Venture Reference
Common Sources for Business Questions
Jennie Burroughs
Steve McCann
University of Montana

Audience

◦ Demographics
◦ Experiences
◦ Problems
Common Questions

Planning a new business

Ready for the next level

Job hunter

Community “watchdog”

Scenarios

Resources for helping
a user who is starting
a new business
The New Entrepreneur
Photo from Flickr;
cc yodel anecdotal

Montana Business Quarterly

◦ Online through Wilson, Ebsco, Infotrac
◦ ISSN: 0026-9921
Fed “Beige Book”

◦ http://www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2009/
◦ Look for 9th District – Minneapolis
9th District Fed

http://www.minneapolisfed.org/
research/data/district/forecast/
New Business: Economic Landscape

US Industry Trade American Factfinder
 
Analysis ◦ County Business
Patterns
 http://tse.export.gov/
◦ Business Statistics by
Zip Code
◦ http://factfinder.cens
us.gov
New Business: Industry Analysis

Industry analysis

◦ Gale Encyclopedia of Organizations
Current Industrial Reports – Census.gov

◦ http://www.census.gov/cir/www/
BizInfo Library:

http://www.bizinfolibrary.org
New Business: Industry Analysis

Competition

◦ Who are your
competitors?
Local competitive

data:
◦ City Clerk's office
◦ County Clerk's office
◦ Chamber of Commerce
◦ County Business Patterns
– CenStats
 http://censtats.census.gov/
Paid Databases:

ReferenceUSA
New Business: Competitive Analysis

Demographics State & County
 
Quickfacts:
◦ Population
Characteristics http://census.gov/
 “market segmentation”
 “demographics”
Psychographics

Statistical Abstract:

◦ Personality Aspects
http://www.census.gov/co
“behavior”
 mpendia/statab/
“decision making”

“attitudes”

“perceptions”

“lifestyles”

New Business: Demographics &
Psychographics

More Statistics to support business plans

◦ Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/
◦ Department of Transportation: http://dot.gov/
◦ Energy Information Administration:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/
New Business

Small Business Administration

◦ http://www.sba.gov
◦ Small business planner
◦ SBA loans
◦ Loads of advice
New business

Business.gov

◦ http://www.business.gov
New Business

Resources for
entrepreneurs seeking
the next step
The Mid-career Businessperson
Photo from Flickr;
cc Jotpunkt

Small Business Administration (again)

◦ http://www.sba.gov
◦ Good advice for expanding your business
◦ Advice for selling your business
◦ Counseling opportunities (SCORE)
Next steps

Business.gov (yes, again)

◦ http://www.business.gov
◦ Advice for expanding businesses
◦ Staying compliant
◦ Government contracting
Next steps

FedBizOps

◦ http://www.fbo.gov
◦ Source for government contracting opportunities
◦ Replaced Commerce Business Daily (CBD) in
2002
Grants.gov

◦ http://www.grants.gov
◦ Grants for special projects/initiatives
◦ Opportunities for business as well as non-profits
Later funding opportunities

Grow your network

LinkedIn

◦ http://linkedin.com
Twitter

◦ http://twitter.com
Facebook

◦ http://facebook.com
Next steps

Resources to help job
seekers find a new
path, get
connected, and find
open jobs.
The Job Hunter
Photo from Flickr;
cc Whiskeyboytx

Montana Unemployment Insurance

◦ http://uid.dli.mt.gov/
Federal Information on unemployment

◦ http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/unemployment-
insurance/
You’re not alone (aka unemployment

statistics)
◦ http://www.bls.gov/bls/unemployment.htm
Unemployment benefits

Occupational Outlook Handbook

◦ http://www.bls.gov/OCO/
◦ Explore career options, outlooks, salaries
Career OneStop

◦ http://www.careeronestop.org/
◦ Federal & state info for retraining, resume &
interview advice, self-assessment & career
exploration
Job & Career Information (DoL)

◦ http://www.doleta.gov/jobseekers/
New directions

Many local, state, and national sites with

opportunities:
Monster.com

◦ http://www.monster.com/
Yahoo! Hot Jobs

◦ http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/
Career Builder

◦ http://www.careerbuilder.com
Craig’s List?

◦ http://craigslist.com
Job Opportunities

Simply Hired

◦ http://www.simplyhired.com
LinkedIn

◦ http://www.linkedin.com
Job Opportunities, cont.

Montana JobLinc (Job Seeker Services)

◦ http://mtjoblinc.mt.gov
Jobs.mt.gov

◦ https://jobs.mt.gov
USA Jobs

◦ http://www.usajobs.gov
Job Opportunities, cont.

They want to know
where government
funds are going and
which businesses are
benefiting
The Community “Watchdog”
Photo from Flickr;
cc Janos Szudi

http://www.recovery.gov
Recovery.gov

USAspending.gov
http://www.usaspending.gov

http://www.census.gov/govs/www/cffr.html
Consolidated Federal Funds Report

Edgar (SEC filings)
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

Motley Fool

◦ http://www.fool.com/
Morningstar

◦ http://www.morningstar.com
Forbes

◦ http://www.forbes.com/
Investment Research

Suggestions?