Business plan Research Start Guide
Here are some recommended resources for starting your research, organized around the types of analyses involved in creating a business plan.
For further recommendations on resources, take a look at the more indepth research guides on the left column and the Article Databases by Subject pages.
Analysis |
Recommended Resources |
Help |
| Opportunity Identification,
Environmental Scan
| Newspaper databases
Lexis Nexis
-- Business News section
-- Intellectual property section in Company Dossier
Derwent Innovations Index: Search for patents worldwide
US Patent & Trademark Office: Search issued patents and patent applications
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| Industry
* NAICS
* SIC
(More about industry research...) | IBISWorld BSP --Industry profiles
Current Industrial Reports
(Census Bureau) Encyclopedia of American Industries |
Browse or search by relevant categories. |
Competitors
* List by industry
* Corporate Financials
* Compare companies
(More about company research...) |
LexisNexis
-- Company Dossier
ReferenceUSA
S&P NetAdvantage
(stock analyst reports)
Edgar Online
(S.E.C.)
County Business Patterns
(Census Bureau) |
LN Tutorials
ReferenceUSA Quick Start Video Guide
S&P Guided Tour
Edgar Tutorial
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| Target Market / Consumer
* Market research reports
* Demographics
* Psychographics
(More about target markets...) | Mintel --Reports
American Fact Finder
(Census Bureau)
SimplyMap
Spending and Time Use Surveys
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
|
Mintel Quick Start Video Guide
SimplyMap Overview
BLS Tutorials |
Marketing & Advertising
(More about marketing...) |
Search for articles in
Business Source Premier.
Mintel --Media Center
Brands and their companies
Print (2 vol.)
T223 .V4 A22 ED.31 2008
DH Hill, Textiles
MPlans (sample plans) |
Ebsco Tutorials
Mintel Quick Start Video Guide
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| Operations & Workers
(More about supply chain management; human resources management... ) | ThomasNet Pay and Benefits Survey
(Bureau of Labor Statistics) Local Employment Dynamics
(Census Bureau)
Encyclopedia of Associations
Print (2 vol.)
HS17 .G325,
DH Hill, East Wing, 1 st floor. |
ThomasNet Quick Start Video Guide BLS Tutorials |
| Sources of capital & sample financial projections
(More about finance...) | Directory of venture capital & private equity firms, domestic & international
Print HG4751 .F58 ED.12
DH Hill, East wing, 1 st floor.
Garage Technology Investors
http://www.garage.com
Business Plan Handbook
Online version (11 vol.)
Print (13 vol.)
HD62.7 .B865
DH Hill, East wing, 1 st floor.
Bplans (sample plans)
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Identify sources of capital or financing.
Browse different types of business plans for inspiration. |
NC Department of Commerce: Business Services
http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/
Look under Start Your Business for useful resources, for example:
- Business licenses & Permits searchable index
- Find data with EDIS (demographic and economic statistics and data for NC)
- Sources of Capital
Small Business and Technology Development Center (North Carolina)
http://www.sbtdc.org
U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/ Business Owner's Tool Kit
http://www.toolkit.com/tools/index.aspx
Librarian Contact Information
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