Demystifying Government Sources: Government Business Information for the Rest of Us.

Stephen HayesBusiness Services LibrarianUniversity of Notre Damewww.nd.edu/~shayes1

Objectives

Practical approach Specific information for a “Business

Plan” General comments on sites & sources

as applied to a business plan General comments on sites & sources

as to general business applications

General comments Only government information sites and

sources covered (well plus one fee based site – so shoot me)

Won’t be business experts Business-economics; Economics-business –

what the difference? – spelling Become friendly with Depository Librarian Refer users to Federal Depository Library

near you

Handouts Power Point slides

Handouts

Projects I have seen Lawn Edging Errands & more Weighted Glove

Hair salon Lawn chair umbrella

Rebate Program Protective device Flower Service Tissue dispenser Sports goods

Lawn & garden Concierge services Sporting equipment;

therapist; exercise; sports Beauty Salons; Beauty

shops Recreation; concerts;

sporting events Rebates Fabrics; household Florists; lawn care Motor vehicle accessories Sporting goods; sports;

Business Plan from WordPerfect

I used the Business Plan template from WordPerfect

Information needed – as specified in content

outline

Market analysis - Market Research

Competitors ** Direct and Indirect

(Market Share; Description;) Strengths and Weaknesses

Emerging Substitute products

Market Segments- segment you will be competing in

Demographics Geographical area

Target Market (Primary target markets; Secondary markets; Demographics)

Demographics Geographical area

Marketing Mix Strategy ** – how you intend to market

Product/Service Differentiation (Unique features; Potential for innovation, customer service plan, inventory control, etc.) Competitive Advantage- (Proprietary protection; Other competitive advantages

Distribution ** – plan to distribute your product or service

Pricing ** Suppliers Marketing Goals ** ** Not Government information

Business Plan Market analysis - Market Research Competitors (Identify current and future competitors

and determine their strengths and weaknesses) ** U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

(http://www.sec.gov/) County Business Patterns State and Metropolitan Area Data Book

(http://www.census.gov/statab/www/smadb.html) Statistical Abstract Industry at a Glance

(http://www.bls.gov/iag/iaghome.htm) (Note: 1997 Economic Census: Bridge Between NAICS

and SIC)(http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicstab.htm)

Business Plan - continued Market Segments (Analyze size and growth of the market;

industry trends; market structure; identify problems and potential niches)

Demographics Current Industrial Reports Statistical Abstract (http://

www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html) Business - Trade and Services (http://

www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/business.html) Agricultural Statistics (http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/agstats.htm) Women's Bureau – Statistics (http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm

) - Nontraditional Occupations for Women

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book (http://www.census.gov/statab/www/smadb.html)

TradeStats Express™ (http://tse.export.gov/) TradeStats Express displays the latest annual U.S. merchandise

trade statistics : At national and state levels; in maps, graphs, and tables; as exports, imports, and trade balances; and custom-tailored to your year and dollar ranges and display preferences.

STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)

Business Plan - continued Market Segments (Analyze size and growth of the market;

industry trends; market structure; identify problems and potential niches)

Geographical area Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) (

http://www2.fdic.gov/recon/) World Factbook (http://

www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html) International Trade Administration (ITA) (http://ita.doc.gov/) Virtual World Trade Reference Room (

http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/ref-room.html) International Economic Accounts (http://www.bea.gov/bea/di1.htm) Business - Trade and Services (http://

www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/business.html) U.S. Economy at a Glance (http://www.bls.gov/eag/home.htm) State Department, Business Center (http://www.state.gov

/business/) Investment Climate Statements provide a thorough description of the

overseas environments in which U.S. investors must operate.

Business Plan - continued Target Market (Primary target markets; Secondary markets;

Demographics) Demographics

Current Industrial Reports Statistical Abstract (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html) Agricultural Statistics (http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/agstats.htm) BEARFACTS - BEA Regional Facts (

http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/bearfacts/ ) Geographical area

County Business Patterns World Factbook (http://

www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html) Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) (http://www2.fdic.gov/recon/ ) North Star, Minnesota State Government Online (http://

www.state.mn.us/) MapStats (http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/) STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)

Maping American FactFinder (

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en) American FactFinder (AFF) has two tools for creating, viewing,

printing, and downloading maps.

Business Plan - continued

Marketing Mix Strategy ** – how you intend to market

Product/Service Differentiation (Unique features; Potential for innovation, customer service plan, inventory control, etc.) Competitive Advantage- (Proprietary protection; Other competitive advantages

Census Bureau Thematic Map

Percent of Households With Income of $100,000 or More in 1999: 2000

South Bend, IN MSAHousekeeping Services$ per household

PCensus Sample Map

Business Plan - continued Distribution ** – plan to distribute your

product or service Bureau of Industry and Security (http://

www.bxa.doc.gov/about/index.htm) STAT-USA/Internet (

http://www.stat-usa.gov/) State Development Agencies For Trade

And Investment (http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/submenu4.html)

Business Plan - continued

Pricing ** Suppliers

STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)

Marketing Goals **

General Sources of Business related information - U.S.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (http://www.bea.doc.gov/)

Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://stats.bls.gov/)

Census Bureau, Publications (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/titles.html)

Department of Education – Statistics (http://www.ed.gov/searchResults.jhtml?ct=1348353648&cl=1)

FRED® II (Federal Reserve Economic Data) (http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/)

FRASER™ (Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research)( http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/)

Fed in Print - a comprehensive index to Federal Reserve economic research (http://www.frbsf.org/publications/fedinprint/index.html)

Fedstats (www.fedstats.gov/) National Center for Education

Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/) U.S. Securities and Exchange

Commission (http://www.sec.gov/)

Small Business Administration (http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/)

STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)

State Department, Business Center (http://www.state.gov/business/

General Sources of Business

related information - State State Development Agencies For Trade

And Investment (http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/submenu4.html)

North Star, Minnesota State Government Online (http://www.state.mn.us/)

Your local SBA office (http://www.sba.gov/index.html )

State Libraries (http://www.loc.gov/global/library/statelib.html)

General Sources of Business related information -

international

AusStats (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/ausstatshome?OpenView)

OFFSTATS - Official Statistics on the Web (http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/stats/offstats/)

Important non-government Resource Sites

Google Uncle Sam http://www.google.com/unclesam

Questions? H:/ala/preconf/GODORTDemustifying.ppt Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Power Point Slides and a web page are available on my home page www.nd.edu/~shayes1