Online Business Tools

Jessica Huffman, Harry Miller, Charles Mosner

James J. Hill Center

Connecting Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and the Community

http://jjhill.org/research/

Ramsey County Library

www.rclreads.org

7 Branches * Digital Resources

St. PaulSCORE

https://stpaul.score.org/

How will you convince investors to believe in your idea?

Facts! From reputable sources.(With a little help from your local libraries)

Having a business plan will double your chance of success

From: https://smallbiztrends.com/2010/06/business-plan-success-twice-as-likely.html

Think it through…

What Kind of Information (company, industry, market, etc.)

Who Cares?

Relationship to Goals

James J. Hill Center

➔ SimplyAnalyticsMarket research

➔ IBIS WorldIndustry research

➔ AtoZ DatabaseCompetitor research, marketing

What do you need

● To access most of the JJHC databases, you must be located inside the library.

● Hot Tip: Have a game plan and dedicate a few hours to JJHC databases prior to arrival. Hill members can make an appointment for one-on-one research support.

James J. Hill Center

➔ SimplyAnalyticsMarket research

Demographics Data

o Search geographically by• Age• Gender• Income• Ethnicity • Household size

o Includes additional data on• Purchasing behavior• Media consumption• Lifestyle

Exportable as spreadsheets or map

Simply Analytics

➔ Market Analytics

➔ Demographic

Research

o National Industry Reportso Organized by NAICS codeo Reports 40 pages long

o Includes Analysis and Data• industry performance• industry outlook (five year forecast)• products/services and markets• barriers to entry• competitive landscape• key statistics

NOT exportable due to licensingNote-taking is encouraged!

➔ IBISworldIndustry research

James J. Hill Center

IBISworld

➔ Industry Research

➔ Market Research

➔ Business Plans

“Over the five years to 2017, the Coffee and Snack Shops industry has been buoyed by increased consumer spending, which was driven by higher disposable incomes and greater confidence in the economic outlook. … [t]he industry has experienced a boost by rebounds in consumer spending and confidence over the five years to 2017, which have increased at annualized rates of 2.5% and 12.0%, respectively.”

More IBISworld

James J. Hill Center

➔ A-to-Z DatabaseCompany Directory

o Building Business Lists• industry• location• number of employees• annual revenue• year opened• public/private

o Household Demographics• average income• hobbies • length of residence

• Indeed.com Job Postings embedded

A-to-Z Database

➔ Competitor Research

➔ Marketing

Ramsey County Library

o Directory of U.S. Companies• 15 million verified businesses

o Company Information• Business Profiles• Management Directories• Business Expenditures• Business History• Nearby Businesses• Competitor Reports

o Consumer Lifestyle Data• Research > Business & Finance• Remote access is available with

your library card

• Visit:

ReferenceUSA➔ Competitor Research

➔ Prospect Development

https://www.rclreads.org/research/subject-guide/37/business-and-finance

Our client resources are designed to address the needs of our clients respecting the limited time and resources they often face with content that’s:

Relevant – focused on the needs of our clients in today’s market.

Accessible – on-line or in person that respect the schedules of our busy clientele.

Professional – expert resources with deep subject matter competence.

SCORE St. Paul

➔ Free mentoring services➔ On-line resources➔ Live Workshops

SCORE is a non-profit resource partner of the SBA delivering:

• Free, Confidential Business Advice• One-on-one Mentoring in Person & Online.• Workshops, Seminars & Events in Your Community.• Business tools, templates and more – info at:

• https://stpaul.score.org/• https://stpaul.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-

statements-template-gallery

Access More!with your Library Card

● Mergent○ Industry Research

● S&P Net Advantage○ Industry Research

● Demographics Now○ Market Research

Upcoming Workshops

● Small Business Insurance○ April 11, 1:00 - 3:00

● Google AdWords○ May 1 11:00 - 12:30

● Leasing & Real Estate○ May 9, 1:00 - 3:00

● Digital Marketing Basics○ June 5, 11:00 - 12:30

● Small Business Taxes – Basic○ June 13, 1:00 - 3:00

Upcoming Events

● Database Deep Dive: Digging into Market Research

○ April 10, 9:00 - 10:00

● Steps to Starting a Business (with SBA)

○ April 12 12:00 – 1:00

● Girls Going Places○ April 24, 8:00 – 1:30

● Database Deep Dive: Finding Funding

○ April 24, 9:00 – 10:00

● Marketing Mondays: Intro to Social Media Strategy

○ April 30, 9:00 – 10:00