MGT600 – Business Planning
Business Research Resources
ONLINE SEARCH TOOLS
Start at the Alverno Library‟s Business databases subject page, then choose Mergent.
http://depts.alverno.edu/library/dbsubject.html#busi
1. Mergent Online
Provides company and industry data as well as annual reports. Enables both multicompany comparisons and industry comparisons. See the link labeled [cheat sheet] next
to Mergent on the library website under Databases by Subject > Business. The
instructions describe specific steps to more easily use this database.
2. Business Source Premier
Use this database to locate information in scholarly journals, magazines, trade publications.
You can also use the Company Profiles link. Company profiles include a SWOT analysis.
Use the Advanced Search to help limit and your search. For example,
“corporate culture”
And
Nike
The list of results is ranked by relevance, not by date. Alter the search you can limit to a
range of years. Under 'Limit Your Results' you can Filter by Publication Date.
3. Business & Company Resource Center
The database offers company profiles, market share and rankings, brand information,
company histories as well as journals, magazines and trade publications. This database
also has a separate instruction sheet. See the link labeled [cheat sheet] on the library
website under Databases by Subject > Business. There is a simple way to limit to
company profiles that include a SWOT analysis.
4. ProQuest National Newspapers – the Wall Street Journal and New York Times are
available. (http://depts.alverno.edu/library/dbsubject.html#news)
You should use this newspaper database with the advanced search techniques detailed
above in #2 (Business Source Elite).
5. WorldCat, a worldwide online library catalog. (http://www.worldcat.org/)
Note: you can request to borrow materials you find in WorldCat using a process called interlibrary
loan. http://depts.alverno.edu/library/libreq.html
PRINT RESOURCES
REFERENCE BOOKS
*Market Share Reporter, 2 volumes. (Ref 658.834 M345).
This source presents comparative business statistics in a clear, straightforward manner. It gives
an immediate overview of companies, products and services and cites original sources. Helpful
arrangement by four-digit SIC code helps researchers easily access needed data for more than
2,000 entries.
Almanac of Business & Industrial Financial Ratios (Ref 658.1512 T864 2008_
*The Lifestyle Market Analyst: A Reference Guide for Consumer Market Analysis (Ref
658.834 L722).
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Consumer Analysis: Milwaukee Journal (Ref 658.834 M662). This provides some local sales
and marketing statistics that may be relevant to your business.
The Small Business Sourcebook: The Entrepreneur's Resource – six-volume set
(Ref 658.022 S635). Use the index to locate a small business profile for your business (or one
that is similar)
Industry Information
Standard & Poors Industry Surveys (Ref 338.S785)
RMA Annual Statement Studies 2009-2010 (Ref 658.1512 R642) key business ratios
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios - Dun & Bradstreet (Ref 658.1512 K44)
ONLINE RESOURCES
Census Data http://www.census.gov to examine census data relevant to your business
County Business Patterns Search for statistical data on economic activity organized
geographically by counties, metro areas and states. This is easiest done when a student
first researches a NAICS code for a specific industry. http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/
Small Business Administration (SBA) website http://www.sba.gov/.
The website offers national data on number of firms and financing. You can also find state
data on small business firms and jobs by type of industry; owner characteristics
Business Dictionary
Searchable website providing over 20,000 definitions to business-related terms
http://www.businessdictionary.com
Starting A Business in Wisconsin
http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/byb/index.html
Note the online tool called the State of Wisconsin Business Wizard
Entrepreneur.com
Offers sample business plans and many articles with advice on small business topics.
Mostly free, but does advertise products that are not free.
http://www.entrepreneur.com
FirstGov.gov
Find information from filing business reports, to start-up, growing your business and more.
http://www.usa.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml
Business Plans & Profiles
Business plans and more from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/business/bplansindex.html
SCORE
SCORE is an organization of retired and working business experts who mentor
new small business owners and entrepreneurs.
http://www.score.org/index.html
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SCORE Business Plan Templates
http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html
Economic Censuses – every five years; most recent is 2007
http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/index.html and http://www.census.gov/econ/
See also the webpage for the 2012 census http://www.census.gov/econ/census12/
E-Stats
Note the PDF link to a report on e-commerce – “Measuring the Electronic Economy”
http://www.census.gov/eos/www/ebusiness614.htm
The following websites provide national, regional and local economic data.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis at
http://www.bea.gov/
This site provides an overview of the U.S. economy in recent quarters. Check out the
Economic Overview and GDP and related data links for useful information related to this
assignment.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov
This site provides a variety of economic data. Begin by exploring the U.S. Economy at a
Glance link then select OTHER AVAILABLE AT A GLANCE TABLES drop down menu
to get regional, state and local information. For fun (and information) try out their Inflation
Calculator.
Economic Statistics Briefing Room at http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy
This site provides current and previous quarterly information on the following federal
statistics: production, employment, income, international, money, output, prices, and
transportation. You can click on the charts to get charts on screen that you can then
save or print.
Milwaukee Department of City Development business toolbox
http://city.milwaukee.gov/BusinessToolbox.htm and http://city.milwaukee.gov/DCD
Milwaukee's Economic Development Plan (Citywide Policy Plan)
http://city.milwaukee.gov/Plansandstudies/CitywidePolicyPlan.htm
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) at http://www.mmac.org
has information on economic trends and the results of their most recent Business
Outlook Survey. You can find this by using the search box and entering „business
outlook survey.‟
Web sites to further research your industry and other issues affecting your business.
Internal Revenue Service (http://www.irs.gov)
Check out this site for tax information relevant to your business. Click on the Small
Business and Self Employed Community link for business start-up and industry-specific
information.
Wisconsin Department of Revenue (http://www.dor.state.wi.us)
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Check out their FAQs and Forms links for useful information related to tax and regulatory
issues.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/wedc/)
Business Statistics and Data have been removed from the new Economic Development
Corporation. The website notes: “As of July 1st 2011, functions once performed by the
Wisconsin Department of Commerce have been moved to other state agencies and the
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.”
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (http://www.wdfi.org)
Here‟s where you will find all the information about forming a corporation or LLC in
Wisconsin, forms, links to the Wisconsin Statutes. The FAQs at
http://www.wdfi.org/corporations/ are particularly helpful.
Milwaukee Department of City Development Business Assistance
(http://city.milwaukee.gov/BusinessToolbox.htm) Here you can find information and
business services provided by the City of Milwaukee.
Industry Research Desk (http://www.virtualpet.com/industry/howto/search.htm)
Review Polson Enterprises Research Services 8 step process for learning about an
industry and check out the steps of specific interest for your business planning. The
Industry Portals provides sites that “are very useful to those in the industry, researchers,
and investors”.
CITING RESOURCES
All materials that were referenced in your business plan require citation. See the following
link on the Alverno Library website for specific guidance on properly citing resources:
http://alvernoapa.pbworks.com/ See the sections „Handouts‟, „Websites‟, the reference
books in the Alverno library and the link to the sample APA paper. One helpful website is the
OWL at Purdue: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
ECONOMIC/INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Economic Environment
The economic climate can have a lot to do with the success or failure of your business.
Therefore, it is important that you consider the following questions:
 Are these good or bad economic times for business in general and what is the outlook
for the immediate future?
 Are these good or bad economic times for your industry/business in particular and what
is the outlook for the immediate future?
 Are these good or bad economic times for your potential customers? Will they be
able/willing to buy and continue to buy the products/services you plan to offer?
Be sure to consider the following statistics to draw conclusion on the impact of the economy on
your business and customers: Business inventories, New Home Sales, Consumer Credit,
Personal income, Consumer Price Index, Retail Sales, Employment Situation, Consumer
Confidence, GDP, Vehicle Sales