SELECTED SOURCES FOR PREPARING A BUSINESS PLAN
 

     DATABASES (From Library Home Page at http://www.lib.depaul.edu under Databases link)

• The Libraries provide access to more than 100 databases.  The following will be among the most useful for company and industry research.  Each indexes over 1,000 business periodicals and provides full text coverage of many titles.
  • ABI/Inform
  • Business & Company ASAP
  • Business and Industry, and its companion Tablebase for statistical information.
  • EBSCO Host (particularly Business Source Elite)

  Note:  Where the database does not include the full text of an article, use the Periodicals List from the Libraries home page to locate the journal in the library.

  • D & B Million Dollar Database—This database provides basic information on more than 1.3 million public and private companies in the U.S.

  ---

  Note that all of the databases named above (plus many others) are accessible off-campus through either of the following options:

  • DePaul Online Go to http://is.depaul.edu/ for more information and an application.  There is a charge for this service.
  • Libraries proxy server  From the Libraries home page (www.lib.depaul.edu), click on “Students,” then on “Remote Access” to set up your free account.

  ---

 
    INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE AND TRENDS 

• Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources R.330 E56b (Reference Desk)
  Encyclopedia of Associations R.061 G152e (Reference Desk)
  Nonprofit Manager's Resource Directory R.658.048 L263n
  Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys R.332.63 S785 (Reference Desk)
  Statistical Abstract of the United States R.317.3 U58s (Reference Desk)
  Small Business Sourcebook R.658.022 S635g  (Reference Stacks) Other, similar sources will be found in the same shelf area.
  U.S. Industry and Trade Outlook R.338.40973 U58ua1 (Reference Desk)
  WEFA Industrial Monitor R.338.544 W945j (Reference Desk)

  See also Databases and Web Sites
   

    POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS/DEMOGRAPHICS 

• Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide. R.330.84 R187c(Atlas Case)
  Demographics USA Survey of Buying Power. R.658.8 S963 (Reference Desk)
  Lifestyle Market Analyst R.658.834 L722 (Reference Desk)
  Metro Chicago Information Center (MCIC) Metropolitan Survey R.317.7311 M593m
  Mediamark Research Reports (MRI) R.658.83 M939(Reference Desk)
  Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics. R.304.6 S724c1 (Reference Desk)

  See also Databases and Web Sites
   

    COMPETITION 

• Market Share Reporter. R.658.83 M345 (Reference Desk)
  Sorkins’ Directory of Business & Government (Reference Desk)
  Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC). (R.338 U58s 1987, Reference Desk)
      North American Industrial Classification System Manual (NAICS) (same location)
  Thomas Register of American Manufacturers R.338.0973 T46
  Ward's Business Directory. R.338.74 W267aa (Reference Desk)
  
• See also Databases and Web Sites
     

    DEVELOPING A FINANCIAL PLAN

• Business Plans Handbook. R. 658 B979G (Reference Desk)
  Financial Studies of the Small Business. R.658.1 F491f
  Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios. R.338.74 D897I (Reference Desk)
  RMA Annual Statement Studies. R.657.3 R64s (Reference Desk)

 
     WEB SITES