Kelli Pearson and Kristin Russell of the Sentient Bean Coffeehouse, in Savannah, found these resources invaluable when starting their small business.

Entrepreneur magazine’s website, www.entrepreneur.com, and their small-business Step-by-Step Startup Guides ($79, www.smallbizbooks.com).

Growing a Business (Simon & Schuster, $14, www.amazon.com), by Paul Hawken, an inspirational business book from the man who started Smith & Hawken tools.

SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (www.score.org), has a branch in every state, and they offer free counseling for small businesses.

And don’t overlook these other great resources.

The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business (Collins, $15, www.amazon.com), by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, includes chapters on writing proposals and being a boss.

Inc. magazine’s website, www.inc.com, provides a wealth of useful articles and links.

The Small Business Start-Up Kit: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide (Nolo, $25, www.nolo.com) answers important questions, including whether to incorporate and how to price merchandise.

A local branch of the Office of Small Business Development Centers (www.sba.gov/sbdc), an arm of the U.S. Small Business Administration, can help you with whatever you need to know to start a business, from writing a business plan to securing loans.

Your local chamber of commerce (www.uschamber.com) may be able to offer tips about crucial local regulations.