BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER

Entrepreneurship Research Guide

This guide is designed to help you find resources to determine if your new business idea is viable, develop an initial plan for putting your plan in motion, and learn ways to exit from your plan at the appropriate time. The Demographics and Marketing Research Guides will also be helpful. For additional information, contact one of the BIC library staff.

Trends and Opportunities

Advertising Age and Brandweek Magazines of all sorts can reveal trends. These two are particularly good at showing consumer desires. Local magazines, such as D. magazine and the Dallas Business Journal, which cover the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are also useful. Recent print versions of each title are available for browsing in the BIC and Advertising Age and Brandweek may be read online through PONI, the catalog for the SMU libraries.
View Advertising Age PONI Record
View Brandweek PONI Record

Associations Unlimited Associations are a great place to find statistics concerning a wide-variety of activities and industries. (SMU Community Only)

Local Resources in the Demographics Research Guide includes many sources of statistics that can show trends in particular cities or regions. Many of these are government sources.

Market Data and Statistics This section of the Marketing Research Guide includes many helpful sources for consumer research including the Consumer Expenditure Survey and Market Share Reporter.

Stat – USA Click on the State of the Nation link. Then use sections on Employment and, under State of the Nation Library, Economic Indicators, Industry Statistics, and Regional Economic Statistics. (SMU Community Only)

Statistical Abstract of the United States This compilation of statistics gathered by the U.S. government includes a wide-variety of topics and industries. Use the index to find a topic and the corresponding table number. Print version available in BIC reference.

Business Plan Development

Business & Company Resource Center Search by industry using SIC or NAICS code (see Hoover’s). Find comprehensive, current overviews, associations, rankings, and market research. (SMU Community Only)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Business Plans includes sample plans and ideas for what to include. (BIC reference)

Hoover’s Use the Industries search tab to select your topic. Then read the Full Overview and write down the SIC and NAICS codes to use for future searching. (SMU Community Only)

Market Research Monitor While this includes many international markets, the U.S. is well-represented. Search for the name of the market sector and “U.S.” and select “Search in title to bring up consumer-focused market research reports. (SMU Community Only)

New Business Enterprises Planning Use this subject heading to search in PONI for books, many available electronically, that discuss developing a business plan.

Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage Industry Surveys, updated every six months, include industry trends and how to analyze the industry. Industry references section includes publications, associations, and government departments. (SMU Community Only)

Running the Business

About.com In the 'Small Business Information' section find information from how to start a business to how to sell it and everything in between. Use the navigation on the left side of the page to locate various small business related topics.

Emerging companies guide : a resource for professionals and entrepreneurs / editors, Robert L. Brown, Alan S. Gutterman (SMU Community Only)
View PONI Record

Entrepreneur.com & Entrepreneur magazine Find a wide variety of resources for all levels of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneur magazine is available for browsing in the BIC or may be accessed electronically through PONI, the online catalog for the SMU libraries.
View Entrepreneur PONI Record (SMU Community Only)

Raising Entrepreneurial Capital (e-book) This book covers acquiring debt and equity capital, valuation, and exit strategies. (SMU Community Only)

Roadmap to Entrepreneurial Success: Powerful Strategies for Building a High-profit Business (e-book) by Robert W Price. This book discusses developing and outlining a success play for your business from the beginning. (SMU Community Only)

Small Business Administration Find information on starting, financing, and managing a business, as well as business opportunities and contact information for local SBA offices.

USPTO Inventor Resources Information produced by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to guide inventors through the patent and trademark process.

Exit Strategies

Business.gov: The Official Business Link to the US Government "Business.gov is the single access point to all government services and information to help businesses operate within the parameters of Federal rules and regulations." Site is divided in to four main sections: Launching, Managing, Growing, and Getting Out.

The business valuation book : proven strategies for measuring a company’s value by Richard Brinkley
View PONI Record

Exit Strategies (e-book) by Nicolas King. This book discusses how to develop a successful exit strategy by using real-life examples. (SMU Community Only)

Selling Your Business: The Transition From Entrepreneur to Investor (e-book) by Louis P Crosier. This book discusses how to walk through the steps to sell and entreprenueral business