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Small Business Resources

Resources, links and pointers to relevant information for your small business.

Getting Started

  • Reference Books

 

  • Books
  1. Small Business, Big Life: Five Steps To Creating A Great Life With Your Own Small Business ~ Louis Barajas
  2. The Small Business Start-Up Kit ~ Peri Pakroo
  3. Steps To Small Business Start-Up: Everything You Need To Know To Turn Your Idea Into A Successful Business ~ Linda Pinson
  4. Legal Forms for Starting & Running A Small Business ~ Fred Steingold

 

  • Websites
  1. Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
  2. State of Michigan’s Guide to Starting a Business in Michigan
  3. Library of Michigan's eLibrary (MeL): Business & Career Gateway
  4. City of Lansing Economic Development Corporation
  5. Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan (formerly Lansing Community Microenterprise Fund)
  6. Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
  7. Service Corp of Retired Executives Retired executives providing free assistance to anyone starting a business or those that want to improve/ grow existing businesses. Local SCORE office at Lansing Regional Chamber 517-487-6340.
  8. U.S. Small Business Administration

Researching Market Demographics

  • Reference Books
  1. Business Statistics of the United States ~ Bernan Press
  2. County and City Data Book, 2007: A Statistical Abstract Supplement ~ U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
  3. Dun & Bradstreet’s Regional Business Directory (Mich. Metros excluding Detroit) ~ Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
  4. Harris Michigan Industrial Directory ~ Harris Publishing Company
  5. MPA Market Profile Analysis ~ Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
  6. State Profile: Michigan ~ Woods & Poole Economics

 

  • Books
  1. eBook: Know! Market Research And Analysis: The Fundamentals by Knowledge inForm
  2. eBook: Know! Market Research And Analysis: Intermediate by Knowledge inForm
  3. eBook: Know! Market Research And Analysis: Advanced by Knowledge inForm
  4. eBook: Know! Competitive Intelligence: Human Source Collection by Knowledge inForm
  5. eBook: Know! Competitive Intelligence: Published Source Collection by Knowledge inForm
  6. Market Research Made Easy by Don Doman, Dell Dennison, Margaret Doman
  7. Guerrilla Marketing Research: Marketing Research Techniques That Can Help Any Business Make More Money by Robert J Kaden

 

  • Websites
  1. U.S. Census data
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
  4. Michigan State University globalEDGE - Country, State profiles and trade data
  5. Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
  6. Your Economy by Edward Lowe Foundation

 

  • Databases
  1. BusinessDecision, grow your business using these reports and maps of business, demographic, and consumer househould data. Better understand your market, find new customers, evaluate competitors, find new store locations, and target media and direct mail.
  2. ReferenceUSA, an electronic directory of ~ 14 million businesses and ~ 120 million residential listings within the United States

Writing a business plan

Need to see what a business plan looks like?  Check out the eBook version of our Business Plans Handbooks to find a business plan that is similar to your business. Download, print or email a template to yourself.

 

  • Reference Books
  1. Business Plans Handbook ~ Gale Research

 

  • Books
  1. The Entrepreneur's Guide to Writing Business Plans and Proposals ~ K. Dennis Chambers
  2. Tips and Traps for Writing an Effective Business Plan ~ Greg Balanko-Dickson
  3. How to Write a Business Plan ~ Brian Finch
  4. Anatomy Of A Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide To Building A Business And Securing Your Company's Future ~ Linda Pinson
  5. Building A Successful Business Plan: Advice From The Experts ~ Socrates Media
  6. Business Plans For Dummies ~ Paul Tiffany
  7. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Business Plans ~ Gwen Moran
  8. Business Plans Made Easy ~ David Bangs
  9. The Complete Book of Business Plans: Simple Steps to Writing Powerful Business Plans ~ Joseph A. Covello
  10. How To Write A Business Plan ~ Mike McKeever
  11. Writing & Presenting a Business Plan ~ Carolyn Boulger

 

  • Websites
  1. Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center - Sample Business Plans View a variety of different business plans and a business plan outline.
  2. bplans.com from Palo Alto Software. View their selection of 100+ free sample plans.

License Search

  • Website
  1. State of Michigan License Search Search the State's website to see if you need a license to start your business or collect sales tax.

Attorney/Accountant Search

  • Websites
  1. Attorney Discipline Board Verify an Attorney’s record at the ADB website
  2. Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Verify if your Certified Public Accountant is licensed at the State's website

Selecting Company Structure

  • Books
  1. Form Your Own Limited Liability Company ~ Anthony Mancuso
  2. LLC or Corporation?: How to Choose the Right Form for Your Business ~ Anthony Mancuso
  3. How to Form a Non-Profit Corporation ~ Anthony Mancuso
  4. How to Start a Business in Michigan ~ Entrepreneur Press
  5. Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business ~ Fred S. Steingold
  6. Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business ~ Fred S. Steingold

 

  • Websites
  1. Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (MI-DLEG)
  2. Bureau of Commercial Services & Corporations The Bureau of Commercial Services serves to protect the health, welfare and safety of Michigan citizens and to encourage the growth of business in Michigan, while at the same time protecting consumers. They provide business, licensing and consumer services.
  3. Corporation Division The Corporation Division promotes economic development and growth by facilitating the formation of business entities in Michigan. The Division provides services that enable corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships to be formed, and for foreign entities to obtain a certificate of authority to transact business. Find forms, conduct a business entity search, file certain forms online or via fax and much more.

Funding: For-Profit Entities

Typically grants are ONLY available for non-profit organizations, NOT for-profit organizations.

What Is a Non-Profit Organization?  The status pertaining to an organization or company established for charitable, educational, or humanitarian purposes and not for making money.

What Is a For-Profit Organization?   An organization established or operated with the intention of making a profit.

 

  • Reference Books
  1. Entrepreneur Magazine’s Financing Your Small Business ~ Art Beroff and Dwayne Moyers

 

  • Books
  1. Financing Your Business Made Easy ~ Entrepreneur Press
  2. Financing Your Business: Get A Grip On Finding The Money ~ Angie Mohr
  3. Financing Your Small Business ~ James E. Burk and Richard P. Lehman
  4. Attracting Investors: A Marketing Approach To Finding Funds For Your Business ~ Philip Kotler
  5. Financing Your Small Business ~ Robert Walter
  6. Small Business Cash Flow: Strategies for Making Your Business a Financial Success ~ Denise O'Berry

 

  • Websites
  1. U.S. Small Business Administration Loan Programs
  2. U.S. Government loans

Grant & Foundation Resources for Non-Profits

  • Reference Books
  1. The Foundation Center’s Guide to Grant Seeking on the Web ~ Foundation Center
  2. The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing ~ Jane Geever
  3. The Foundation 1000 ~ Foundation Center
  4. The Foundation Directory ~ Foundation Center
  5. The Michigan Foundation Directory ~ Council of Michigan Foundations
  6. Foundation Grants to Individuals ~ Foundation Center

 

  • Books
  1. Grant Writing For Dummies ~ Bev Browning
  2. Handbook for Writing Proposals ~ Robert J. Hamper
  3. Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship ~ Susan L Golden
  4. The Everything Grant Writing Book: Create The Perfect Proposal To Raise The Funds You Need ~ Nancy Burke
  5. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Grant Writing ~ Waddy Thompson
  6. The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need ~ Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox

 

  • Websites
  1. Grants.gov A single point of access to grant programs offered by Federal grant-making agencies. Find and apply for grants. Be sure to read the profile of who is eligible for a grant.
  2. MSU Funding Center A collection of funding resources available at the MSU Libraries and tools to help identify funders including private foundations, community foundations, corporations, government agencies, associations and individuals.

Marketing: Getting Started

  • Books
  1. Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through The Roof by James Stephenson with Courtney Thurman
  2. Maximum Marketing, Minimum Dollars: The Top 50 Ways To Grow Your Small Business by Kim T. Gordon
  3. Small Business Marketing For Dummies ~ Barbara Findlay Schenck
  4. Marketing Kit For Dummies ~ Alexander Hiam
  5. Marketing Without Advertising ~ Michael Phillips & Salli Rasberry
  6. 401 Killer Marketing Tactics To Increase Sales, Maximize Profits, And Stomp Your Competition ~ Tom Feltenstein
  7. Buzz Marketing With Blogs For Dummies ~ Susannah Gardner

Marketing: Marketing Plans

  • Books
  1. Powerhouse marketing plans: 14 outstanding real-life plans and what you can learn from them to supercharge your own campaigns ~ Winslow Johnson
  2. Marketing Your Business: A Guide To Developing A Strategic Marketing Plan ~ Ronald A. Nykiel

 

  • Websites
  1. mplans.com View 21 free sample marketing plans

Marketing: Low Cost Marketing Ideas

  • Books
  1. Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets ~ Jeanette Maw McMurtry
  2. Guerrilla Marketing: Easy And Inexpensive Strategies For Making Big Profits From Your Small Business by Jay Conrad Levinson with Jeannie Levinson And Amy Levinson
  3. Guerrilla Publicity: Hundreds Of Sure-Fire Tactics To Get Maximum Sales For Minimum Dollars ~ Jay Conrad
  4. Guerrilla Marketing In 30 Days: All The Powerful, Proven Tactics Boiled Into A 30-Day Plan ~ Jay Conrad
  5. The Ultimate Guide To Electronic Marketing For Small Business: Low-Cost/High Return Tools and Techniques That Really Work ~ Tom Antion
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