Every day more and more entrepreneurs are building successful businesses using the internet. There is an abundance of opportunity online and depending on the venture, there is often less cost and risk involved when compared with traditional businesses. There is also a wealth of resources available to help the online entrepreneur to run a business more effectively and more profitably, and we list many of those resources here. Feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and your recommendations of other resources.

    Communications / VoIP

    The internet brings great opportunities to do business all with people from all around the world, and fortunately there are also a number of resources to help with the communication that is necessary. The resources here will allow you to communicate inexpensively with others:

    1. Skype - Free calls over the internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like.
    2. Vonage - Leading provider of VoIP internet broadband telephone services.
    3. Gizmo - Low cost international calling and free calls to users on Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live users and SIP networks.
    4. Vonics Digital - Plans start at $12.99 per month lowest price available in the market.
    5. VoipBuster - Free program that uses the latest technology to bring free and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.
    Data Backup
    Anyone that has important of sensitive information on their computer needs to have a system in place for backing up the data. For online entrepreneurs a loss of data could be tragic. These resources will give you a number of options from which you can choose the one that is best for you. Backing up your hard drive can be done quickly, easily, and automatically:

    1. Mozy - Industry-leading solution for online backup.
    2. Intronis - Online backup solution with remote computer data backup software.
    3. Carbonite - Unlimited online backup for one flat fee.
    4. Data Deposit Box - Your source for online backup, and secure online data backup.
    5. Athena Backup - Automatically backup your home computer files with Athena Backup.
    6. Data Protection Services - Secure online backup services, free trial!
    Invoicing
    If you are sending and tracking invoices to customers, you may be able to save some time and make the process more efficient by using a program that is specifically designed for this purpose. These resources can help the organization of your invoicing and they can allow you to have more time to spend on what you do best:

    1. Bamboo Invoice - Simple, Open Source, Online Invoicing.
    2. FreshBooks - Online invoicing and time tracking service.
    3. Transcepta - Electronic invoicing solution.
    4. Blinksale - The easiest way to send invoices online.
    5. InterlinQ Solutions - Providing a daily job report, time sheets, job tracking, construction reports and mobile billing.
    6. Bill My Clients - Easy way to create and send invoices and bills to your clients.
    7. Billing Orchard - Online electronic billing software application.
    8. 2nd Site - Secure invoicing service w/ online invoice payment & online employee timesheets.
    Financial Management and Accounting
    Many online entrepreneurs and small businesses do not have the need to use an accounting system that is as complex as that of a larger business, but every business needs to have organized and accurate financial records. These resources will provide you with everything you need and can easily be used by anyone:

    1. Intacct - Delivers ERP software as a service to small and midsize companies.
    2. QuickBooks Online - Accounting Solutions for professionals and businesses.
    3. Xero - Slash the hours you spend every week on accounting administration.
    Time Management and Project Management
    Time management is critical to achieving maximum productivity. In order to improve that time management of your business, try some of these resources. I think you will see that the resulting organization and efficiency will have a noticeable impact on the results of your work:

    1. Google Calendar - Free online shareable calendar service.
    2. Vitalist - Web based task manager designed to work with Getting Things Done (GTD).
    3. Backpack - Personal and small business information management, intranet, and to do list organizer.
    4. Basecamp - Web-based tool that lets you manage and track projects.
    5. Goplan - Online project management app.
    6. Copper Project - Project Management Software.
    7. Side Job Track - Web-based job tracking, invoicing, reporting & project management software.
    Contact Manager
    Online entrepreneurs typically have a very large number of contacts that they need to keep track of. These programs are specifically created to help you effectively manage your contacts. If you could use some improvement in this area, try some of these resources:

    1. Big Contacts - Web Based Contact Manager for 2 to 2000 People.
    2. Highrise - Shared contact manager.
    3. BatchBook - Easy-to-use contact management system.
    4. Relenta CRM - Small business CRM software.
    5. Oprius - Sales and Contact Management Software for Independent Sales Consultants.
    6. PipelineDeals - CRM made simple - $15/User/Month.
    Hiring Freelancers
    At some point you may have a need to hire freelancers of some type. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources online to help you find freelancers and identify the right one for your project. All of the websites listed here will allow you to search for freelancers according to your needs:

    1. Elance - Outsourcing to Freelancers.
    2. Guru - Free service helps you find freelancers, get free quotes, and get your project done.
    3. SmarterWork - Top small business services marketplace.
    4. Contracted Work - Work Jobs Freelance Search.
    5. oDesk - Global service marketplace for small and medium sized businesses.
    6. Get A Freelancer - Freelance programmers and web designers.
    7. BizReef - Online Services platform.
    Online Reputation Management Tools
    Reputation management is a very hot topic online right now. As an entrepreneur, your reputation can have a serious impact on your success and you have a need to monitor your reputation and to make sure that what is being published is true. There are a variety of resources that can help in different ways:

    1. claimID - Free, easy way to manage your online identity.
    2. Google Alerts - Email updates of the latest relevant Google results.
    3. Yahoo Alerts - Free, personalized notification service.
    4. Technorati - Real-time search for user-generated media.
    5. FindMeOn - Manage your circles of friends, family, colleagues and others.
    6. myOpenID - Secure OpenID provider.
    Accepting Payment
    If you are taking online payments from customers or clients, you will need a way to make that happen. There are a number of different options, and the details of each can vary a good bit. Take a look at these options and see which is best for your situation:

    1. PayPal - World renowned.
    2. Google Checkout - Google’s way to send and receive money.
    3. Neteller - Online payment solutions.
    4. Moneybookers - Cheaper way to send and receive money worldwide.
    5. iKobo - Pick up your money at over 1000000 Visa ATMs.
    6. CheckFree - Provides financial electronic commerce services.
    Shopping Carts
    E-Commerce sites that are selling products to customers will need some type of shopping cart. There are a number of open source options listed below, as well as a number of other options. Hopefully you will find one that is well-suited to your needs:

    1. Zen Cart - Free, user-friendly, open source shopping cart system.
    2. osCommerce - Free online shop program.
    3. AgoraCart - Free shopping cart.
    4. OpenCart - Open source PHP-based online shopping cart system.
    5. Ubercart - Open source e-commerce suite.
    6. X-Cart - Shopping cart software & PHP ecommerce solutions.
    7. NetSuite - Integrated web-based business software suite.
    8. ZNode - ASP.NET shopping cart.
    9. Fortune3 - Ecommerce Shopping cart software.
    10. Network Solutions - Robust, customizable Ecommerce online shopping cart software.
    11. Kick Start Cart - Business professionally over the Internet.
    12. Secure Delivery - The best digital download management site on the net!
    Social Networking
    Social networking sites can help entrepreneurs to find potential partners, get advice from other entrepreneurs, network with others around the world, and to simply get some exposure for their profile. Each networking site is a little bit different. You’ll never have the time to use all of them effectively, so find a few that have potential to help you the most and be actively involved:

    1. PartnerUp - Find business partners, opportunities to get involved in businesses.
    2. Cofoundr - Cofoundr is a private community for entrepreneurs.
    3. Fast Pitch Networking - Business Networking Social Network for Business Professionals.
    4. Killer Startups - Reviewing new startups.
    5. Konnects - Business technology focus groups and networking events.
    6. LinkedIn - Strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts.
    7. Ryze - Business Networking.
    8. StartupNation - Provides real-world business advice to people who want to start a business.
    9. Startupping - Community resource created for Internet entrepreneurs.
    10. UpSpring - Business networking.
    11. Ziggs - White pages and free people search for professionals.
    Finding Funding
    Many entrepreneurs will need some type of funding for their ventures. If this is the case for you, these resources may be helpful. Locating potential funding sources can be a bit easier be taking advantage of the resources that are available:

    1. GoBigNetwork - Angel investor network/venture capital.
    2. Fundability - Puts your company in front of qualified and interested investors.
    3. Find That Money - Formidable presence in consumer finance.
    4. Venture Deal - Venture capital database.
    5. American Capital Advance - Fast Business Loans.
    6. Financing: Where to Find It
    CPC Revenue
    One of the most common ways to make money with a website is through cost per click programs like Google AdSense. While these programs are not a good fit for some sites and for some audiences, they have proven to effective for many:

    1. Google AdSense - Google’s CPC Network.
    2. Yahoo! Publisher Network - Yahoo’s CPC Network.
    3. ABC Search - Get paid per click by ABC.
    4. AdBrite - Webmasters can buy and sell text ads based on their site’s topic area.
    5. Chitika - The leading merchandising network for bloggers.
    6. Bidvertiser - Pay per click advertising.
    7. Kanoodle - Distributes results to a large network of other search engines and search box providers.
    8. Clicksor - Effective online advertising technology.
    9. Kontera - Advertiser and Publisher Solutions. 
    CPM Revenue
    CPC isn’t the only option for monetizing a website through advertisements. By choosing a CPM program you will be compensated for impressions rather than clicks. Here are some of the choices that are available:

        1. ADSDAQ - A new advertising exchange.
    2. ValueClick Media - One of the largest and most effective online advertising networks.
    3. AdDynamix - Full-spectrum interactive provider delivering ad management.
    4. Morning Falls - Online advertising solutions to advertisers and publishers worldwide.
    5. CPX Interactive - Online ad network.
    6. BurstMedia - Internet advertising network.
    7. Casale Media - World’s fastest growing provider of online media solutions.
    8. Tribal Fusion - Focused on high quality sites with targeted content and significant reach.
    9. BrightRoll - Video advertising.
    10. Adtegrity - Internet Advertising Solutions.

    每天都有越來越多的創業人士使用互聯網成功創業。網上有巨大的商機,電子商務在某些行業相對傳統商務而言,成本更低風險更小。網上還有豐富的資源可用來幫助線上創業者更高效地運作和獲利,在此我們列出了其中好些資源,歡迎留下評論和反饋,以及你對其它資源的推薦。

    通訊工具/網絡電話

    互聯網帶來了與世界各地人們合作的巨大商機,好在同時也提供大量的資源以幫助期間必要的溝通。這里有讓你不必花費很多便能與于他人溝通的工具:

    1. Skype – 互聯網上的免費電話,與其他Skype用戶通話,想談多久就談多久。

    2. Vonage – 寬帶電話業務的領軍

    3. Gizmo – 國際長途超低價,免費呼叫雅虎即時通、Google聊天工具、MSN用戶以及使用SIP協議的網絡電話。

    4. Vonics Digital –最低12.99美元包月,市面最實惠套餐。

    5. VoipBuster – 免費軟件,使用最新科技,免費與世界各地的人士進行高質量的語音通話。

    數據備份

    任何一臺存有重要敏感數據的電腦都需要有數據備份系統。數據丟失對于網絡創業人士或許是可怕的。以下提供幾個解決方案,你可選擇最適合自己的。備份你的硬盤原來可以做到如此迅速、簡單、自動化。

    1. Mozy – 行業領先的聯機備份方案。

    2. Intronis – 聯機備份方案,使用遠程計算機數據備份軟件。

    3. Carbonite – 無限量聯機備份,只需定期支付一筆固定費用。

    4. Data Deposit Box – 聯機備份的好手,安全的線上數據備份。

    5. Athena Backup – 自動備份你的家用電腦.

    6. Data Protection Services - 安全的聯機備份,免費試用!

    發票

    如果你需要提供發票給客戶,使用特別為此設計的軟件能使流程更高效,使你能節省一些時間。以下資源能幫你進行發票管理,使你有更多時間來做最擅長的事情。

    1. Bamboo Invoice – 簡單,開源的聯機發票系統。

    2. FreshBooks –提供在線貨品計價和即時追蹤服務

    3. Transcepta – 電子發票解決方案。

    4. Blinksale – 聯機發送發票的最簡方案

    5. InterlinQ Solutions –提供工作日志、工時表、任務跟蹤、工程報告和移動記賬。

    6. Bill My Clients – 輕松創建并發送發票、賬單給客戶。

    7. Billing Orchard – 聯機電子記賬軟件。

    8. 2nd Site – 提供安全的發票服務,包括聯機發票支付和雇員工時表。

    財務管理和會計

    許多網上創業者和小公司不必使用像大公司那樣復雜的會計系統,但每家公司都必須有嚴謹準確的財務記錄。以下資源為你提供你在財會管理方面所需的一切,任何人都能輕松使用。

    1. Intacct – 為中小型企業提供ERP(企業資源規劃)軟件。

    2. QuickBooks Online – 面向專業人士和企業的會計解決方案。
    
    3. Xero – 大幅削減你每周花在會計管理方面的時間。

    時間管理和項目管理

    時間管理對于取得最高生產效率至關重要。不妨試用以下工具來改進你公司的時間管理。我想你會發現,由此帶來的組織效率會對你的工作結果產生明顯影響。

    1. Google Calendar – 免費的線上可共用日歷服務。

    2. Vitalist – 基于Web的任務管理器,以David Allen “盡管去做”(Getting Things Done ,GTD)的原則設計。

    3. Backpack – 提供個人或小型企業信息管理、局域網、計劃清單管理方案。

    4. Basecamp – 基于Web的管理工具,可管理、跟蹤項目。

    5. Goplan – 聯機項目管理應用應用程序。

    6. Copper Project – 項目經理軟件。

    7. Side Job Track – 基于Web的任務跟蹤、發票管理、報告和項目管理軟件。

    聯系人管理

    網上創業者普遍有相當大數量的客戶需要保持聯系。以下方案特別為你高效管理聯系人而設計。如果你希望在管理聯系人方面有所改進,可以試試:

    1. Big Contacts – 基于Web的聯系人管理,適用于2~2000個聯系人。

    2. Highrise – 共享的聯系人管理。

    3. BatchBook – 易用的聯系人管理系統。

    4. Relenta CRM –小公司客戶關系管理軟件。

    5. Oprius – 供獨立銷售顧問使用的銷售及客戶管理軟件。

    6. PipelineDeals –輕松客戶管理 – 單用戶每月15美元。

    雇用自由職業人

    某些時候你會需要雇用某類自由職業人。幸好網上有足夠的資源來幫助你找到適合你項目的人手。下列網站會讓你找到合意的自由職業人的:

    1. Elance – 自由職業人外包。

    2. Guru – 免費為你找到自由職業人,免費估價,從而你能完成項目。

    3. SmarterWork – 最熱的小企業服務市場。

    4. Contracted Work – 人才交易、合同工搜索引擎

    5. oDesk – 全球服務市場,針對中小型企業

    6. Get A Freelancer –(自由職業者)程序員和網站設計人員

    7. BizReef – 聯機服務平臺

    網絡信譽管理工具

    信譽管理目前是網上最熱的話題。作為創業人士,信譽對于你的成功至關重要,你必須時刻關注,確保網上公布的關于你信譽的信息是真實的。有多種資源可以以不同的方式來幫助你:

    1. claimID – 免費、易用的互聯網身份管理.

    2. Google Alerts – Google快訊,將最新的監視主題搜索結果發至電子郵箱。

    3. Yahoo Alerts – 免費的個性化通知服務。

    4. Technorati – 實時搜索用戶自創多媒體。

    5. FindMeOn – 管理你的朋友圈子、家人、同事和其他人。

    6. myOpenID – 提供安全的OpenID 。.

    收款

    如果你的客戶選擇線上支付的方式,你需要相應的解決方案。備選方案是不少的,且各有千秋。看看以下列舉的,選擇最適合你的。

    1. PayPal – 世界知名。

    2. Google Checkout – Google 自己的收付款方式。

    3. Neteller – 在線收付款解決方案。

    4. Moneybookers –更便宜的全球收付款。

    5. iKobo – 可在1000000多家加入Visa國際的自動取款機( Visa ATM)上收款

    6. CheckFree – 提供電子商務服務。

    購物車

    在線交易的電子商務網站需要某種類型的購物車。以下提供多種包括開放源代碼解決方案在內的備選,但愿你能找到最適合你需要的:

    1. Zen Cart – 免費、容易操作的開源購物車系統。

    2. osCommerce – 免費的在線購物電腦程序。

    3. AgoraCart -免費的購物車。

    4. OpenCart – 基于php的開源在線購物車系統。

    5. Ubercart – 開源電子商務組件。

    6. X-Cart – 購物車軟件& php電子商務解決方案。

    7. NetSuite – 基于Web的軟件套件集成。

    8. ZNode - ASP.NET購物車。

    9. Fortune3 – 電子商務購物車軟件。
    
    10. Network Solutions – 穩定、可自定義的電子商務線上購物車軟件。

    11. Kick Start Cart – 提供專業電子商務服務。

    12. Secure Delivery – 網上最好的下載工具!

    社區網絡

    社區網絡可以幫助創業者找到潛在合作伙伴,同時獲取其他創業人士的建議,且接交世界各地的人,最簡單而言,也能提高自己的知名度。每個社區網站都有些不同。你絕不會有時間把它們每個都弄熟,找到最有潛力幫你的,然后積極參與即可。

    1. PartnerUp – 尋找業務伙伴和合作機會。

    2. Cofoundr –企業家們的私人社區。

    3. Fast Pitch Networking – 商界專業人士的社區網絡。

    4. Killer Startups – 考察新興公司。.

    5. Konnects – 商業技術訪談小組及社交活動。

    6. LinkedIn – 鞏固并拓展你現有的可信任交際圈子。

    7. Ryze – 商業社交。

    8. StartupNation – 為打算創業的人士提供實用生意經。

    9. Startupping – 為互聯網上的創業者而建的社區資源。

    10. UpSpring -商業社交。

    11. Ziggs – 免費個人信息搜索引擎,可搜索專業人士的聯系方式。

    籌集資金

    許多創業者都需要某些類型的資金。如果你有此需要,以下資源或許能助一臂之力,充分利用它們,尋找潛在資金來源將會容易些。

    1. GoBigNetwork – 天使投資/風險投資

    2. Fundability – 將你的公司展示給有資質且感興趣的投資者。

    3. Find That Money – 提供強大的個人貸款。.

    4. Venture Deal – 風險投資數據庫。

    5. American Capital Advance – 快捷商業貸款。

    6. Financing: Where to Find It 融資渠道

    CPC網絡廣告

    常用的靠網站賺錢的方式之一就是通過點擊一次收取傭金(cost per click, CPC)的網絡廣告,比如Google AdSense。雖然這些模式對某些網站和瀏覽者來說未必合適,但事實證明對許多應用者而言還是有效的。

    1. Google AdSense – Google的CPC 網絡廣告。

    2. Yahoo! Publisher Network – 雅虎的 CPC網絡廣告。

    3. ABC Search – ABC讓你點擊即有傭金。

    4. AdBrite – 網站管理者可根據本站主題范圍投放文字廣告。

    5. Chitika – 博客寫手們的主導商業網絡。

    6. Bidvertiser – 按單次點擊付費的網絡推廣方式。

    7. Kanoodle – 將需要網絡推廣的內容放到大量搜索引擎或搜索欄的結果列表中。

    8. Clicksor – 管用的網絡廣告技術。

    9. Kontera – 供給廣告商和出版商的解決方案。

    CPM網絡廣告

    CPC不是網絡廣告贏利的唯一途徑。選擇按每展示一千次收費的網絡廣告(Cost per Thousand Impressions, CPM), 你靠展示次數而非點擊次數來收取傭金。以下是可選的資源:

    1. ADSDAQ – 新式廣告交易平臺。

    2. ValueClick Media – 全球最大最高效的網絡廣告商之一。

    3. AdDynamix – 提供全方位、交互的網絡廣告管理。

    4. Morning Falls – 為全球廣告商和出版商提供網絡廣告解決方。

    5. CPX Interactive – 網絡廣告聯盟。

    6. BurstMedia – 互聯網廣告聯盟。

    7. Casale Media –全球發展最快的網絡媒體解決方案供應商。

    8. Tribal Fusion – 傾力打造內容針對性強影響力大的高質量網站。

    9. BrightRoll – 視頻廣告。

    10. Adtegrity – 網絡廣告解決方案。