Home   About   Research   Services

  Business Information Center:
Entrepreneur & Small Business Resources

  This icon next to a linked source indicates a subscription database or other online resource.   You must be a current student or employee of F.I.U. to make use of this source of information.

  This icon next to a linked source indicates a free or partly free website unaffiliated with FIU.  Researchers should use these sites with caution; the producers are totally responsible for their content and charges.

  This icon next to a source indicates a book or other printed source.  Check the location indicator and call number.

Item	Availability	Notes
General Guides :
Encyclopedia of American Industries (or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)	2008	"Provides detailed, comprehensive information on a wide range of industries in every realm of American business."        caaiac
Encyclopedia of Small Business (or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)	2007	"This convenient and exhaustive print reference source is designed to provide entrepreneurs with how-to information that they can apply to their own business. The Encyclopedia contains detailed articles and overviews of all the key information needs of small business users, including financing; financial planning; business plan creation; market analysis; sales strategy; tax planning and more."        caaiac
Gale E-Commerce Sourcebook (or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)	2003	"Combines a variety of information, including how-to topics in e-commerce and directory listings of companies, services, associations, and government agencies related to e-commerce, to provide the most relevant information and resources. Organized into three sections: how-to topics, directory information, and a listing of the top 250 e-commerce companies worldwide. Also includes rankings by revenue and number of employees for the e-commerce companies listed."        caaiac
Doing Business in States Other than the State of Incoporation Green Library REF KF1367.C654 no.84 Green Library REF KF1367.C654 no.85 via BNA	Sept., 2006	Two volumes, no. 84 covers Alabama through Michigan, no. 85 covers Minnesota through Wyoming.  This 2-volume work "discusses the process of qualifying to do business in a state, the penalties that could be imposed for failing to qualify, and the process for withdrawing from qualification if a corporation ceases to do business in a particular state."  Each volume includes a complete list of authors with address and email and a bibliography.
The Entrepreneur's Information Sourcebook:  Charting the Path to Small Business Success, Green Library REF HD62.5.A96 2006 via Libraries Unlimited	2006	Provides sources of information (print and online) about all aspects of small business ownership and management, including business plans, government relations, startup and expansion, etc., by Susan C. Awe.        caaiad
How to Start a Business in Florida Green Library DESK HD62.5.H68519 2007 via Entrepreneur Press	2007	A valuable guide to all aspects of beginning and operating a business in the state of Florida.  These include considering whether to open your own business to the pragmatic business considerations (including the business plan) as well as the legal aspect.  Part 2 is how to operate in Florida.  (Ignore the Table of Contents, where it states "How to Operate in Massachussetts;" it really is about Florida.)  An accompanying CD containing almost 200 forms is available in the Sound & Images Dept. on 5th floor.      [caaiad]
NFIB National Small Business Poll Green Library DESK HD2346.U5N48 via National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation	2001-current	This looseleaf binder plus file provides 1-page summaries of polls conducted by the NFIB.  More complete data is available on their website at www.nfib.com/research.
Small Business Sourcebook Green Library REF HD2346.U5S65 via Gale	1999	A directory to published sources, people, organizations, and websites for information on various aspects of small business.  Most of this resource is arranged by industry (i.e., "hair salon," "editorial," "fish farm") but there is also a section by topic (i.e., "entrepreneurial skills," "Insurance," "marketing.")  The last volume also includes listing of resources by state.  See also this publishers online Encyclopedia of Small Business, 2007, listed above.
The Ultimate Small Business Guide:  A Resource for Startups and Growing Businesses Green Library REF HD2340.8.U48 via Basic Books/Perseus	2004	A detailed guide to various aspects of starting, operating, and selling a business.  Includes a CD (in Green Library Sound & Image, 5th floor) and extensive bibliography, the latter including both publications and websites.nbsp;       caaiad
Business Tools, including Business Plans:            (See also:  On BIC: Management/Human Resources page, Tools for Businessmen
Business Plans Handbook, vol. 13 (2008) via Gale Research (Additional volumes can be found at:  Gale Virtual Reference Library)	2008	"A collection of actual business plans compiled by entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses throughout North America.  Each volume presents approximately 25 sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail, and service industries—only company names and addresses have been changed.  Includes a sample business plan template and two fictional plans, a glossary of small business terms, and a directory section containing various listings of interest to entrepreneurs and consultants specializing in small business advice and planning."
The Complete Book of Business Plans, 2d ed. Green Library REF HD62.5.C68 2006 via Sourcebooks, Inc.	2006	A very in-depth guide to writing a successful business plan, complete with workforms and examples, by Joseph A. Covello and Brian J. Hazelgren.        [caaiad]
How to Start a Business in Florida Green Library DESK HD62.5.H68519 2007 via Entrepreneur Press	2007	A valuable guide to all aspects of beginning and operating a business in the state of Florida.  These include considering whether to open your own business to the pragmatic business considerations (including the business plan) as well as the legal aspect.  Part 2 is how to operate in Florida.  (Ignore the Table of Contents, where it states "How to Operate in Massachussetts;" it really is about Florida.)  An accompanying CD containing almost 200 forms is available in the Sound & Images Dept. on 5th floor.      [caaiad]
How to Write a Business Plan, 8th ed. Green Library REF HD30.28.M3839 2007 via Nolo	2007	A guide to writing successful business plans, with several examples, by Mike McKeever.  Includes a bibliography of print and online sources of additional information.        [caaiad]
Appraisal Tool for Starting a Business via US Small Business Administration	Check URL date	A quick, simple test to help you determine if you are really ready to start your own business.
BPlans.com	Check URL date	This commercial site provides examples of business plans. For a fee, they have products that will modify their example plans or provide a guide to starting a business, as well as other entrepreneurial tools.
CCH Business Owner's Toolkit via CCH	Check URL date	CCH provides a combination of free and for-fee materials to aid the business owner/entrepreneur.
National Institute of Standards and Technology via U.S. NIST	Check URL date	NIST, formerly the National Bureau of Standards, works to establish standards for just about everything.  While there is much of interest for free, the actual standards usually require purchase.
NSSN Search Engine for Standards via ANSI	Check URL date	"A National Resource for Global Standards."  Provided by the American National Standards Institute, this service, with both basic and advanced search forms, searches several databases of standards.  In the "advanced" form, the searcher can choose 1 or more of the following fields:  American National Standards; US Standards; ISO/IEC/ITU Approved Standards; Non-US National and Regional Standards; US DoD Approved Standards; ANS Under Development; ISO/IEC Development Projects; US DoD Development Projects; and CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) References.  The results will provide descriptions of the standards and the appropriate numbers or other designations for purchase.&        [caahba]
U.S. Business Advisor via U.S. government	Check URL date	A collection of tools and links to help U.S. businesses.
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser's tax estimator via Miami-Dade County	Check website's date	This tool was created to help new home buyers estimate what their real estate tax will be their first year owning in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Women in Business:
Online Women's Business Center (OWBO) via U.S. Small Business Administration	Check URL date	Provided by the Office of Women's Business Ownership within the SBA, this site has numerous resources for the businesswomen.
U.S. Dept. of Labor Women's Bureau via U.S. Dept. of Labor	Check URL date	This site provides information about women labor issues, including local offices, news, resources, and statistics.
WomanOwned via WomanOwned.com	Check URL date	The site, subtitled "Business Networks for Women," has a wide variety of materials, from how to start a business to growing to finding women-owned businesses.  The site does include relevant advertisements.
Miami Demographics & Marketing Data :
MPA (Market Profile Analysis:  Miami-Fort Lauderdale el al, FL Green Library DESK HC108.M5M22 via D&B/Claritas	1978 - 2004 (Miami/Dade County only);   2005-current; older issues in REF	This annual provides population and business demographics for Miami/Dade, Broward, & Palm Beach Counties, Florida.  The data is broken down by census tract within zip codes.  Sections include:  population factors, household factors, education and labor, industry and occupation factors, and business market factors, as well as census tract maps.
Corporations & Finance:
Business NewsBank via NewsBank InfoWeb	1993-date	Produces articles from the business sections of 400+ U.S. newspapers as well as many local business journals.  As a result, one of the first places to go for information on private companies.
Encyclopedia of Products & Industries:  Manufacturing (or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)	2008	Produces articles from the business sections of 400+ U.S. newspapers as well as many local business journals.  As a result, one of the first places to go for information on private companies.
Economic Statistics and Research via US SBA Office of Advocacy	1995 - current	Provides data for research conducted under the Small Business Administration's purview, as well as state economic profiles; banking data; exporting, franchies, taxes, technology, and mergers; ownership by women, minorities, and veterans;and benefits and training, as well as other statistical data.
The South Florida Business Journal's Book of Lists Green Library DESK HF5001.S65 via The South Florida Business Journal	Current; older issues in PER	This annual list of the largest, best, fastest, etc., covers both businesses and people in South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.)
Florida State Government Resources:        (See also the individual county listings on the Government page for Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, etc..)
Florida State Grant Programs Green Library DESK HJ200.F56	Current	A guide to grant programs from the State of Florida, with a guide to various departments, including the Department of Banking and Finance.
SunBiz, the Florida Dept. of State's business website. via the Dept. of State, Florida	Current	This web site has many different resources, including "Starting a Business."

busctrent.html 20040421