I Can Help My Business Succeed at the Library
May is Small Business Month, and as any entrepreneur knows, having reliable information sources is important for keeping your business competitive and running smoothly. The library offers a number of online resources to help:
LegalGPS
When you’re starting a business, working with a lawyer is important. Through a guided series of online steps, LegalGPS helps you get legal details about your business worked out in advance so that you can work more effectively with your attorney and save time & money. (Does not replace working with an attorney.)
SizeUp
Planning for your new or existing business involves knowing local trends and information and being able to compare your plans/operations with other businesses. SizeUp allows you to benchmark against similar regional businesses for staffing, salaries, benefits, etc. and also can be used to locate competitors, potential suppliers and more.
SimplyAnalytics
Sometimes, it’s important to work with “big data,” just like larger companies. SimplyAnalytics allows you to do detailed local, regional and statistical analysis based on over 150,000 government-supplied and proprietary variables, covering demographic data and consumer/lifestyle trends.
Nexis Uni
Also known as Lexis Nexis, Nexis Uni allows searching of news sources, hundreds of specialized directories, millions of businesses (using the Nexis Dossier), in-depth legal information and more.
Reference Solutions
This is our largest and most powerful business & residential directory. Whether you’re looking for a single supplier or trying to develop a list of hundreds of new potential customers, Reference Solutions comes in handy with its search of millions of businesses and individuals/residences, with the ability to download up to 1000 records at a time in spreadsheet format. Includes sophisticated searching by geographic, line of business and consumer/lifestyle variables.
Find these sources and more on our website at ahml.info under Research > All Databases > Business & Nonprofits.
Small business owners can learn more at the upcoming library program, Business and Consumer Demographics.