Bizzed.com

by Angela R. Garber

Bizzed.com is the perfect specimen of that not-so-rare creature known as the small-business portal ­ one of many sites claiming to offer small businesses one-stop-shopping for news, supplies, and every business function under the sun.

Bizzed is a service of e-Citi, the Internet group of Citibank, and the site has used its corporate parent’s reputation and clout to create partnerships with many different online and offline firms. In fact, other than offering some proprietary editorial, the site primarily acts as a conduit to its partners.

Who are these partners? Some of the best in their respective businesses: Salomon Smith Barney, Travelers Insurance, IBM, Digital Works, the U.S. Postal Service, Boise Cascade Office Products, and ADP. Their services include accounting, 401 (k) management, insurance, travel, shipping, postage, printing, debt collection, and more. Some are free; some you have to pay for. A recent partnership with the Small Business Association also promises a host of online training courses.

Of course, it’s often hard to tell which of these new services will really help businesses do business better. But Bizzed has sense enough to leave it to the experts, and get out of the way