Resources
Resources & Research Tools
Running a small business is no easy task—but you don’t have to do it alone. There are many resources available to guide you along the way. The links below will give you a better sense of the tools and support at your fingertips.
When you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to your local SBDC to schedule a one-on-one consulting session with an experienced business consultant.
Market Research
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SBDCnet Industry Links - Links to resources by industry www.sbdcnet.org/category/industry-links
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Market Intelligence Centers - www.northernlight.com
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Industry Resources Reports - Links to useful industry information from a variety of sources. www.valuationresources.com/IndustryReport.htm
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Trade & Economy - Industry sector data sorted by NAICS code. https://www.trade.gov/industries-0
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BizMiner - Generates reports on industry, market, and financial trends by size of business. www.bizminer.com
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County Business Patterns - Lists establishments, payroll, and employee size for all U.S. counties by SIC. www.census.gov
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MarketResearch.com - Database of market research reports with free title searching. www.marketresearch.com
Business Directories
EDGAR - Database of 10-K and other SEC filings of public companies. www.sec.gov
ThomasNet - Directory of U.S. and Canadian manufacturers. www.thomasnet.com
Zapdata.com -Sells mailing lists of companies and has useful industry profiles. www.zapbi.com
InfoUSA.com - Sells mailing lists of companies and individuals. www.infousa.com
Kompass - Directory database of foreign companies. www.kompass.com
ThomasGlobal - Directory of industrial suppliers worldwide.
globalEDGE - International Company Directories and Yellow Pages Links to worldwide directories. https://globaledge.msu.edu/
IDA's Franchise Directory - Lists franchises and has other franchise information. www.franchise.org
FranchiseOpportunities.com - Franchise directory and information on opportunities. www.franchiseopportunities.com
Statistics
U.S. Bureau of the Census Census data. www.census.gov
U.S. Data and Statistics
https://www.usa.gov/statistics
University of Michigan Library Statistics
www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html
Easi Demographics
Bureau of Labor Statistics
SBA Small Business Statistics
BizStats
eMarketer Statistics
Penn State Data Center
SBA Small Business Profiles
www.sba.gov/advo/research/profiles
Census Bureau Economic Pages
www.census.gov/econ/www/index.html
County Business Patterns
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html
PA Dept. of Labor & Industry
U.S. Census State Export Data
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/global-reach/2014/05/state-export-data.html
Small Business Economic Indicators
www.sba.gov/advo/research/sbei.html
PA QuickFacts