Small Business Start-Up: A Research Guide

If you are interested in starting a small business, chances are you will need to begin by writing a business plan. Information needs will include how to raise capital and finance your business, industry analysis, market research, advertising plans, and identifying trade shows and conventions within your industry. This guide introduces researchers to some of the basic informational sources on the topic. 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.

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios by Leo Troy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1969– . Annual. ISSN: 07479107.
Provides financial ratios for companies in various asset ranges by SIC code. Data reported are based on aggregate numbers from IRS records.

Annual Statement Studies. Philadelphia: Robert Morris Associates, 1923– . Annual. ISSN: 15457699.
Contains composite financial data on various industries. Used to compare one company's performance relative to other companies in the same line of business.

Business Plans Handbook. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995– . Annual. ISSN: 10844473.
Compilation of actual business plans developed by small businesses throughout North America.

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios. Murray Hill, NJ : Dun & Bradstreet, 1983– . Annual.
Includes financial norm and business ratio data developed from actual company income statements and balance sheets.

Small Business Sourcebook: The Entrepreneur's Resource. Detroit : Gale Research, 1983– . Annual. ISBN: 0787670154.
Lists associations, consultants, educational programs, franchisers, government agencies, reference works, statisticians, suppliers, trade shows, and venture capital firms for various types of small businesses.

Small Business State Profiles. Office of Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration. Available at www.sba.gov/ADVO/stats/profiles/.
Includes basic information on the small business economy such as small business income, industry composition, number of firms, women and minority-owned firms, job creation, and banking information.

“The Myth of Free Government Money: A Perennial and Pernicious Scam. Why do so many entrepreneurs believe in the Tooth Fairy?” BusinessWeek, January 11, 2000. Available at www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/0001/sa000111.htm.

SBA Financing Center
www.sba.gov/financing/
Financing section of U.S. Small Business Administration site includes information on its various loan programs, forms, studies, workshops, shareware, and other resources.

Top 100 Venture Capital Firms/Entrepreneur Magazine
www.entrepreneur.com/listings/vc100/0,5946,,00.html
Offers information about venture capital in addition to directory.

Venture Capital Resource Library
www.vfinance.com
Provides research, investment banking, brokerage, and trading services to more than 10,000 corporate, institutional, and private clients worldwide.

Entrepreneur. Santa Monica , CA : Chase Revel, 1978– . Monthly.
www.entrepreneur.com
Monthly magazine and informative Web site that offers suggestions on everything from finding your niche to marketing, advertising, and growing your business.

Inc.: The Magazine for Growing Companies. Boston: United Marine, 1979– . Monthly.
www.inc.com
Delivers advice, tools, and services, to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully.

American Small Businesses Association (ASBA)
www.asbaonline.org
Advocacy group representing small business owners. Provides paid members with group benefits such as insurance, human resource benefits, and discounted services.

National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)
www.nase.org
Provides a broad range of benefits and support for self-employed and micro-businesses (up to ten employees).

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
www.score.org
Nonprofit association funded by the SBA and dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with free, confidential face-to-face and e-mail business counseling.

Small Business Council of America (SBCA)
www.sbca.net
National organization representing the federal income and estate tax, pension, and other benefit interests of privately held and family owned businesses.

U.S. Small Business Administration
www.sbaonline.sba.gov
Its mission is to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by aiding, counseling, assisting, and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.