Subject Guides: Introduction to the Business Plan: Business Plan/Industry Research

Sites for Help Writing Business Plans

How to Write a Business Plan/SBA.gov
Elements of a business plan and tips on researching and developing a plan.
How to Write the Financial Section of a Business Plan (Inc.com)
This site can help with your financial projections or writing the financial section of your business plan.
Creating a Business Plan/Inc. com
Another "how-to" on creating business plans.
Bplans
"Bplans is owned and operated by Palo Alto Software, Inc., as a free resource to help entrepreneurs start and run better businesses."
Sample Business Plan/ThoughtCo.
Finished business plan of an imaginary company.
Business Plan Checklist (Checklist.com)
A checklist to help you through your business plan process. Includes suggested documents and topics to consider when writing your business plan.

Links to videos

Market Research Ideas for Business Plans (.docstoc)
Offers ideas on where to find market research.
The Explainer: Writing Great Business Plans (Harvard Business Review)
"A business plan that asks — and answers — the right questions is a powerful tool."

Virtual Business Information

UMD Virtual Business Information Center

Links to Industry/Company Research

Business Databases

ABI/INFORM Collection This link opens in a new window
Search a unique resource focusing on hard-to-find local and regional business news coverage of large corporations, privately held companies, local start-ups, executive profiles, marketing, finance, and industry news. Provides access to business information not typically found in national news sources. Contains news and analysis, information on local markets, and more gathered from major business tabloids, magazines, daily newspapers, wire services, and city, state, and regional business publicat
Business Market Research Collection This link opens in a new window
Includes: Hoover's Company Profiles - covering 40,000 global public and non-public companies including financials, competitors, officers, and more; OxResearch - succinct articles covering regional economic and political developments of significance; US and Worldwide Industry & Market Reports from Barnes Reports - covering global industries in depth; and Snapshots - market research overviews on 40+ industries and 40 countries. Coverage: 1986 - current
Business Source Premier This link opens in a new window
Includes "MarketLine Company Profiles Authority."
Nexis UNI This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive database for news, business, legal, medical, and general reference sources. You can also validate your legal research more quickly and completely with their Shepard's Citations Service. Shepard’s helps you easily confirm that your case law citations are still good law.

Useful Business Websites

US Census
The U.S. Census provides key demographics for social, economic and housing statistics for every community in the U.S. Also includes the Economic Census, "the most comprehensive source of information about American businesses from the national to the local level."
CEO Express (The Executive's Internet)
"CEOExpress.com is designed to be the best executive assistant imaginable, providing a tool that users would have created themselves if they had the time. CEOExpress filters and organizes the content executives need, while adding features that make their lives even more streamlined and efficient. "
EDGAR (SEC)
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system from the SEC.
Encyclopedia of American Industries
Snapshots of Amercian industries. Includes background information, industry leaders, current conditions, etc.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Classifies businesses by type of economic activity. Largely replaced SIC.
Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
Information (including education, training, job forecast, pay, etc.) about various occupations.
Standard & Poor's
Free registration. Publishes financial research and stock analysis.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
Search for detailed information about a specific SIC. This system is still used by certain government departments and agencies.
ThomasNet.com (Thomas Register)
Product sourcing and supplier.

How to Write a Business Plan (SBA) Free Online Course

Link to SBA free online Business Plan Course

"Welcome to the How to Write a Business Plan course. The course expands on topics relevant to those individuals who are planning to write a business plan by defining a business plan, as well as appropriate audiences, and its importance to business success, and by explaining in detail the contents of each section within a business plan." (SBA welcome.)