Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AGMRC) is one of many organizations that provides information on business legal structures.  The AGMRC is a little unique in that it is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture.  Selecting the correct business legal structure can have a significant impact on risk management and how your business is run.  Whatever structure YOU do select make sure you know why this structure is best for you, and why you select it over other choices.

Food Marketing Institute provides an excellent free website that outlines trends in food industries.  If nothing else, read through their report (Food Price Information from USDA) on projected price trends in 2008.  It gives an excellent analysis of how farm commodity prices will affect different food sectors.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans are required by an increasing number of institutional buyers. If you had to write a HACCP plan where would you start?  This site provides a primer on how to complete this work.  In addition to institutional buyers, many general consumers will likely be drawn to businesses that provide rock-solid assurances that all steps have been taken to minimize food safety risks.

Michigan Market Maker is an interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Michigan, providing an important link between producers and consumers.  Farmers can find distributors and retailers.  Consumers and restaurants looking to buy directly from Michigan farmers can use this tool to simplify the search process.

Michigan State University, Product Development Center can help develop and commercialize high value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the agriculture and natural resource sectors.  One product the Center offers and which is available online is their Rapid Opportunity Assessment Fact Sheets.  Growers, processors, distributors, other supply chain participants or an individual who wants to start a business in the food, agriculture and natural resource sector, can use the fact sheets to broadly identify potential opportunities for high profit products and markets. They are especially useful, if seeking high-value, differentiated or niche products.

Terminal Market Prices for Fresh Produce reports weekly prices for fresh produce at major produce terminals across the U.S.  These prices are based on survey results.  Some farmers suggest the numbers are not always accurate but find them to be a great reference point for tracking ups and downs in the marketplace.

Business Plans

BPlans.com is a commercial site that includes over 100 free sample business plans as well as the opportunity to purchase software with over 500 more business plans.  The site also includes other valuable small business information and tools such as advice, calculators, articles, and a business term glossary.

INVenture is a Purdue University Extension web based business planning tool.  Because it can be difficult to know where to begin exploring a venture, this website guides you, page-by-page, through the business planning process by asking simple questions, then compiling the answers into a business plan.

Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) assist both new ventures and existing businesses.  One of the services provided is the development of business plans thru an interactive tool.  You complete your business plan in steps.  Each step contains a brief description, questions, suggested key elements, and sample text.  Using the answers you provide to each of the questions the interactive tool builds your business plan.  Also included on  the MI-SBTDC's website are sample business plans.

Marketing

BizMiner gives you a feel for what life would have been like if you had become a spy. Finding out specifically how your competitors are performing can be tough. Biz Miner provides modestly priced reports on industry performance. They also provide several free reports and guides to understanding business.

Survey Monkey is a popular free on-line survey tool.  Consumer survey instruments can help you get feedback on how consumers feel about your product idea, prices, distribution strategies, etc. 
 

Packaging

There is a science behind coloring, font selection, packaging material, container shape, etc.  Packaging not only protects your protect until it reaches the consumer, but it also effects the customer's perception of your product.  The following are interesting websites that address the topic.  They can even be fun to look at!

The Dieline.com is one of the web’s leading packaging design blogs.

R.BIRD is a brand consulting firm with 25 years of experience in Packaging Design and Branding. 

Start-up Related

Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services, Office of Financial and Insurance Services publishes a brochure regarding the laws governing the sale of securities in Michigan.  Before you sell shares in your company, or even before you discuss selling shares in your business you should review this dry but informative document reviewing Michigan securities regulations.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's official economic development corporation, as such it serves as a one-stop resource for businesses seeking to grow in Michigan.  Their website includes a START A BUSINESS section.  The section includes information on Writing A Plan, Structure/Registration, Licenses/Permits, Business Taxes, Buying/Financing A Business, and Hiring Employees.  

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), in partnership with the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, provides a helpful, comprehensive guide intended to cover all business types.

Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) assist both new ventures and existing businesses.  One of the services provided is the Guide to Starting a Small Business. 

Statistics

BizStats  provides a free online source for small business statistics.  BizStats collects, analyzes, edits and adds value to public data and delivers it without cost in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.

County Business Patterns provides data on the total number of establishments, mid-March employment, first quarter and annual payroll, and number of establishments by nine employment-size classes by detailed industry for all counties in the United States and the District of Columbia.  

DataPlace is a one-stop resource for housing and demographic data about any community, region, or the nation. The site not only assembles a variety of data sets from multiple sources, but it also provides tools and guides to assist in analyzing, interpreting, and applying the data so more informed decisions can be made.

University of Michigan Documents Center is a lesser known source of demographic data than the Census Bureau; however this website is full of information covering a very diverse base of demographic data.