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Information on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
This guide has been designed to give you a jump-start on research into starting and growing your own small business. In it you will find books, applicable databases to search, and suggestions for useful websites. Never hesitate to ask one of the Bailey Librarians for assistance; you can reach us via e-mail at
Ask a Librarian or Research Help Now, by phone 734-973-3431 or in person.
Books & Media
- Library Catalog Dynamic Link to materials on Small Business & Entrepreneurship located in the Bailey Library. This list of books, e-books and media is updated when new materials are added to the collection. Check periodically.
- Selected Reference Books can get you started on your research, answer questions, provide background information, trends, statistics and more:
- Entrepreneur Magazine's Step by Step Startup Guides HD 62.5 .E57
- Wholesale Distribution Business
- Restaurant and 5 Other Food Businesses
- 6 Senior Care Services
- Consulting Service
- Bar/Club
- Cleaning Service
- Personal Concierge Service
- Self-Publishing Business
- Gift Basket Service
- Online Learning Business
- Crafts Business
- Specialty Travel & Tours Business
- Freight Brokerage Business
- eBay Business
- Home Inspection Service
- Wedding Consultant
- Information Consultant
- Growing & Selling Herbs & Herbal Products
- E-Business
- Staffing Service
- Medical Claims Billing Service
- Vending Business
- Clothing Store
- Event Planning Service
- Lawn Care Service
- Hair Salon & Day Spa
- Mail Order Business
- Network Marketing Business
- Business Support Service
- Car Wash
- Import/Export Business
- Retail Store
- Coin-Operated Laundry
- Bed & Breakfast
- Personal Training Business
- Child-Care Service
- Seminar Production Business
- Automobile Detailing Business
- Executive Recruiting Service
- Medical Transcription Service
- Starting Your Own Business
- Selling Your Products
- Financing Your Small Business
- Marketing Your Small Business
- Creating a Successful Business Plan
- Encyclopedia of Small Business HD62.7 .H553
- Business Plans Handbook HD62.7 .B865
- Small Business Sourcebook HD2346 .U5 S66
- Work at Home Sourcebook HD2336 .U5 A73
- National Trade & Professional Associations HD2425 .D53
- Encyclopedia of Associations AS 22 .E5 2006
- Encyclopedia of Associations: Regional, State and Local Organizations, Great Lakes States AS 22 .E53 2004
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) HF1042 .N67
- America's Top-Rated Cities: A Statistical Handbook HA214 .A43 2005 Vol. 3 contains data for Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Grand Rapids
- Michigan Business Directory, 2006-07 HF5068 .A5 A5
- D & B Regional Business Directory, Detroit Area HG4058 .D6 D86
- A2 Area Chamber of Commerce Business Directory HF5068 .A5 A5
- Economic Outlook for Washtenaw County in 2006-2008 HB3730 .E36
- Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys HC106.6 .S74
- U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook HC101 .U54 2000
- Entrepreneur's Great Big Book of Business Lists: All the Information You Need to Run a Small Business HD62.7 .T488 2006
- The Franchise Ratings Guide HF5429.23 .K68 2006
- Crain's Detroit Business, Book of Lists Located in Bailey Library Periodical Collection
- County Business Patterns, Michigan 2003 HC107 .M5 C68 2003
Databases (Available from the Bailey Library's Find Articles web page)
Online databases can help you find articles in magazines, journals, newspapers, reports and more. You can also locate statistical information in online databases detailing industry trends and company data. WCC Librarians are available to assist you in doing research using library databases.
- Business & Company Resource Center
- General Business File ASAP
- LexisNexis Academic Universe
- New York Times
- Wall Street Journal
- WilsonSelectPlus via OCLC FirstSearch
- Michigan Newspapers
- ReferenceUSA
Websites
- Business Start-Up & General Research: Information: Use these websites to access "how-to" and "getting started" tools and information.
- BNI International: Touted as the “world’s largest referral organization”, BNI (Business Networking International) is a member-based organization offering the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and referrals for one’s business. A free online networking newsletter is available to the public. There is a state chapter, BNI-Michigan, and a local chapter, Referral Business Alliance of Ann Arbor.
- BusinessDictionary.com: Providing over 20,000 definitions to business-related terms, this is a searchable website where you can also browse by subject or popular terms such as advertising, marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship and more.
- Entrepreneurship (including Business Plans) Research Guide: Excellent guide to the topic from Eastern Michigan University's Halle Library.
- CCH Business Owner's Toolkit: Touted as the "total know-how for small business" this website is from the organization formerly known as the Commerce Clearinghouse (CCH). Leaders in tax and accounting information, the Toolkit provides an online small business guide with information on all aspects of small business development, growth and management.
- Entrepreneur.com: A multi-purpose website for those seeking small business information from start-up through the various aspects of business development. Excellent franchise information and other resources are featured.
- Edward Lowe Foundation: Established to "champion the entrepreneurial spirit" the Lowe Foundation helps business owners to peer-network and provides retreats and other services including an online Entrepreneur's Resource Center.
- Kauffman eVenturing: Dedicated to helping the entrepreneur, this website provides original articles written by entrepreneurs, a entrepreneurs blog, how-tos, business templates and more.
- Business Plans and Profiles Index, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Provides an alphabetical list by business type.
- Chamber of Commerce Locator: Provides contact information and website; searchable by city.
- FranchiseOpportunities.com and FranchiseGator.com Use either of these websites to search for franchise opportunities both nationally and internationally. Both include links to free newsletters and other information.
- FirstGov.gov (for Businesses and Nonprofits): Find helpful information on the U.S. government's information portal from filing business reports to data, start-up, growing your business and much more.
- United States Small Business Administration: The SBA is the federal government's resource for small business enterprise. The SBA website provides a wealth of information on statistics, start-up, training, financing and much more. The SBA has a Michigan office located in Detroit; there is a link available on the main SBA website.
- Statistical/Demographic Information: Data can help you define, justify, and shape your business. These websites may be useful in gathering those needed statistics, trends, etc.
- FedStats: This website provides links to statistics published by all federal agencies. Statistical information can be accessed by topic, geographic location, agency or publications.
- U.S. Census Bureau and American Fact Finder: The United States government's Census Bureau is "data central" and then some. Check out the Business & Industry section on the home page and the American Fact Finder which is an internal link on the Census Bureau website and an excellent source for population, housing, economic and geographic data.
- Statistical Resources on the Web: Business and Industry: The University of Michigan Library Documents Center provides links to a wide range of websites providing business and industry statistics and other information.
- Census and Statistical Data for Michigan: From Michigan.gov, this webpage has links to population information, county business patterns for the state of Michigan and more.
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Economic Profiler: Whether you are seeking basic or customized data, the MEDC's Economic Profiler will assist in finding the data you need by state, county or a group of counties.
- Michigan Business—Washtenaw County Resources: Local resources such as those listed below can help you define, fund, grow and market your business in the area you want it to be.
- Ann Arbor Area Business Monthly: News and feature articles on Washtenaw County businesses.
- Local (Washtenaw County) Chambers of Commerce
- Working in Washtenaw County: Washtenaw County government's webpage on the topic including links to general business information, economic development and chambers and visitor bureaus in the county.
- SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business Ann Arbor Chapter's Website: SCORE is an organization of retired and working business experts who mentor new small business owners and entrepreneurs; you will need a password to directly access this site. Using SCORE's main website, which in itself is an excellent resources with useful links, will enable you to find information on the Ann Arbor and other SCORE chapters.
- New Enterprise Forum: Ann Arbor area not-for-profit corporation founded to help entrepreneurs with services, mentors, capital and other business concerns.
- Ann Arbor IT Zone: Serving as a resource for information technology companies in the Ann Arbor area, the IT Zone sponsors workshops, referrals and links to other sources of information in this area.
- CEED: The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development: This organization is "committed to empowering women and minorities economically through business development training, vendor
certification, business-to-business networking and accessible capital assistance programs."
- Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC), Region 12: The SBTDC, Region 12 serves a four county (including Washtenaw) are in Southeast Michigan. The Center offers counseling, training and research services to those interested in small business development. See also the Small Business & Technology Development Center's main website, especially the SBTDC Publications page, which provides access to a number of useful documents.
- NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work) Center: NEW was founded to assist nonprofits succeed by offering an array of management and solution oriented services. Included on the Web site is a searchable directory of most nonprofit organizations in Washtenaw County.
- Michigan Business—State-Wide Resources: Using resources that take a broader view of trends, data, marketing and more will assist you with looking at the bigger picture for your business venture.
- Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest: "The Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest is a year-round educational program offering classes, training, coaching and mentoring to help entrepreneurs start, develop or accelerate a high-growth business."
- SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments): This Website provides regional information on communities, population, planning, transportation and more. It is an excellent data resource.
- The Marketing Resource Center: From Concept Marketing Group, Inc., this Website contains a directory of professional, business and trade associations in Michigan (and the US) including contact information and Website links where available.
- Michigan Associations: From the Michigan.gov Website's on Starting a Business, this Webpage lists a number of Michigan specific trade associations with links to their Websites.
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation: Using this Website will get you started on your small business journey. It contains links to the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, Guide to Starting a Small Business, a searchable Business Directory, Michigan industry resources/organizations and much more.
- Michigan Venture Capital Association: The Association strives to promote entrepreneurial ventures in Michigan by encouraging and promoting investments in new companies and through research and professional development.
- MeL Michigan Small Business: Michigan eLibrary's links to small business resources specific to Michigan.
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