For a complete list of USCMarshall Electronic Resources go to:  

Search USC Libraries (HOMER or QUICK SEARCH)  for books and periodicals using the following words and phrases:

• Entrepreneur(ship)
• Small Business
• New Business Enterprise
• Start Ups
• Business Plans

The Small Business Handbook - Steve Parks

Call Number: HD62.7.P376 2006

ISBN: 0273695312

Publication Date: 2006-01-01

Business - Reference

Rule Book of Business Plans - Entrepreneur Press Staff; Roger C. Rule

Call Number: HD62.5.R85 2004

ISBN: 193253105X

Publication Date: 2004-09-16

Business Plans Handbook: A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Business Throughout North America - Gale Research Inc.

Call Number: HD62.7.B865

Entrepreneur's Information Sourcebook - Susan C. Awe

Call Number: HD62.5 .A96 2012

ISBN: 9781598847864

Doheny

The Dynamics of Entrepreneurship - Maria Minniti

Call Number: HB615.D96 2011

ISBN: 9780199580866

Publication Date: 2011-09-25

The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Toolkit - Beth Goldstein

Call Number: HF5415.13.G58 2007

ISBN: 0071477187

Publication Date: 2007-07-23

How Products Are Made - Nell Y. Schlager

Call Number: TS146.H69

There are a number of resources to help entrepreneurs create a business plan.  Crocker Library has subscription access to the Business Plans Handbook (see above) a multi-volume set containing business plans of actual businesses.  These are other online resources for free business plans:

Search ARTICLE databases using terms like ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS, SMALL ENTERPRISE, NEW BUSINESS, START-UPS (START UPS), PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. 

Use subject search tools in databases (e.g. Thesaurus or Subject) to find subject headings and help refine a search; refine further by adding industry type(s), if applicable.

•  ProQuest Business: Use Advanced Search to search on terms like:  "new business enterprise", "entrepreneur and/or entrepreneurship," "small business" (small business owners, or small business ownership).  Alternatively, use the Thesaurus to look up subject terms like 'Entrepreneurship,' small business, or new business (new business enterprise). The Thesaurus feature is located at on the upper right side of the Advanced Search page.
   
•  LexisNexis Academic - Use the 'Advanced Search' option to search words like "Entrepreneurship" ,"Private enterprise," "Small Business", "Small business owners",  "New business enterprise".  Select Industry and refine search to a specific industry, if applicable.  At results page (after pressing search), refine search further by selecting 'Subject' at the left side of page, and select terms like 'Entrepreneurship' to get a more targeted set of results.

•  Factiva:  Select 'Search' then 'Search Builder.'  Scroll down page and select all Subjects.  Type in the word 'Entrepreneur',  Factiva should automatically find 'Small Business/Entrepreneurs.'  Click on 'Small Business/Entrepreneurs' and the subject should appear in your search (highlighted in orange).   Add Industries, regions, as applicable.  Select date range and select search.  You can refine your search using the tools under the headings that appear on the left side of the page.

See databases listed on the left side of this page for links to databases.

Industry Data, Norms and Ratios

BCRC - Business & Company Resource Center:   find research trends on industries. Search for specific industries or use SIC/NAICS codes; full access to Los Angeles Business Journal and Entrepreneur journals.

eStatement Studies:  search by industry code or keyword identifier

Hoovers:  contains comparative ratios for companies that are benchmarked against their primary industry

Mergent Online:  Contains company ratios going back as far as 15 years.

Osiris and  Orbis (Financials):  Search different ratios by industry.

Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage to find industry trends, 'How the Industry Operates'

ValueLine:  Industry snapshots contain select ratios (click on 'Standard Edition' then 'Industry Look-Up').

The value chain is the set of activities contributing to the production, distribution and marketing of goods and services. The following resources will provide some information on the value chain or parts of the value chain. 

IBIS World  contains reports on hundreds of U.S., Global and Chinese industries.  Keyword search by industry or company.  Each industry report includes a section on COST STRUCTURE.

Mergent Horizon  providesa list of suppliers by company (as available); this is often helpful in supply chain analysis.  Go to Reports, then select Company Profiles.  Suppliers will be found under the section 'Strategic Partners.'  This section is often listed toward the end of the report.

Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage contains key industry reports.  Look at the section 'How the Industry Operates' for value chain analysis. 

Handbook of Manufacturing Processes: How Proudcts, Components & Materials are Made - Industrial Press

Call Number: TS183.B73 2007

ISBN: 0831131799

Publication Date: 2007

How Products are Made: An Illustrated Guide to Product Manufacturing - Gale Research

Call Number: TS146.H69

Publication Date: 1994

US Census - North American Industry Classification System: the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

Standard Industrialization Codes (SIC) were originally developed in the mid-1980s and have been supplanted by NAICS codes, but are still used as indexing identifiers for businesses. 

LogLink provides cross-indexing for SIC and NAICS codes.

Use these websites to find upcoming trade shows, exhibitions, or business networking events in your industry.  Also, search for local "convention centers" (Los Angeles, Anahein, Long Beach, Las Vegas) and view their Calendars.