Lodestar Technology Labs, LLC was founded in 2007 to expand key technological and software initiatives related to the small business consulting services provided to subscribers of GoSmallBiz. With a focus on producing solutions tailored specifically to the needs of small to mid-sized businesses, Lodestar has spent more than two years developing its first all-in-one suite of software applications for managing and developing a SME (Small to Medium sized Enterprise).

The full suite of software applications comes with six new web-based applications and one desktop program, each designed to support and streamline a range of functions at your small business. Whether you've got important administrative documents to draft or a database of employee information to organize, our software relieves you of many of the time-consuming logistical burdens that come with running your own enterprise.

Alongside the services provided on GoSmallBiz.com, the software reflects our continuing efforts to bring entrepreneurs all the tools and resources necessary to thrive in today's competitive marketplace. From human resources to marketing and business plan development, we've expanded the scope of our services by giving members access to software designed specifically to help them execute on much of the advice offered by our consultants and other information sources on GoSmallBiz.com.

Speaking of consultants, since its inception, GoSmallBiz has responded to every question asked by members about running their businesses through our premiere service, “Ask Your Question”. The goal of Ask Your Question is to provide access to highly experienced business professionals, who offer facts, informed opinions, reference materials and additional sources of information to help our members make important decisions about their businesses. We don't make the decisions for you and we don’t handle all of your research tasks, but we do offer valuable insight to guide you to a decision that works for your business.

Similarly, while we will continue to staff an extensive customer and technical support team well-versed in all of our technology, our goal is to lead you to your own solutions by providing a robust library of FAQ's, How-To's and additional information in the Help section of each application. Depending on the type of business you have - or aspire to build - you may find unique ways to capitalize on the vast array of features our software has to offer. It's only by utilizing - and perhaps contributing to - those resources that all of our members will discover and fully capitalize on the value the software holds for their businesses.

We're giving you the seeds - now it's your turn to plant them, and watch them grow.

Lodestar Technology Labs intends to expand our product offering and continually improve the features of our current products; the web-based nature of most of our software solutions allows us to do this with no inconvenience passed on to our members. As we move forward, we look to our various friends and partners, including our subscribers, to offer insight on how we might improve our software to better suit the needs of all of our customers. To that end, we encourage you to take advantage of the Contact Us link at the bottom of each application page, and provide us your feedback.

After all, as entrepreneurs, we're all in this together.

About the Applications

These applications were designed specifically with entrepreneurs and small business owners in mind. Why? Scour the Internet and you'll find an infinite list of HR applications perfectly crafted for a corporation the size of a small country. But you won't find much that fits the unique needs of a small to mid-sized business.

Lodestar and GoSmallBiz is changing all of that with the launch of this suite of applications, designed by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. The entire suite contains seven new small business-targeted solutions to help support and streamline a range of important functions at your business, including:

• The Employee File Manager, an employee database management tool designed to manage and store all your employee information electronically in one central hub.
• The HR Document Builder, an efficient tool for crafting and storing important administrative documents using a comprehensive library of templates and dynamic online data-replacement forms.
• The Business Plan Development Tool, a template-based document creation application that also calculates complex financial statements for a professionally crafted business plan.
• The Distance Learning Center, a unique online educational experience that offers detailed instructional content in several areas of small business management, including accounting, marketing, business law and more.
• The Website Builder, a robust web builder that lets users design and optimize a  Website using drag and drop design with widgets to apply functionality that includes RSS feeds, video and audio feeds, images placement, shopping cart and contact tools, all on our secure server.
• The Business Risk Assessment Tool, a virtual consultant that analyzes risks and liabilities at your business and provides detailed instructions for how to remedy potential problem areas.
• ManageMyMinutes, a web-based tool for conveniently organizing and maintaining your corporate minute book through a combination of automated reminders and template-based document creation.

About GoSmallBiz

GoSmallBiz.com was founded in 1996 by entrepreneur and NFL Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton. Having started more than 15 businesses since his days as quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, today Tarkenton's mission is to bring small businesses all the information and resources necessary to thrive in today's competitive marketplace.

With more than 52,000 active members throughout North America, GoSmallBiz strives to provide the most comprehensive body of knowledge and tools targeting micro business available on the web. Along with a set of user-friendly business tools and vast libraries of instructional content, GoSmallBiz members get 24-7 access to highly experienced consultants specializing in nearly every facet of business, including taxes and accounting, marketing and public relations, human resources and much more. For more information, visit www.gosmallbiz.com.