Page 1 of 8
Useful Data Collection Sources for Business Plans & Business Enhancement
“LR” means Library Research, generally to be obtained from Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
See Business and Social Sciences Division Staff, 115 South Avenue, 4 th Floor, Rochester. Phone: 585-428-8130
Categories
1) Industry Profile/ Market
Information
A. North American Industry
Classification (NAICS Codes)
B.
Standard Industrial Classification
Codes (SIC)
Location/Source
Industry Profiles
Find industry code(s) that match your
Business. See where you fit with broad
national definitions. Drill down chart.
Find your 6 digit code, for 2007+ data,
where possible.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sicsearch.html
Key word search to find 4 digit SIC Codes
that match your business.
Link on this site also to find NAICS codes
and links to statistical data
1) Analysis and trends for 900 industries
by First Research via ABI/Inform
2) Analysis and trends for 50 industries,
from S&P
3)Hundreds of industry reports covering
24 Industry sectors via ABI/Inform
Some databases still only use the SIC series
of codes.
Sometimes choosing a secondary code will
help for NAICS or SIC.
1)(LR) First Research reports are FREE from
Central Library. Can be emailed to you.
Gain insights on your industry or for those
of your vendors and/or customers
3. Business Monitor reports are FREE
from Central Library. Otherwise expensive.
500 sample free business plans
Find categories that are close to your own
business or industry. You can use them for
reference in writing your own, but beware
it may not be as close as you would want.
You must not short cut your own diligent
review, development and analysis of your
opportunity.
Trade and professional organizations;
contacts, education, statistical info, issues
Also call or email these organizations for
inquiries
Classic line item financial information by
size of company, expressed as ratios
The RMA Risk Management Association
Annual Statement Studies and other books
listed are available in the reference section
of the Central Library.
Need to identify your SIC and NAICS codes
www.firstresearch.com/alphabetical.aspx
See what is available above, then call (LR)
(LR) Standard & Poor’s Industry Surveys
(LR) www.businessmonitor.com
http://store.nusinessmonitor.com/ig/
(for international)
D. Prepared Business Plans
www.bplans.com
(LR) Other sample plans at Library
E.
(LR) National Trade and Professional
Associations Directory
(LR) Encyclopedia of Associations
(LR) Directory of Associations, Monroe County
Or use Internet searches for associations
(LR) Risk Management Association Annual
Statement Studies (RMA)
http://www.rmahq.org/
(LR) Industry Norms, Key Business Ratios, D&B
(LR) Almanac of Business and Industrial
F.
Trade & Professional
Associations
Financial Statement Ratios
(continued)
Tips
www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/
http://www.census.gov/cgibin/sssd/naics/naicsrch?chart=2012
https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html
C.
Information
Financial information by industry type
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 2 of 8
Categories
G. Business Valuation
H. Regulatory and Licensing
I.
Local Market Overview
Location/Source
Financial Ratios
www.bizstats.com
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/industries.html
(LR) “Business Reference Guide” (author Tom
West)
Information
Tips
Yahoo Biz has some ratios by industry
Rules of thumb for valuing small business
by type, + other benchmark information
to use these sources (see 1A&B).
Public company info at high level of
aggregation.
Must read introduction carefully. Copy also
available @ SCORE, Federal Building
http://www.cio.ny.gov/business_permit_assis
tance
http://www.sba.gov/content/searchbusiness-licenses-and-permits
http://ecode360.com/MO0860?needHash=tr
ue (Monroe County)
andhttp://ecode360.com/RO0104?needHash
=true (City of Rochester)
Online sources for NY state, federal and
local regulations, State licensing and
permits. Licensed professionals may be
listed on State websites.
Local codes: links for Monroe County and
City of Rochester
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/
http://appext20.dos.ny.gov/lcns_public/chk_l
oad
http://www.dfs.ny.gov/
http://www2.monroecounty.gov/eh-food.php
http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?i
d=8589937604
http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?i
d=8589935988
Licensed professions
http://www.rochesterbiz.com/ (GRE);
www.nyfirst.ny.gov
http://www.actrochester.org
http://www.rochesterbusinessalliance.com/A
boutUs.aspx
LR) D&C newspaper available online with
Monroe County library card via Gannett
Newstand database at
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.aspx?
id=64
Greater Rochester Market Area
Also check with your local jurisdictions
online and/or in person. Also check for
industry specific rules and regulations as
well as permitting and restrictions.
Includes health, safety, environmental.
Licensed financial services
Monroe Cty. Food Establishment Permits
City of Rochester for specific city business
types
Community indicators
D&C articles go back to 1999
In the Gannet Newstand database, click on
Publications link. Then select Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle to search
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 3 of 8
Categories
3.
Location/Source
Information
Tips
Avoid any discussion or appearance of
price fixing
Mystery shoppers are employed by many
companies to gain a first-hand experience
at competing locations.
Observations made from public spaces
such as streets and sidewalks are generally
legal. Be sure to check with local laws on
what recordings are illegal (e.g.
simultaneous video and voice recording or
unauthorized phone recording).
Not all info is true (often some puffery).
Key Competitors Benchmarking
A. Direct contact
B.
Field research
Talk to competitors in person, perhaps at
trade shows
Observations at places of business
(manufacturing plants, offices, retail outlets,
stores, restaurants, etc.)
C.
Their Websites
Internet word search.
Some competitors are happy to share
info
You can find out how busy a location is by
counting visitors and/or cars in a parking
lot during business hours.
Simply noting how many people leave a
place of business with packages of
various sizes can indicate a level of retail
sales.
Read the menu, check the prices, etc.
Check out the full consumer experience!
Much disclosure, mission vision, pricing
Social media statistics are an integral part of
many platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn,
Twitter, etc.
Count the numbers of friends, likes,
connections, tweets, etc. to get an idea of
social media reach and impact.
Join a number of social media sites and
connect with both competitors and
collaborators to keep up to speed.
Website analytics sites such as:
http://www.alexa.com/
http://www.google.com/analytics/index.html
https://adwords.google.com/o/KeywordTool
It is sometimes possible to find estimates
of visitor traffic to specific website.
Google tools such as keyword tools can
drill down to search term levels and give
a sense of the competition.
Traffic does not always mean sales but it is
one indicator of online visibility and
popularity. Keyword popularity and
competition are important to online
product visibility.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools
There are many free and commercial SEO
tools that will reveal a great deal about
any website.
Use a range of keyword search terms with
engines such as Bing and Google to cover the
field of interest. Look for example:
www.yelp.com , www.angieslist.com
www.amazon.com
Blogs and LinkedIn Groups, Google+ groups
Many service industries such as hotels
and restaurants are covered by websites
that solicit reviews and ratings from
customers. Discussion groups can be
created for almost any topic.
It is not always necessary or advisable to
hire a SEO firm. Be wary of search
placement promises! You can use the tools
yourself for research and strategy
development.
Take everything with a grain of salt as
some sites do not police the ratings or
discussions very well. The one “truth” is
that even “untruthful” good or bad ratings
and reviews can have an impact on any
given business.
D. Internet research
E.
Internet business rating sites,
discussion boards, complaint
sites and social media
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 4 of 8
Categories
Location/Source
Information
(LR) “ReferenceUSA” using NAICS and SIC
codes, geography, size criteria, etc. Recently,
ReferenceUSA, available online w/ librarycard
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.aspx?
id=64
Contact info and some hard to find info
on specific small businesses, etc. (sales
and number of employees, some #’s are
modeled)
Bring flash drive or CD for downloads
(LR) D&C, RBJ, Hoovers company profiles
Databases
(See also D&C sources in “Local Market
Overview” category (page 2)
In depth company and Executive info and
Industry profiles
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.aspx?
id=64
magazines and databases can be accessed
with Monroe County Library Card ID#)
Includes business journal, magazine and
newswire articles as well as industry
overviews, company profiles and market
share information.
H. E-commerce sites and catalogs
See how similar products and services are
offered and priced in different channels
Company and Industry information
I.
Franchise information
http://134.186.208.233/caleasi/pub/exsearch
.htm
http://www.ufocs.com
www.franchise.org
www.frannet.com
www.franchiseregistry.com
J.
Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org/us/Business-Search/
Good way to benchmark your offerings.
FREE Franchise Disclosure Documents
(FDD’s) are available for franchises with
locations in CA. Otherwise would need
to purchase @ about $200 per
Franchisor. (Also available free if you are
in discussions with specific Franchisor.)
These documents must conform to FTC
requirements.
Complaint history with BBB
K.
Regulatory Disclosures and
other area databases
(LR) and for example:
http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/m
ap/restaurant-inspections
(May need to copy and paste in your browser)
F.
Profiles
G. Business Insights:
Essentials
Rocdocs is a collection of databases with
data maps & reports compiled by the
Democrat & Chronicle news reporters
Tips
Although numbers may not be precise,
they still are very useful.
New features for delineating geographic
areas. Can identify new businesses and
movers.
Tutorials via ReferenceUSA website and
YouTube
This is an excellent resource.
Good for home based searching.
Make table for comparisons; be sure to
include your offerings in the table.
Compare your business to franchises.
Substantial information available in
“Franchise Renewal". "Agreement", or
"Franchise Disclosure Document",
with their Exhibits. Search by the
franchisor name or try name of franchise.
Also consider talking with franchisees in
similar fields to your own.
May identify competitor and/or industry
service problems. Should BBB membership
be a part of your strategy as a
performance indicator?
Whether you are starting a restaurant or
going out to eat in one, check this out!
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 5 of 8
Categories
L.
Property Foreclosures and Tax
Lien Sales in NY
Location/Source
Information
http://www.dos.ny.gov/corps/tax_warrant_s
earch.html
Determine if a tax warrant or lien was
filed by NY State for failure to pay taxes
M. Lending Filings
http://appsext7.dos.ny.gov/pls/ucc_public/w
eb_search.main_frame
UCC filing search for financing statements
and liens
N. Press Releases
Internet search (Google, Yahoo, Newspaper,
company websites)
O. Advertising
All sources: signage, billboards, mailers, email
campaigns, online PPC ads, online PPV ads,
phone books, fliers, newspapers and more.
Advertising is one of the most public
expressions of a business. You can see
what products and services they are
promoting and how they are doing it.
P.
Best, and detailed information…go to
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companyse
arch.html
Extensive detail. Check out Forms 10K,
10Q, and S-8 for normal reporting. Check
out Form S-1 for sale of new shares-disclosure requirements in these
situations are greater. Good opportunity
to compare your business to generally
recognized industry norms
Public companies
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s
(for overviews and quick comparisons, enter
Ticker symbol and then on next page use the
appropriate tabs in left hand column)
Q. Identify Non-Profit Human
Service Agencies
http://www.211fingerlakes.org/FindHelp/FindHelp.aspx
http://www.uwrochester.org/pdf/2013_Field
Guide_FINALweb.pdf
R.
Operating and financial details
for specific Non-Profits
(continued)
(LR) Book of lists, Rochester Business Journal
Foundation Center Form 990 Finder
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990f
inder/
(For grant providers)
A lot of data here, one stop searching.
Tips
A failure to comply with tax laws can be a
significant warning sign of business
problems. Also search county clerk
records.
UCC filings record loans taken out by a
business and collateral involved. Liens may
indicate a variety of problems. Also search
county clerk records.
There are a number of online businesses
that are the publication route for press
releases.
A lack of advertising may indicate in the
extremes that they do not need to or they
cannot afford to. You need to find out
which is the case or if they are missing key
elements of what might be an effective
competitive marketing plan.
Important strategic information also often
found in exhibits to the filings. Many times
to find a specific exhibit, you must go to an
earlier filing of same Form.
Other online searches may reveal much
more information like on message boards,
but be wary of how valid the information
may be.
Source to locate human service agencies
and services provided in Monroe County
and surrounding counties.
United Way recipient information.
Non-Profits can be customers or
competitors, or vendors of services.
For Foundations: Database of 990 type
forms (IRS tax returns for non-profits)
These statements disclose sources of
990’s are annual financial filings that are
required by the IRS. They have much more
information than just financial statements.
Salaries, sources of funding, key personnel
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 6 of 8
Categories
Location/Source
Day Care Centers
(for example)
3. Customer Data
A. Specific Contact info,
demographics
B.
Customer Profile Info
funding, income and expense,
management and compensation, board
members, mission, strategy and
programs. For Non-profits: Access to
990’s for charities.
NYS Office of Children and Family Services
https://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/
starting.asp
Child Care Council (Greater Rochester Area)
http://childcarecouncil.com/
NYS Office of Children and Family
Services offers assistance as well as
critical information on legal compliance
NYS Office, Children and Family Services
ReferenceUSA, available online w/ library card
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.aspx?
id=64
ReferenceUSA: Data built upon US
Business and Standard White and Yellow
Pages.
Also check individual customer websites
Advertising and Media vendors
(LR) Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS)
C.
Need and opinion assessments
D. Income/demographics
Tips
and board members, major programs are
disclosed.
www.guidestar.org
(For non-profits)
Economic Research Institute Form 990 Finder
http://www.eri-nonprofitsalaries.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NPO.Sear
ch (For operating non profits)
S.
Information
(LR) Experts, white papers
Personal Interviews and focus groups
A. http://www.census.gov/population/www
/popdata.html
B. http://www.bls.gov/data/
C. http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?R
eqID=70&step=1
D. www.census.gov/econ/cbp
Must register to get to data level, but
registration is free. There is also a
premium level for a fee, but most of us
would not need this.
Go for the Form 990 information. Watch
out as many charities may have multiple
legal organizations, so check for related
entities and check the titles carefully. And
some info is consolidated across related
entities.
Greater Rochester Support
Address lists can be purchased or used
for specific duration.
Get ideas on customer segmentation.
Market or customer needs research
Check Industry Associations
Go here for info, ideas, and concepts
Business and Industry
GDP, Personal Income, Employment
(local area to state levels)
Annual survey, business type info
Access online or (LR)
Free address info (bring flash drive or CD)
Check for tutorials via ReferenceUSA
website and YouTube
See 2.F above.
Ask for guarantee on data validity, if
purchased.
Use (SRDS) Data base for consumer
marketing and planning
Collect own data in disciplined manner and
keep detailed notes
Data does not need to be current to be
useful. Also go to (LR) for local info
Available at county level
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 7 of 8
Categories
Other Trends: Political, Social,
Environmental
A. Academic OneFile
General OneFile
Gannett Newstand
Gale Custom Newspapers-NYS
B. Democrat and Chronicle,
RBJ and others
Location/Source
Information
Tips
4.
C.
ABI/Inform Complete,
Hoovers Company Profiles
ProQuest Entrepreneurship
Key Collaborators and
Resources:
A. “Non-competing” competitors
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.aspx?
id=64
Can be accessed with Monroe County
Library card ID#
Good for home based searching
www.democratandchronicle.com
http://www.rbj.net
http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/
www.ceoexpress.com
Interesting collection of sources of Local
Data at detailed level.
Free digital Daily Report subscription
from www.rbj.net/dailyreport.asp
and that will provide access to the RBJ
Daily Report each afternoon plus access
to RBJ archives
(LR) D&C charges fees for archived articles,
but articles back to 1999 are free via
Gannett Newstand database using your
library card at
http://www3.libraryweb.org/databases.as
px?id=64
(LR) RBJ archives also available through
Library
(LR)
Full text articles from business journals
and newspapers such as the Wall Street
Journal.
Hoovers has overview on companies
profiled.
ABI:
Your peers, outside your market space.
Talk directly in person or by phone & attend
trade shows
Gather as much intelligence as possible,
case by case, in a specific and disciplined
manner. Just remember that many
people tend to give only rosy information
about their own business. Some will not
give anything if your do not “friend”
them.
Specific information identified by
company or party can be much more
helpful than averaged, blended
information.
Find contacts via:
 ReferenceUSA (online at Central
Library(LR)
 From Trade Associations
 Internet search for websites and
directories
 Yellow pages , etc
 Networking
Receive Collaborative Benchmarking
support from SCORE mentor
Companies and business trends
worldwide.
Hoovers: Companies and key executives
ProQuest: Journals, dissertations,
conferences, practical guides, templates,
sample business plans, video
5.
B.
Vendors and other service
providers
Your potential vendors or outsourcing/service
providers
They have often been in the business
longer than you and have a broader view
of the market. Ask them questions.
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13
Page 8 of 8
Categories
C.
Distribution channels or general
contractors
Location/Source
Alternate PERSONNEL that could channel your
product: manufacturers reps, or distributors
www.manaonline.org
E-commerce distribution channels, for
example:
www.ebay.com,
www.etsy.com
D. Development agencies
E.
6.
Your government
representatives.
Support from Mentors
www.amazon.com
Neighborhood or regional development
associations. Examples:
http://www.growmonroe.org/
http://www.wedcny.org/
http://www.ontariocountydev.org
http://www.esd.ny.gov/
http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/de
legates
For example: Accountants, Lawyers, Bankers,
Insurance Agents, Educators, Greater
Rochester SCORE, Rochester Urban League,
SBDC, Libraries, Veterans support, other
counselors and people from #5 above
Information
Tips
MANA is the largest association of
Manufacturers Reps, which also has
manufacturers as members.
Obtain info and develop ongoing
relationships with these sources that are
helpful. They can be the best sources of
ongoing information and advice
Examples of ecommerce marketing sites
E-commerce channels are crowded and it
is very difficult for individual websites to
ever be found. Market positioning and
planning are essential for any chance of
success on the internet.
Some sites like Amazon give some
indication of product “popularity.”
Etsy actually gives the numbers of sales
made by vendor (they are surprisingly
small for the vast majority).
Check links to independents
Check productivity of your web offerings
and that of your competitors
Many towns, cities and counties have
development agencies of some type.
Contact information for dealing with
helpers or red tape
Be persistent
www.scorerochester.org
www.ulr.org
www.sba.gov
www.nyssbdc.org
www.libraryweb.org
There are many sources of good free
advice when developing your strategies
and plans. All you need to do is ask for it.
THIS IS YOUR SUPPORT
Experience Matters: SCORE has much
Business experience that is available to
you.
Wishing you productive exploration and the joy of discovery
Complied through a collaboration between Greater Rochester SCORE and the Small Business Resource Center of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
Skilled, Committed Librarians and SCORE Mentors are Ready to Help!
SCORE and the Library deliver FREE, timely, confidential and trusted business support to small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Phone: 585-263-6473 or connect with SCORE at www.SCORE rochester.org
9/24/13