Business Plans : A Research Guide

A business plan defines your business and identifies goals. Many times it is required when applying for business loans. A business plan should answer the following questions: what service or product does your business provide and what needs does it fill, who are the potential customers and how will you reach them, and where will you get the financial resources to start your business? The materials listed below will help you get started. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library's catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-step Guide to Building a Business and Securing your Company's Future, 5th ed. by Linda Pinson. Chicago: Dearborn Trade, 2001. ISBN: 0793146003.
Provides a step-by-step process for developing a polished, professional, and results-oriented plan.

Business Plans Handbook, 10th ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 2004. ISBN: 0787664855
Includes sample business plans and templates from various industries. Business plans include type of business; statement of purpose; executive summary; business/industry description; market; product and production; management/personnel; and financial specifics.

How to Write a Business Plan, 6th ed. by Mike P. McKeever. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 2002. ISBN: 0873378636.
Instructions on making realistic financial projections, developing effective marketing strategies, and refining your overall business goals.

Your First Business Plan: A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan, 4th ed. by Joseph A. Covello and Brian J. Hazelgren. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 2002. ISBN: 1402200021.
Instructional guidelines for those writing their first business plan.

Market Share Reporter: An Annual Compilation of Reported Market Share Data on Companies, Products, and Services. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991– . Annual. ISSN: 10529578.
Provides an overview of companies, products, and services. Each entry features a descriptive title; data and market description; a list of producers/products along with their market share.

World Market Share Reporter: A Compilation of Reported World Market Share Data and Rankings on Companies Products and Services, 5th ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 2001– . Biennial. ISBN: 0787656585.
Includes 1,670 entries which cover 360 geographic locations. Provides world market share data and rankings on companies, products, and services.

Encyclopedia of American Industries, 4th ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 2004. ISBN: 0787690635.
Includes industry description and statistical data for service and non-manufacturing industries (vol. 1) and manufacturing industries (vol. 2).

Standard and Poor's Industry Surveys. New York: Standard & Poor's, 2002– . Quarterly. ISSN: 01964666.
Includes industry profiles and trends, key industry ratios and statistics. A comparative company analysis lists revenues, net income, profit ratios, balance sheet ratios, equity ratios, and per-share data.

U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook. New York: DRI/McGraw-Hill; Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration, 2000– . Annual.
Includes historical data on shipments, imports, exports, employment, industry trends, technology, international competition, forecasts, trade patterns, and major country markets.

Annual Statement Studies: Financial Ratio Benchmarks and Annual Statement Studies: Industry Default Probabilities and Cash Flow Measures. Philadelphia: Robert Morris Associates, 1923– . Annual.
Provides financial ratios on over 600 industries. For a definition of ratios see www.rmahq.org/Ann_Studies/ss_faq.html .

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios. Murray Hill, NJ: Dun & Bradstreet. Annual. ISSN: 87552396.
Contains industry balance sheet and income statement information with ratios organized by SIC codes.

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Economic Census 2002 | 1997
www.census.gov/econ/census02/
www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ97.html
Provides a detailed portrait of the U.S. economy once every 5 years. Data can be used to gauge the competition, calculate market share, locate business markets, assist in site location, design sales territories, and set sales quotas.

United States Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html
Provides a sample outline of a business plan including links to sample plans.