Entrepreneurship
Business Plans:
Internet sites and other resources to help formulate ideas:
Entrepreneur.com
Check out the Business Ideas tab section for ideas to get you going.
TrendWatching.com
Offers insight into emerging trends.
Hoover’s Franchise Gator
You can access Franchise Gator either through the Hoover’s database (scroll to the bottom of the home page and select Franchise Gator) or online. Find information on franchise opportunities, start up estimates, etc.
Franchise Bible 5th ed.
Print format: Business Library HF5429.235 .U5 K478 2004
Internet sites to help formulate and execute business plans:
BizPlanit
Free business plan resources to assist in writing your business plan.
Bplans.com
Sample business plans,“how tos,” and resources for small businesses.
Center for Business Planning
Business plan samples, software, and strategy.
Mplans.com
Find help with everything from how to write a marketing/business plan or perform SWOT analysis, to various marketing calculators.
McLeod Business Library print resources on writing a business plan:
The business planning guide: creating a winning plan for success 9th ed.
HD30.28 .B362 2002
Handbook of business strategy
HD30.28 .H3662
Business plans for dummies 2nd ed.
HD30.28 .T575 2005
Anatomy of a business plan
HD30.28 .P5 2001
Print resources on entrepreneurship/small business ventures, found at indicated campus libraries:
The small business start-up guide : a surefire blueprint to successfully launch your own business 4th ed.
Law Library HD62.7 .R66 2005
The ultimate small business guide : a resource for startups and growing businesses
Swem Library electronic resource HD2340.8 .U48 2004
Handbook of entrepreneurial dynamics : the process of business creation
Business Library HD62.5 .H3584 2004
The Oxford handbook of entrepreneurship
Business Library HB615 .O94 2006
The Blackwell encyclopedia of management. Entrepreneurship
Business Library HD30.15 .B455 2005 v.3
Pratt’s guide to private equity and venture capital sources
Business Library Available in early March 2010
Small business sourcebook 20th ed.
Business Library HD2346 .U5 S66 2005
Competitive Intelligence:
Learn about your competition by searching these databases.
Reference USA
Search by company name to identify company directory information or use the “Custom Search” option to search by industry classification or geographic region and generate lists of relevant companies. Tip: Excellent resource when you begin to do your own job search.
Mergent Online
Search by company name, ticker symbol, CUSIP, or Duns number. Find extensive business descriptions, corporate histories, and financial statements. Tip: Also a great source for current news as it pertains to a particular company and industry profiles relevant to that company.
Mergent Horizon
Search by company name or ticker symbol to find basic financial information and valuation analysis alongside listings of related products/services, customers, suppliers, partners, and competitors.
Marketline
Search by company name to find company profiles, industry profiles, country profiles, financial deals, and news. Company overviews include revenue and SWOT analysis, as well as competitor and subsidiary information.
OneSource
Search by company name, ticker symbol or registered number. Excellent coverage of company information for both US and non-US companies, including analyst reports and strengths/weaknesses analysis. Tip: Limited information can be found about some private companies.
Hoover’s
Search by company name to access a company overview which includes financial information, a list of competitors, key executives, and products/operations. Tip: Some information can be found on some private companies here.
Industry & Market Trends:
Understand your industry and market by searching these databases.
First Research
Search by keyword, SIC or NAICS code, or browse by industry sector. Industry reports are updated quarterly, are comprehensive, and link directly to related reports for ease of research.
Plunkett
Search by keyword (click on “Search all Industries”) or browse by industry sector. Once on the industry sector page, select “Statistics” or “Trends” from the header to view excellent statistical charts or trend analysis relevant to that industry.
Mintel Oxygen
Covers both the US and European marketplace. Reports include market segmentation, drivers, size and forecast. Note: You must create a profile prior to using this database.
MarketResearch.com
Search by keyword, or browse by topics. Reports include industry overviews, competitive analysis, market trends, product innovations, buyer behavior, and market share information. Note: These reports are lengthy, so view the table of contents prior to printing to focus on the chapters most relevant to your needs.
Marketline
Search by keyword to access industry profiles that include a market overview, value, segmentation, and forecasts. Also, find information on top competitors within industry/market sectors.
OneSource
Search by keyword, industry activity, or industry code to find industry research, analysts’ reports and strengths/weaknesses analysis. Note: To access this database, select “International Businesses” from the RefUSA home page.
Additional marketing resources:
Mplans.com
Find help with everything from how to write a marketing/business plan or perform SWOT analysis, to various marketing calculators.
Larry Chase's Web Digest for Marketers
Scroll down halfway to find more than 50 links to marketing categories. Each category lists and reviews marketing resources on the Internet.
Consumer Demographics:
Find out where your consumers are and what trends are developing by searching these sources.
Fedstats: demographic statistics
SRDS Lifestyle market analyst
Print format: Business Library HF5415.33 .U6 L54
Available both in print and in the SRDS database, “Local Market,” this resource provides analysis of consumer behavior and trends. Note: You must login using username and password provided in the SRDS user guide.
Choices 3
In depth consumer demographic characteristics, figures, and statistics. Note: Access is available on four designated computer terminals in the McLeod Business Library.
Financial Research:
Thomson One Banker
Search by ticker symbol to find extensive company financials, statistics, and forecasts.
McLeod Business Library print resources for key financial information:
Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios
HF5681 .R25 T68 2010
Tracks 50 operating and financial factors in nearly 200 industries. Organized by NAICS code.
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios
HF5681 .R25 I52 2008/2009
Financial data related to industries. Organized by SIC code.
News & Journal Articles:
Try searching any of the following databases by subject, product, industry code or another simple keyword or phrase. On your results page, you can narrow your results by date, source, or other suggested limiters.
EBSCOhost Business Source Complete
Change “Select a Field” to the relevant descriptor provided in the pull down menu.
Factiva
Use the “Intelligent Indexing” section to focus your search quickly. Note: If using more than one term, be sure to connect your terms in the search box with either “and” or “or.”
ProQuest ABI/Inform Global
Using the Advanced Search mode, change “Citation and document text” to the relevant descriptor provided in the pull down menu.
