Business planning and market research
Necessary first steps when considering and starting your new business.
Thinking through the steps you need to take, completing market research and developing a business plan for your new business can help you detail a road map for your short and long-term goals. The resources below ranging from taking your key first steps to general business start-up resources to links to conducting market research and developing a business plan will help you understand the viability of your business.
Small Business Administration
Designed to help you better understand your readiness for starting a new venture, this SBA assessment tool will prompt you questions and assist you in evaluating your skills and experience
http://web.sba.gov/sbtn/sbat/index.cfm?Tool=4
Business.gov
Business.gov provides you with a step-by-step guide in helping you plan, start, and manage your new venture and includes specific guides for different audiences: Green business owners and minority and women owned businesses.
http://www.business.gov/guides/startup/
Inc Magazine
You can find in-depth “how-to guides” to just about anything from raising start up capital, patents, to hiring your first employee.
http://www.inc.com/guides/start_biz/
MBDA.gov
Created to foster and grow minority owned businesses in the United States, the MBDA, guides you through the planning and managing of your new venture. Check out the Readiness for Entrepreneurship assessment tool and key information on the legal aspect of starting your Minority Business Enterprise.
http://www.mbda.gov/
Forbes.com
Catch up on the latest business articles on topics ranging from finance, human resources, sales and marketing to law and taxation.
http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/
Completing Market Research
Before you set out to write your business plan, you have to conduct thorough research to recognize if there’s even a market for your product or service! Check out the links below for resources providing the latest statistics and trends in this market.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Get the latest research and data for the national economy across all industries through vast databases, publications and economic press releases.
http://stats.bls.gov/
New York Public Libraries
You many access a wealth of information from The New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Online Library. Browse through industry profiles, research guides, and small business manuals and be sure to check out local events, videos, and online forums.
http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/guides/
Industry Information Resources
Take advantage of this popular, free resource guide that includes research and data for over 400 industries. Individual pages for each industry contain resources from trade associations and recent publications, addressing a range of subjects from financial data to current market trends.
http://valuationresources.com/IndustryReport.htm
Marketresearch.com
A clear destination for anyone conducting market research, browse through the world’s largest collection of over 160,000 market research reports.
http://www.marketresearch.com/
Crain’s New York
Navigate through the easy-to-use Crain's New York's City Facts for local market statistics, and take a look at the annual compilations, including more than 100 charts on economic forecasts, real estate trends and information on industries from banking to health care.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/
Developing a Business Plan
Your business idea may sound great to you, but you will have to put it down on paper to get a loan or secure financing from investors, angel investors or venture capitalists. The links below provide step-by-step instruction on how to put together a great plan.
Small Business Administration
A one-stop resource for potential small business owners offering you resources from financial assistance to online training and counseling services.
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html
NYC Business Solutions
Starting a business in New York City may seem daunting, but not until you browse through the number of resources provided by NYC Business Solutions. A complete and thorough guide including resources on business planning, securing financing, to hiring and training your new employees.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml
Bplans.com
A great resource for all you first time business plan writers and includes sample business plans and articles. Business Plan Pro software is also available for purchase.
http://www.bplans.com/
SCORE
A great resource if you are seeking business counseling and invaluable advice from a group of seasoned individuals already owning and managing their own businesses.
http://www.scorenyc.org/
FastTrac
The New York City Department of Small Business Services has partnered with the Kauffman Foundation to provide two no cost FastTrac courses to New Yorkers: FastTrac NewVenture and FastTrac GrowthVenture. FastTrac is a hands-on intensive business program to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to start, manage and grow a successful business in the current economic climate.
http://www.nyc.gov/FastTrac
The SME Toolkit
The SME Toolkit, is a free resource brought to you by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IBM designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses to equip them with essential business tools. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can find the tools, content, resources, advice, mentoring and more to serve your needs.
http://us.smetoolkit.org/us/en
General Start-up and Small Business Resources Sites
Many of the services you will require as a start-up company align with those any small business owner requires. Below are links to a number of sites you can refer to any stage of your business growth.
NYC Business Solutions
Starting a business in New York City may seem daunting, but not until you browse through the number of resources provided by NYC Business Solutions. A complete and thorough guide including resources on business planning, securing financing, to hiring and training your new employees.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml
US Small Business Administration
A one-stop resource for potential small business owners offering you resources from financial assistance to online training and counseling services.
http://www.sba.gov/
US Small Business Administration: The Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO)
Women entrepreneurs should seek assistance here, where the OWBO provides a number of resources including a network to other women entrepreneurs and specific financial assistance
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html
US Minority Business Development Agency
Created to foster and grow minority owned businesses in the United States, the MBDA, guides you through the planning and managing of your new venture. Check out the Readiness for Entrepreneurship assessment tool and key information on the legal aspect of starting your Minority Business Enterprise.
http://www.mbda.gov/
Forbes.com: Entrepreneurs
Catch up on the latest business articles on topics ranging from finance, human resources, sales and marketing to law and taxation.
http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/
Riley Guide: Steps in Starting your own business
Just as resourceful for your job search, Riley Guide’s portal of links for starting your own business will lead you in the right direction for legal help to business plan writing.
http://www.rileyguide.com/steps.html
Better Business Bureau
Take a look at best practices of other companies in the marketplace and learn how to apply for BBB accreditation
http://welcome.bbb.org/
FastTrac
The New York City Department of Small Business Services has partnered with the Kauffman Foundation to provide two no cost FastTrac courses to New Yorkers: FastTrac NewVenture and FastTrac GrowthVenture. FastTrac is a hands-on intensive business program to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to start, manage and grow a successful business in the current economic climate.
http://www.nyc.gov/FastTrac
The SME Toolkit
The SME Toolkit, is a free resource brought to you by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IBM designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses to equip them with essential business tools. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can find the tools, content, resources, advice, mentoring and more to serve your needs.
http://us.smetoolkit.org/us/en