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Small Business Plans

This topic guide lists sources which will assist researchers in developing small business plans.

The guide focuses on suggested strategies and best places to begin research efforts. For information & assistance in using any of the sources, please contact library staff:

• In person, at the MCOB Library Service Desk
• By phone @ 251-414-8067
• By email @ dlharrington@usouthal.edu

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Getting Started	Alabama Virtual Library	Sample Plans
Franchise Info	Market Analysis	Customer Analysis
Competitive Analysis	Financing Options

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Alabama Virtual Library (AVL)

http://www.avl.lib.al.us

The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources. It is primarily a group of online databases that have magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research.

Remote access to the Alabama Virtual Library is provided as a service to individual residents of Alabama who obtain an AVL card from their local library [Mobile Public Library/Baldwin County Public Libraries]. To log on, go to http://www.avl.lib.al.us and click on Home Access. Type in your username and password in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

USA students, faculty, and staff:
Access AVL databases automatically while on campus through the USA Library/MCOB Library websites. The library database lists provide access to both AVL databases as well as those subscribed to by USA Libraries. Access databases off-campus by following procedures in place for remote access.

Selected AVL Databases Useful for Small Business Plans:

Business and Company Resource Center [AVL Access for community researchers]
Brings together in a single database company profiles, company brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies, and periodicals. Search this database to find detailed company and industry news and information. 

For industry information:

• Click on the 'Industry' graphic.
• Enter the SIC Code or NAICs Code or Industry Description and click on 'Search'.
  
• From the results list, click on specific industry overview sources.
• Review the tabs across the top of the screen for further information including news, investment reports, rankings, etc.

Business Index ASAP [AVL Access for community researchers]
Provides full-text articles from business journals. The benefit of using this database to search for articles is that it provides a subject guide that helps you narrow your topic.

• Click on ‘Subject Guide’ to the left of the screen.
• Enter the small business topic or industry name in the search box and click on the ‘Search’ button.
• From the results list, locate the specific topic.  You can either ‘View’ the complete list of articles on that topic OR narrow by subdivision.  Narrowing by subdivision is useful in locating articles that will relate to your specific need. 

Business Source Premier (EBSCO) [AVL Access for community researchers]
Full-text articles and images from over 7,000 periodicals and other sources covering business, marketing, and management, economics, finance, banking, accounting, and much more.

For industry articles:

• Click the ‘Advanced Search ’ tab at the top of the search page.
• Use the pull-down menu and select NAICS/Industry Code for your industry.
  Note: The NAICS Code for your industry can be located from the Census Bureau
• Enter additional search terms as needed (demographics, trends, forecast, etc.)

MasterFILE Premier [AVL Access for community researchers]
The focus of this database is to index popular newspapers and provide the full-text of popular magazines and journals. It covers several popular business magazines useful for small business research.

Regional Business News [AVL Access for community researchers]
Provides the full-text for more than 50 regional business publications including business journals, newspapers, and newswire.

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Last Updated: 1/13/08 DLH