Business Guides > COB 300 >
Business Plan Research |
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Business Plan Writing
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Location
You'll need to consider many factors when deciding where to put your business. These resources can help you consider the location of existing competitors and suppliers, local tax implications, licensing and startup incentives.
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Reference USA 
Use this database to identify local businesses by industry classification and geographic criteria (area code, ZIP code, county, MSA). |
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Virginia Economic Development Partnership 
The "Guide to Establishing a Business" and "Guide to Local Taxes on Businesses" contain information for new Virginia businesses. |
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Business.gov
Click on the "State & Local Info" tab for step-by-step guides to doing business in all 50 states. |
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Consumer Demographics & Behavior
Discover age, income, education and buying habits of consumers.
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Mintel Oxygen
In-depth reports on a wide range of products, services and consumer segments in the U.S. and abroad. Try the "Advanced Search" for precision. Note: You must set up and log in with an individual profile & password. |
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Local Market Audience Analyst
Explore demographic and lifestyle profiles for U.S. market areas. Compare lifestyle categories, demographic segments and target customers. Note: This source only works in Internet Explorer. |
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Lifestyle Market Analyst (HF5415.33.U6 L54)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk
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Community Sourcebook of County Demographics (HA202.S65)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk
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Community Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics (HA202.S66)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk
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CEDDS: Complete Economic & Demographic Data Source (HC106.C662)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk
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>> Many more consumer resources available on the Consumer Behavior Guide. |
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Companies & Competitors
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Reference USA
Search by company name to identify location, estimated company size. Or search by industry classification and geographic criteria to generate lists of businesses.Tip: This source is great for finding small businesses but reveals little information about their operations. |
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LexisNexis Company Dossier
Search by company name or ticker symbol to reveal financial, legal and intellectual property information along with recent news coverage. |
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Uniworld
Search two company directories, American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries and Foreign Firms Operating in the U.S., for international parent-subsidiary relationships and locations. |
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Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
A comprehensive source of business and investment information, including industry surveys, corporation records, mutual fund reports and investment strategies. |
>> Many more company resources available on the Companies Guide |
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Industry & Product Trends
R E P O R T S & B R I E F I N G S
Advisory analysis of a sector, product or service. Discussion includes "big-picture" descriptions of market size, industry background, leading competitors, financial trends.
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Associations Unlimited
Locate industry associations, membership organizations, nonprofit groups, fan clubs, professional societies and other organizations. Tip: For best results, use the "Subject / Any Word Search" link. |
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Mintel Oxygen
In-depth reports on a wide range of products, services and consumer segments in the U.S. and abroad. Try the "Advanced Search" for precision. Note: You must set up and log in with an individual profile & password. |
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IBISWorld
In-depth reports on more than 700 industry sectors. Reports include thorough descriptions of market dynamics, quantitative analysis of industry performance and revenue forecasts. |
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Encyclopedia of American Industries
Introductory overviews to major industry sectors. Tip: Search by SIC code.
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eMarketer
Articles, statistics and reports on all things technological -- consumer usage patterns, online advertising trends, e-commerce and industry sectors. |
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SBRnet
This sports statistics source illustrates trends in sports participation, consumer expenditures, TV viewership and event attendance for dozens of sports and recreational activities. |
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Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
A comprehensive source of business and investment information, including industry surveys, corporation records, mutual fund reports and investment strategies. |
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A R T I C L E S
Articles from newspapers, business periodicals and trade journals can be highly valuable in helping to assess trends, but you'll need to do the work of drawing your own conclusions.
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Business Source Complete 
Search trade publications and business news periodicals. Search by NAICS code for focused results. |
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ABI/Inform
Search trade publications and business news periodicals. Search by NAICS code for focused results. |
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Dow Jones Factiva
Search by company, industry or product name for recent articles from newspapers, business magazines, trade journals and other periodicals. |
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Regional Business News
News articles from local and regional business publications. |
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eMarketer
Articles, statistics and reports on all things technological -- consumer usage patterns, online advertising trends, e-commerce and industry sectors. |
>> Many more industry trend resources available on the Industries Guide |
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Employees
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CLICK FOR PREVIEW
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American Salaries & Wages Survey (HD4975.A447)
ONLY IN PRINT -- located at Carrier Public Services Desk
A compilation of occupations and their corresponding salaries obtained from hundreds of federal and state government sources and various trade associations and journals. This print reference source incorporates wage data to provide extensive compensation information for jobs nationwide.
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Occupational Outlook Handbook
For hundreds of jobs, the OOH describes necessary training and education, earnings, job prospects, job responsibilities, working conditions, job markets in each state, and more.
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B E N E F I T S
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EBRI Databook on Employee Benefits
A great source for helping you estimate health insurance, retirement plans and other benefits for your staff. |
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Business.gov
Click on the "State & Local Info" tab to locate state-specific requirements on mandatory benefits like workers compensation and unemployment insurance. |
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StateHealthFacts.org
Look for the "Health Costs & Budgets" and "Managed Care & Health Insurance" topics for state-specific information. |
>> Find more help in Management Reference Sources. |
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Manufacturing & Production
Learn about operational processes, technologies and tools involved in the production and distribution of products and services.
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How Products are Made
An encyclopedia of products and how they are produced. Tip: For best results, search in the "Entire Document" field. |
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Manufacturing & Distribution USA
Market trend statistics on manufacturing, wholesale and retail industry sectors. Tip: Be sure to know your NAICS code going in. |
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Encyclopedia of Products & Industries: Manufacturing
Learn about the relationships between durable goods products and their manufacturers, suppliers and affected market sectors. |
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ThomasNet
This searchable directory of industrial products, manufacturers and distributors occasionally includes product catalogs and pricing. |
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Finances
When compiling your financial statements, you may consider real-life examples in the form of shareholder filings by publicly traded companies or averaged financial trends for particular industry sectors.
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BizMiner
Financial ratios, profit & loss statements and cash flow analysis for more than 16,000 lines of business and 250 metropolitan areas. |
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Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios (HF5681.R25 I531-I57, 5 vols.)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk |
Annual Statement Studies: Financial Ratio Benchmarks
(HF5681.B2 R6)
Located only at Carrier Library Public Services Desk |
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>> More finance resources available on the Financial Market Research Guide. |
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