Here is a sampling of sources which can help in doing a business or marketing plan. Some are directories, for investigating possible competitors; most of the directories have information on the size and sales figures of the businesses listed. Other reference books are more specialized. Please ask the reference librarian for help if you don't find what you want here.

Reference Books

R 011 UL7   Ulrich's International Periodical Directory

Where to find names and subscription information for magazines and journals on any topic. (For finding magazines relating to your type of business or for use in marketing your product.)

R 060 En1   Encyclopedia of Associations

This is where you find the names, addresses, and phone numbers of professional or trade associations. Includes information about what they do, how many members they have, whether they have an annual conference, what publications they issue.

R 071 G13   Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media

Newspapers and radio stations listed by state and city.

R 338 Sm1   Small Business Profiles

What you need to know about starting and running various types of small business, with information on aspects such as location, market, startup costs, staffing, and professional associations.

R 338.09795025 Or3   Oregon Business Directory

Two sections: a "yellow pages" arrangement and geographical by city.

R 338.74 D911    Dun's Regional Business Directory

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho businesses.

R 658.045 P79    Standard & Poor's Register

2 volumes

R 658.4012 B96   Business Plans Handbook

Gives model business plans taken from real businesses. Multiple volumes.

R 658.83973 D393 & D397   Demographics USA (Formerly Survey of Buying Power)

Provides a wealth of demographic statistics on a county or city basis, including its Buying Power Indexes and estimates of effective buying income. Includes County and Zip Code editions

R 658.835 H71   Idaho, Oregon and Washington State Profile

Contains demographic information for cities and counties in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, including population, age, employment/unemployement, household income, retail sales, educational attainment, ethnicity, etc.

R 658.835 M34   Market Profile Analysis - Salem, OR, SMSA

(Reserve Desk)

Demographic and business data broken down by census tracts for Marion County.

Reference books to help you cite your sources

The standard guides for writing papers and citing sources are available in the Reference collection:

• R 808.02 P96  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
• R 808.02 G35  MLA handbook for writers of research papers

Indexes

Find these on the library database page (http://newterra.chemeketa.edu/library/information/database.htm).

(Index Computers)   Business Source Premier on EBSCOhost

Indexes major business periodicals including the Wall Street Journal. Some magazine articles are in full text. Indexes some Oregon business periodicals.

(Index Computers)   Oregonian

Has full electronic text of the Oregonian newspaper.

(Index Computers)   Regional Business News on EBSCOhost

Coverage of regional business publications, including Oregon Business. Most are available in full text.

Useful Internet sources

Bplans.com - http://www.bplans.com

Information on writing a business plan, including free sample business plans for a variety of businesses.

Census Data Gateway - http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html

Quick, easy access to lots of demographic facts from the latest U.S. Census

Official City Sites - http://www.officialcitysites.org/country.htm

Links to official Web sites of cities in nine countries, including the U.S.A.

OLMIS - Oregon Labor Market Information System - http://www.olmis.org/olmisj/OlmisZine

A wealth of information on Oregon workers and businesses. Click "Publications" to find regional information on population, the labor force, employment, industries, income, and poverty.(For other states see http://www.acinet.org/acinet/crl/library.aspx?PostVal=10&CATID=52.)

U.S. Census Bureau - Subjects A to Z - http://www.census.gov/main/www/subjects.html

An alphabetical index to information available from the Census Bureau. Includes links to the most up-to-date sources, for example:

County Business Patterns - http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html

An annual series providing economic profile of counties, states, and the United States. Data include employment, payroll, and number of establishments by industry.

Verizon SuperPages - http://www.superpages.com/

U.S. business directory searchable by type of business, city, and state.

U.S. Small Business Administration - Starting your business - http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html

Packed with helpful information for starting a small business, including writing a business plan.

Online help for citing your sources

You will find some online guides at http://newterra.chemeketa.edu/library/information/useful/writing.htm

For further help, ask for assistance at the Reference Desk.

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Updated: January 2007
Comments: reference@chemeketa.edu or call (503)399-5231.
Address of this page: http://newterra.chemeketa.edu/library/information/handouts/BA223.htm