online resources for small business tax help.
- Business Owner’s Toolkit: Choosing a Form of Organization
- EIN Application Form
- Employer’s Tax Guide
- Self-Employment Tax Center
- Tax Guide for Small Businesses
Hiring and Employees
- Federal OSHA
- News from Illinois Department of Labor
- U.S. Small Business Administration Hiring & Managing Guide
