ENTR 4P10: Planning for New Venture Creation - Business Plan Research: ENTR 4P10: Planning for New Venture Creation - Business Plan Research Linda Lowry Business Librarian James A. Gibson Library Brock University September 2005


Today’s Learning Objectives: Today’s Learning Objectives Review the parts of a business plan Identify sources of sample business plans Review tools & strategies for business plan research Identify additional sources of assistance


What are the Basic Parts of aBusiness Plan?: What are the Basic Parts of a Business Plan?


Sample Business Plans:Business Plans Handbook: Sample Business Plans: Business Plans Handbook Call No: REF HD 62.7 B865 v. 1-10 Samples of actual business plans (25/vol.) from small businesses in North America Typical businesses include: bed & breakfast, coffee house, marketing communications firm, travel agency


More Sample Business Plans: More Sample Business Plans Bplans.com http://www.bplans.com/sp/ 60 sample plans are available MOOT Corp Business Plan Competition Winners http://www.businessplans.org/mootcorp.html 30 sample plans are available


Researching To Prepare Your Business Plan: Researching To Prepare Your Business Plan Industry Analysis Research Production Plan Research Marketing Plan Research Financial Plan Research


Industry Analysis: Identify Competitors by NAICS / SIC: Industry Analysis: Identify Competitors by NAICS / SIC Canadian Key Business Directory REF HF 3223 C24 Niagara Canada Business Directory REF HF 5072 N6 N6 Also available on the web at: http://www.niagaracanada.com/OurBusiness/BusinessDirectory/search.cfm Vernon’s Business Sources for Hamilton & Niagara REF HF 5072 H32 H32


Industry Analysis: Identify Competitors: Industry Analysis: Identify Competitors Search the Mergent database to identify large Canadian / US or Global companies Search by industry keyword or by NAICS / SIC code Search the Yellow Pages directory by category http://Canada411.yellowpages.ca


Understanding the NAICS Canada 2002 Manual: Understanding the NAICS Canada 2002 Manual Created by statistical agencies of Canada, US & Mexico Hierarchical structure Divides economy into 20 sectors Based on supply-side / production-oriented principles Call No: DOC CA1 DS12 501 2002


Slide10: You may Search for NAICS Canada Codes on Statistics Canada’s web site http://www.statcan.ca/english/Subjects/Standard/naics/2002/naics02-menu.htm


Slide11: Start with the broad industry and drill-down to the specific sub-industry


Industry Analysis Research: Industry Analysis Research Search for articles on your business idea and about your competitors using business and news databases: ABI/INFORM Global Business Source Premier (available on trial from mid-September to mid-November) Canadian Newsstand CBCA Complete CPI.Q Canadian Periodicals


Industry Analysis: Sources of Industry Profiles: Industry Analysis: Sources of Industry Profiles Industry Profiles: Overviews of major industries that often include statistics and forecasts Mergent Online (Database) Detailed industry reports for 22 industry sectors (e.g. Hospitality & Tourism) Strategis: http://www.Strategis.gc.ca ->Business Information by Sector or ->Economic Analysis & Statistics Other reports are available in the Business Source Premier database. Search by industry keyword or NAICS code and limit results to the Industry Report publication type


Industry Profiles: US & International: Industry Profiles: US & International Encyclopedia of Global Industries REF HD 2324 E53 2003 Covers over 100 major industries and includes background information, current conditions, industry leaders, etc.


Industry Profiles: Emerging Industries: Industry Profiles: Emerging Industries Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries REF HC 102 E54 2000 Covers over 100 emerging industries.


Industry Profiles: Plunkett’s Industry Almanacs: Industry Profiles: Plunkett’s Industry Almanacs Automobile Industry REF HD 9710 U5 P58 Consulting Industry REF HD 69 C6 P58 E-commerce and Internet Business REF HF 5548.325 U6 P59 Energy Industry REF HD 9502 U6 P58 Financial Services REF HG 65 P58 Food Industry REF HD 9003 P57 Retail Industry REF HF 5429.3 P57


Production Plan Research: How Products are Made: Production Plan Research: How Products are Made How Products are Made: An illustrated guide to product manufacturing REF TS 170 H68 v.1-7 Each volume include profiles of 100 products (e.g. artificial turf, sushi rolls) including the history of the product and the manufacturing process


Production Plan Research: How Stuff Works: Production Plan Research: How Stuff Works Categories include: Computers, Autos, Electronics, Science, Home, Entertainment, Health, Money, Travel, People E.g. How Paintball Works http://www.howstuffworks.com/


Marketing Plan Research - Sales & Market Share: Marketing Plan Research - Sales & Market Share Gather sales & market share data using secondary sources of market share data (by product/brand) Gather statistics on consumption or expenditures Look for data in the Market Share Reporter


Market Share Reporter: Market Share Reporter Call No: REF HF 5410 M2 2004 Compiles market share data on companies, products and services Each entry cites source of original report (e.g. article or website)


Marketing Plan Research - Sales & Market Share: Marketing Plan Research - Sales & Market Share Search for articles on sales, market share, or consumer expenditure in industry and trade publications (e.g. use the ABI/INFORM Global Database) Consult Statistics Canada publications (e.g. Food Consumption in Canada or Spending Patterns in Canada) available via the Library Catalogue


Marketing Plan Research - Socioeconomic Data: Marketing Plan Research - Socioeconomic Data Gather socioeconomic data on target market (customers and location) Consult FP Markets Canadian Demographics or the Market Research Handbook Search Community Profiles (on Statistics Canada’s web site: http://www.statcan.ca)


FP Markets - Canadian Demographics: FP Markets - Canadian Demographics Call No: REF HC 111 F5 2005 Buying Power Indices, Retail Sales, Shopping Centres, Municipal Profiles, Population & Income Estimates By Province and CMA


Market Research Handbook (Statistics Canada): Market Research Handbook (Statistics Canada) Call No: DOC CA1 DS63 2004 or linked online via Library Catalogue Local, provincial and national market data including population, labour market, consumer expenditures & household characteristics


Statistics Canada - Community Profiles: Statistics Canada - Community Profiles


Financial Plan Research: Sources of Financing: Financial Plan Research: Sources of Financing Identify governmental/private sector sources of financing Consult the Sources of Financing tool on the Strategis website (www.strategis.gc.ca)


Financial Plan Research: Sources of Comparative Financial Data: Financial Plan Research: Sources of Comparative Financial Data Benchmark your financial data By type of business, size of business, line of business Try the Performance Plus benchmarking tool www.strategis.gc.ca->Business Support & Financing ->Performance Plus


Slide31: Performance Plus (Small Business Profiles)


Additional Sources of Assistance: Additional Sources of Assistance Please consult one of these Business Research Guides for Brock Students on the Library website Entrepreneurship Research www.brocku.ca/library/research/manmar/enres.htm Company & Industry Research Using Secondary Sources www.brocku.ca/library/research/manmar/indres.htm Market Research Using Secondary Sources www.brocku.ca/library/research/manmar/marrres.htm


Review of Today’s Learning Objectives: Review of Today’s Learning Objectives We reviewed the parts of a business plan We identifed sources of sample business plans We reviewed tools and strategies for business plan research We identified additional sources of assistance


Questions?: Questions? General assistance is available at the Library’s Reference Information Desk In Person or By Telephone (905-688-5550 x3233) Research assistance consultations (by appointment only). By Telephone: 905-688-5550 x4650 By Email: Linda.Lowry@BrockU.CA