For specialized assistance, please contact the Business Reference Librarian to set up a consultation appointment:
Getting Started:
For additional small business resources see the Small Business Plan Projects Topic Guide.
Stop by the University of South Alabama Small Business Development Center located at the Mitchell College of Business. It is one of 11 Small Business Development Centers located in universities around the state. Funded jointly by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University, the Center offers business services to business people in a six-county area of southwest Alabama. The SBDC provides free one-on-one counseling, and conducts workshops that address the needs of the business community.
Visit the Mobile Chamber of Commerce in person or on the web. Via the web, see the link to 'Doing Business' for a wealth of resources and data such as an economic overview, demographic and statistical data, international trade leads, business information. The membership directory can be searched by business name, business category or by keyword.
Other Mobile/Alabama web sites:
AlaWeb: the Official Alabama homepage
Business in Alabama
City of Mobile
County of Mobile
Sample Plans:
BPlans.com
Score: Counselors to America's Small Business: Template Gallery
Business Plans Handbook
MCOB Reference HD 62.7 .B865 v. 1-14
v. 1: accounting systems consulting, aerospace supplier, bed and breakfast, biscotti bakery, business consulting, car wash, crane service, diaper delivery, editorial services & consulting, elder care, equipment rental, framing/antiques store, import boutique, inn/resort, ladder company, magazine publisher, online consulting, printing company, publisher, restaurant, retail clothing, retail florist, retail tobacco/magazines, salad packaging, software developer, toiletry company, toy company, virtual reality.
v. 2: automobile assembly, freelance editor, kennel, marternity aid, media producer, microbrewery, mobile studio, newsletter, photo framing, public relations firm, restaurant/bar, restaurant franchise, restaurant (nonprofit), search service, sports collectibles, television childproofer, virtual shopping
v. 3: auto accessories and detailing, carpet cleaning service, computer matchmaking service, dance and skate outfitter, dial-it service, dry cleaner, fast food, food processor, graffiti removal service, ice cream shop, indoor playground, internet consultant, mailing list service, management consulting service, manufacturing business, marketing consultant, multilevel marketing, pharmaceutical company, plumbing shop, refrigerant recovery, sandwich shop, video service
v. 4: audio production service, automotive dealer group, automotive repair service, bed &
breakfast, bottled water manufacturer, child transportation service, coffee house, coffee
roaster, direct mail outlet, emu ranch, engineering management consultant,
marketing communications firm, men's clothing retailer, online government contract
service, online hospitality service, outdoor adventure travel company, paint
distributor, powder coating manufacturer, record company, restaurant, retail &
commercial design firm, rubber adhesive manufacturer, travel agency, travel
information service
v. 5: bagel shop, bread bakery, car wash, cigar shop, climbing outfitter, computer reseller, detective agency, freight expediting, gift store, Internet cafe, marketing consultancy, metal shop, pasta franchise, taxi service
v.6: airline, bed and breakfast, Caribbean cafe, cookie shop, health plan administrator, medical equipment manufacturer, paintball sport company, publisher, real estate investor, record store, retail art furnishing store, shave ice stand, software developer, used car dealership
v.7: accounting service, auto sales company, bowling alley, coffee bean plant/exporter, desktop publishing company, display technology company, event planning company, financial services company, general contracting company, healthcare software company, hotel resort, limited liability company, medical billing company, mortgage company, nightclub, nursery, plastic drum company, real estate company, restaurant, roller rink, screen print drying company, software engineering & management company, special needs clothing store, specialty car wash, wireless internet service
v.8: advertising agency, aftermarket Internet applications, aftermarket skate store, charity youth hockey tournament, chemical manufacturer, convenience store & bait shop, creative agency, dentist, discount Internet securities broker, energy solutions company, gourmet foods company, Internet marketplace, leasing company, online job services, online merchant, online outdoor company, racing parts store, rock climber's store & cafe, ski resort, structural engineering consulting firm, student services consulting firm, teen night club
v. 9: airline company, business development firm, caviar company, computer training service business, concert promotions company, counseling center, dollar store, electronic document security company, financial services company, golf driving range, grocery store, import/export store, Internet communications service provider, Internet software company, Internet travel agency business, marble quarry, nonprofit youth outreach ministry, online publishing system, retail business incubator, retail clothing store, science information website company, skin creme formulator, video production & distribution company, wireless systems integrator
v. 10: automotive repair service, bioterrorism prevention organization, bistro and wine bar, coatings inspection company, event photography service, fertilizer & commodity chemicals company, food, diet & nutrition company, golf grip manufacturer, holistic health center, home decor products manufacturer, housing rehabilitation company, internet & network security solution provider, litigation services company, medical equipment producer, mural company, network game centers, online customer service support, painting company, routing/navigation software company, structural genomics software provider
v. 11: adventure travel lodging company, brewpub, cigar company, construction and home rehabilitation company, daycare facility, giftware company, handmade greeting card company, handyman service, homeless shelter, interior design company, interior painting service, internet loyalty program, internet services portal site, massage therapists, mentally disabled care facility, motorcycle dealership and racetrack, online mortgage company, pizzeria, private investigator
v. 12: beauty salon, campground, car wash, concrete coating company, custodial cleaning company, daycare, dentist's office, e-commerce website producer, entertainment production, distribution and performance company, general staffing company, go-cart designer and supplier, home inspection company, information technology personnel agency, online payment services
v. 13: advertising brokerage firm, barbecue sauce manufacturer, campus apartment complex, childrens' indoor recreation center, corner store, environmentally minded residential construction company, ethnic food supplier, fitness center, gift store, home renovation contractor, landscaping service, leather accessory manufacturer, meal facilitation and preparation company, producer and supplier of plants and flowers, restaurant, technology solutions provider, trademarked resort wear distributor, veterinary practice, wine merchant and storage facility
v. 14: academic testing improvement service, art gallery, cafe and gas station, courier service, ethanol fuel production, fantasy book & memorabilia store, food and beverage vending company, greenhouse and flower shop, home furnishing manufacturer, interior renovation company, organic grower and supplier, pet sitting service, residential and commercial painting service, shoe store, smoothie and juice shop, tattoo & body piercing, used clothing, furniture, and antique store, water purification system distributor, website designer, wooden furniture manufacturer and supplier
Alabama Business/Economics:
Alabama Business
MCOB Business Library, Magazine Area
MCOB Library Keeps Current 2 Years Only
Alabama Economic Outlook
MCOB Reference HC 107 .A2 A45 2007
Alabama Economic Outlook. Forecast Tables
MCOB Reference HC 107 .A2 A452 2007
Alabama State Data Center
Business View (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
MCOB Business Library, Magazine Area
MCOB Library Keeps Current 2 Years Only
Mobile Bay: An Economic Overview
Mobile County Economic Development Report
Southern Business & Economic Journal
MCOB Business Library, Magazine Area
MCOB Library Keeps Current 2 Years Only
Statistical Abstract: Mobile Bay Area (Mobile Chamber of Commerce)
Small business web site portals:
Business.gov
CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
Alabama.gov: Starting a Business
SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business
Small Business Advisor
Small Business Knowledge Base
U.S. Small Business Administration
Magazines that provide articles focused on specific types of small businesses. Browse links OR conduct a search for articles on 'how to start a ...'
Entrepreneur
Inc.
Startup Journal (The Wall Street Journal: Center for Entrepreneurs)
Many useful books and/or multimedia can be located through the USA Library's Catalog or the Mobile Public Library's Catalog using any of the keyword or subject searches listed below:
| Keyword Searches: |
Subject Searches: |
| entrepreneur? |
small business law |
| "small business" |
entrepreneurship |
| marketing and "small business" |
small business planning |
| grants and "small business" |
small business finance |
| e-commerce and "small business" |
small business tax |
| "small business" and taxes |
minority business enterprise |
| entrepreneurship |
new business enterprises |
| women and "small business" |
electronic commerce |
| franchise? and entrepreneur? |
|
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Last Updated: 8/20/09 DLH
