Guides to Business Subjects

No. 25 Business Plans

This is one of a series of research guides produced by the Thomas J. Long Business Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

This guide lists resources for business plan research at the Long Business Library.

UC Berkeley faculty, registered students, and staff who are off campus may use items marked * by using The Library's proxy server.

Last updated 06/2010.

Guides For Writing Business Plans
Industry Research
Competitor Information
Market Research
Demographic Research
Financial Ratios
Funding Sources

Category	Sources
Guides for writing business plans	Business Plans Handbook : A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Business Throughout North America HD62.7 .B865 Reference The entrepreneur's information sourcebook : charting the path to small business success / Susan C. Awe. HD62.5 .A96 2006 Table of contents Search OskiCat for subject: "new business enterprises planning" or "proposal writing for business" or "entrepreneurship" for locating more library that describe in detail how to write a business plan. General Resources for Entrepreneurs A collection of recommended resources from the Lester Center. Find titles from the reading list by searching OskiCat. Write a Business Plan U.S. Small Business Administration A set of free resources to help entrepreneurs develop a business plan.
Industry Research	See also the Long Library's Industry Information Guide * Business & Industry National and international industry information from trade journals. Market size, shares, trends. Economic Census Detailed reports on all industries every 5 years. Subject series reports for manufacturing industries include product summaries, input/output materials summary, industry concentration and industry product analysis summary. For other industries, detailed product and other reports are available. The Census also has monthly, quarterly, annual reports for some industries. * ThomsonOne Analyst reports from investment banks via ThomsonOne Choose "Screening & Analysis -> Research" on the left sidebar. Must be accessed using Internet Explorer. * Lexis/Nexis Statistical Statistical reports of industries produced by various sources: business journals, commercial publishers, research centers, trade and professional associations, and other government and nongoverment sources. Full text of most abstracts is available on microfiche in the library. Check OskiCat for availability in print or electronic format. * Onesource(Haas students only) Industry analysis, statistics, market shares, news articles, top companies, available by major industrial classifications and SIC code. Standard and Poor's Industry Surveys Detailed and comprehensive reports covering current industry environment, trends, forecasts, comparative company analysis for over 50 major industries. HC101 .S77 Latest editions shelved in Reference. The following cover more industries than S&P above, but are not as detailed: Encyclopedia of American Industries: Manufacturing Reference HC102 .E53 Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries Reference HC102 .E54 Encyclopedia of Global Industries Reference HD2324 .E53
Competitor Information	* Factiva Search for news articles about companies and industries. For detailed reports on individual companies, click on the Companies tab. * ISI Emerging Markets Coverage of companies, industry, news, policies and politics in emerging markets of Asia, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. * ThomsonOne Analyst reports from investment banks via ThomsonOne Choose "Screening & Analysis -> Research" on the left sidebar. Must be accessed using Internet Explorer. * Mergent Online See annual 10-K reports for companies. A company's annual 10-K report provides insight into the industry that the company is doing business in, the company's operations, strategies, distribution, competition, and management's views into the long term for the industry and the company. National and international industry information from trade journals. Market size, shares, trends. * Onesource (Haas students only) Search for Title:"Plunkett's" in OskiCat for almanacs on selected industries. These almanacs provide industry trends as well as a directory of companies in those industries.
Market Research	See also the Long Library's Market Research Resources Guide. Many detailed market research reports can be found in the following databases. Reports generally provide competitor strengths/weaknesses, market share, sales volume, pricing issues, distributors, suppliers, customer segments, and more. * Business Source Complete Market research reports in some consumer and industry sectors. * Marketresearch Academic Consumer market research reports. * Mintel Reports Consumer market research reports worldwide. Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide ffHF1023.R3 Reference
Demographic Research	U.S. Census Detailed 10 year census as well as the rolling American Community Survey census for demographics of communities Demographics of the US Trends & Projections HB849.49.R875 Reference Household spending: who spends how much on what HC110 .C6.O35 Reference Lifestyle Market Analyst Interests, hobbies, activies of US inhabitants at the local, regional and national levels. HF5415.33 .U6.L54 Reference After 2008 continued by * SRDS Local Market Audience Analyst Projections. Association of Bay Area Governments Projects population and job growth for the Bay Area counties. HD5726 .S4.P72 Reference Community sourcebook of ZIP code demographics US income distribution and household spending by zip code. HA203 .S66 Reference (Publication ceased in 2008.)
Financial Ratios	See also the Long Library's Financial and Operating Ratios Guide Financial Studies of the Small Business HD2346 .U5.F5 Reference Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios HG4027 .I55 Reference RMA Annual Statement Studies HG1507 .R65 Reference
Funding Sources	See also the Long Library's Private Equity and Venture Capital Guide The directory of venture capital & private equity firms, domestic & international. HG4751.F582 Reference