Tools and Resources to Assist Entrepreneurs/Small Business Owners

From business plan templates to podcasts and videos offering free marketing advice for small business owners, this section features practical small business tools and resources to help you start or manage your business.

Many of the resources found here are in .pdf format, which can be viewed with Adobe Reader. Click here to download Adobe Reader for free.

Quiz: Should You Start A Business?

This quiz will help you evaluate whether starting a business fits well with your personality and skills. Take The Quiz!»

Business Directory

Members of the WESST Business Membership Program enjoy a free listing in our Business Directory. This service provides Members with an affordable online venue to promote their respective businesses to other Members as well as WESST clients and website visitors looking for quality products and professional services.

Don’t miss out on this low-cost marketing opportunity that will expand your company’s visibility beyond New Mexico to the Web’s global marketplace. The link to your listing will provide you with a convenient way to showcase and share information about your business to potential customers.

If you’re small business owner who would like to advertise your business online, sign up for a WESST Business Membership Plan starting at just $19/month to receive your free listing (and many other benefits to help you grow your business).

Sign up now for a Business Membership Plan»

Business Planning

Thinking through your business idea carefully and putting together a solid business plan is essential for every entrepreneur. This is true whether or not you need to raise money to start up your business—even if you don’t need to approach a bank or other lender, putting your business plan into writing is a key step in the path to success. Here you’ll find a sample business plan, a detailed outline, and several worksheets to walk you through this vital process.
Get Started»

Free SEO Tools

Review our list of SEO resources to help you enhance your search engine marketing efforts and increase quality traffic to your site.
View SEO Tools»

How to Plug Spending Leaks Video

This video and companion interactive worksheet will aid you in recognizing your spending leaks and plugging them up.
Start Plugin’»

New Mexico Networking Resources

Here you’ll find a collection of links that will help you make business connections in Rio Rancho, Sandoval, and Bernalillo counties in central New Mexico. Check back frequently. We’ll be adding networking resources throughout the state on an ongoing basis.
Start Networking»

Resources for Entrepreneurs

If WESST can’t help you, we’ll point you in the direction of sources who can. On this page you’ll find links to a variety of resources to assist entrepreneurs: from online business magazines such as Entrepreneur and Business Week to Harvard Business Review blogs and resources specifically for women business owners.
Check out this list of free small business resources»

e-Learning Videos

Whether you need general information on how to start a business or specific information on how to grow a business, WESST is committed to making online education for small business owners more accessible. We’ll be adding free e-learning courses to our site on an ongoing basis to help you gain the knowledge you need to start and grow sustainable small business.
Start Learning»