Publications & Business Guides

​Below is a collection of helpful guides that offer information on starting and managing a business. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these guides. You may also receive a free copy of some of the guides by calling the First Stop Business Information Center at 800-252-2923 or Submit a Question.

First Stop Business Information Center's searchable inventory of business requirements and resources.

Starting Your Business in Illinois

• Starting Your Business in Illinois (PDF English / Spanish)

Small Business Administration Resource Guide

• Small Business Administration Resource Guide (SBA Resource Guide)
  
• The Plan: A Step-By-Step Business Plan Workbook
• The Plan: A Step-By-Step Business Plan Workbook (PDF English / Spanish)
• Business Feasibility Checklist - Business Feasibility Checklist

Financial Guidance

• A Simple Guide to Your Company’s Financial Statements (PDF English / Spanish)
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide To Financial Control (PDF English / Spanish)
• Understanding Commercial Lending: The Question and Answer Guide (PDF English / Spanish)

Grant Proposal Writing

This guide offers step-by-step instruction on how to create a winning grant proposal. 

• Proposal Writing - The Basic Steps in Planning and Writing (PDF English)

Marketing

• A Simple Guide To Your Small Business Marketing Plan (PDF English / Spanish)

Assessing Your Business

• The Small Business Report Card: Is Your Business Making The Grade? (PDF English / Spanish)

Buying & Selling

• Buying & Selling A Small Business (PDF English / Spanish)
• Commercial Real Estate 04-11 (PDF English / Spanish)

Franchises

These three guides offered by the Illinois Attorney General's Franchise Bureau are designed to assist franchisors in selling franchises in Illinois and as well as to help prospective franchisees buy a franchise.

• Illinois Franchise Act and Rules (PDF English) 
• Franchisor Registration Tips (PDF English) 
• Before You Buy a Franchise - Understand Your Risks (PDF English)

Retail

This guide offers tips on how to break into the retail market.

• Retail Profile (PDF English)

This free guide offers future grocery/convenience store entrepreneurs resources to assist in the start-up process as well as lending support to existing store owners.

• Grocery/Convenience Store Start-up Profile (PDF English)

This free guide provides budding restaurateurs with resources to assist in the start-up process and  support to existing restaurant owners.

• Restaurant Startup Profile (PDF English / Spanish)

Winery Startup

As the wine industry in Illinois continues to grow each year, the First Stop Business Information Center is making it easier for new and existing wineries to flourish. Included in this comprehensive guide are up-to-date industry facts, market and sales data as well as a business plan workbook created specifically for wineries. Cheers!

• Winery Startup Profile (PDF English)