Main Library -Business, Law, and Government Services Section

SMALL BUSINESS START-UP and EXPANSION

LINKS:  [BLG Section Home Page] [Business Home Page]

Small Business Start-Up and Expansion

The Business, Law, and Government (BLG) Services Section, located on the fifth floor of the Broward County Main Library, provides resources and services to assist entrepreneurs who are starting a new business or expanding an existing business.  Print and electronic resources related to small business as well as free, one-on-one counseling services and a variety of seminars on business-related topics are available.

Print Sources - Books, Magazines, Newsletters, Newspapers

Print resources include numerous current books on many topics including the following:

• Advertising and marketing a product or service
• Analyzing an industry
• Buying an existing business
• Demographics
• Franchise opportunities
• Getting started in small business
• Legal, tax, and insurance aspects of starting a small business,
• Managing a business
• Obtaining financing
• Starting specific types of small businesses
• Writing business plans

While the books on the fifth floor are for reference use only, circulating copies of many of the titles can be found on the fourth floor of the Main Library. 

Note: Books on starting new businesses are available at most branches of the Broward County Library and are generally classified in the 658.022 Dewey Decimal area of the library. Call your local branch library for additional information. (LINK to the phone numbers of BCL branches.)

Other print resources available in the BLG Section include a selection of business magazines, newsletter, and newspapers, including The South Florida Business Journal and the Broward Daily Business Review.

Selected Print Sources

Advertising and Marketing

Direct Marketing Market Place
O'Dwyer's Directory of Public Relations Firms
Standard Directory of Advertisers
Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies
Standard Rate and Data Service
Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS) Direct Marketing

Business Plans

Anatomy of a Business Plan
Business Plans Handbook
Instant Business Plans

Business Rankings

South Florida Business Journal Book of Lists
Ward's Business Directory (SIC volume)

Business Ratios

101 Key Business Ratios
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios (Dun & Bradstreet)
RMA Annual Statement Studies
Troy Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios

Business Start-up

How to Start a Business in Florida
Starting and Operating a Business in Florida
Small Business Sourcebook
Small Business Start-Up Guides from Entrepreneur Magazine
and Lewis and Renn

Company Directories

American Wholesalers and Distributors Directory
Brands and Their Companies/Companies and Their Brands
Directory of Corporate Affiliations
Dun's Principal International Businesses
Dun's Regional Business Directory
Directory of Florida Industries
Florida Business Directory
Florida Manufacturers Register
Million Dollar Directory (Dun & Bradstreet)
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
Thomas Food Industry Register

Company Rankings

Dun's Business Rankings
Fortune 500
South Florida Business Journal Book of Lists
Ward's Business Directory (SIC volume)

Demographic and Market Analyses

S&MM Survey of Buying Power
MPA (Market Profile Analysis)
Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics
Sourcebook of County Demographics

Direct Marketing/Mail Order Business

Direct Marketing Market Place
Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS) Direct Marketing

Financing

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Free Help from Uncle Sam to Start Your Own Business
Florida Venture Capital Directory
Pratt's Guide to Private Equity Sources
SBIC Directory and Handbook of Small Business Finance

Franchising

Directory of Franchising Organizations
Franchise Annual
Franchise Opportunities

Incorporation

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in Florida
How to Form a Simple Corporation in Florida
How to Form Your Own Corporation

Industry Analyses

Economic Censuses
Census of Agriculture
Census of Manufacturers
Census of Retail Industries
Census of Wholesale Industries
Census of Service Industries
Standard and Poor's Industry Surveys

Industry Classification

North Atlantic Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC)

International Trade

Doing Business in....  (PricewaterhouseCoopers series)
Importing into the United States
International Trade Reporter
International Trade Statistics Yearbook (United Nations)
Official Export Guide
Reference Book for World Traders

Legal Materials

Municipal and County Codes of Ordinances

Florida Statutes
Florida Administrative Code

United States Code
Code of Federal Regulations

Licensing

Florida Administrative Code

Site Locations

Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics
Shopping Center Directory

Statistics

Broward-By-the-Numbers

Florida Statistical Abstract
Statistical Reference Index (SRI)

Guide to U.S. Government Statistics
Statistical Abstract of the United States
American Statistical Index (ASI)

Statistical Yearbook (United Nations)
Index to International Statistics (IIS)

Trade Associations - Directories

Encyclopedia of Associations
Encyclopedia of Associations -- Regional
NTPA: National Trade and Professional Associations of the U.S

Trade Journals - Directories

Standard Periodicals Directory
Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory

Trade Shows - Directories

Trade Shows and Convention Guide
Trade Shows and Exhibits Schedule
Trade Shows Worldwide

Reference Databases

The following databases also provide information of interest to entrepreneurs: 

Business and Company Resource Center provides company profiles as well as access to full-text articles on a wide variety of business-related subjects from business journals throughout the country.

Reference USA  provides directory information on approximately 14 million companies throughout the United States and allows customized searches by name of company, type of company, geographic area, size of company, and other special parameters.

Both databases are remotely accessible by following these steps:

• Visit the Broward County Library web site (www.broward.org/library)
• Click on "Free Online Resources"
• Click on "Business and Investments"
• Click on "Business and Company Resource Center"

Software

Interactive software available for entrepreneurs includes the following: Microsoft Office, Pagemaker, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Anatomy of a Business Plan, Business Plan Pro, and Quickbooks.

Counseling Services

Free one-on-one counseling services are available, by appointment, from the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University (FAU-SBDC).

To make appointments, visit the either of the following web pages: SCORE   (www.score17.org) or FAU-SBDC (www.fausbdc.com). 

Seminars

In addition, seminars on many special business topics and issues are held in the BLG Section. Topics vary from month to month and range from Florida sales tax to doing business on the internet.

Links to Websites on Small Business Start-up and Expansion

Additional information on small business start-up may be found on the following websites:

Librarians' Internet Index: Websites You Can Trust
http://lii.org
This is a searchable and annotated subject directory of internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. Select "Business' and then entrepreneurship", "Small Business", or "Women in Business". You may also type a keyword in the search box.

Biz Office: Small and Home-Based Business Resources
www.bizoffice.com 
This site provides links to websites in such categories as opportunities, financing, marketing, services, franchises, news, and multi-level marketing.  Articles are also included.

Business Gov: The Official Business Link to the U.S. Government
www.business.gov
This one-stop electronic link to the information and services available from dozens of federal government organizations that assist or regulate business includes information on business development, financial assistance, taxes, laws and regulations, and international trade. This site is maintained and funded the United States Small Business Administration.

Entrepreneur
www.entrepreneur.com 
The Small Business Answer Desk, available on this site, has frequently-asked questions about management, marketing and advertising, human resources, e-business, sales, and franchise opportunities.

Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University (FAU-SBDC)
www.fausbdc.com
This site provides a wealth of information about all aspects of starting and expanding small businesses. Topics covered include financing, marketing, international trade, selling to the government, intellectual property, taxes, etc.  Information about the mission of the FAU-SBDC and the seminars and workshops offered by the FAU-SBDC is also included. Use this site to register for free, one-on-one counseling sessions by certified business analysts, which are held at the Broward County Main Library.

Home Office Association of America
www.hoaa.com/newindex.htm
This is the official web site of the Home Office Association of America, an organization for home-based workers.
 
IRS - Small Business and Self-Employed One Stop Resource
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
Part of the IRS website, this web page provides information on a wide variety of business tax topics, including topics for small business.

NAWBO- National Association of Women Business Owners
www.nawbo.org
NAWBO is a professional association representing the interests of women entrepreneurs in all types of businesses. Information about membership, conferences, and publications is included on this website.

SBA:  Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov
The SBA provides a wealth of information to entrepreneurs needing help starting, financing, or expanding a business. SBA programs and services are described, and local SBA resources are included. Information on disaster assistance is also provided.

SBA: South Florida District Office
www.sba.gov/fl/south
This site provides a start-up kit, a training calendar, financing information, laws and regulations, and local resources for entrepreneurs starting businesses in South Florida.

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
www.score.org
This site provides guidance on small business start-up. It includes information on business opportunities, including home-based businesses. SCORE workshop locations are included.

SCORE - Broward/Fort Lauderdale
www.score17.org
The site of the local chapter of SCORE lists seminars, publications, articles, and websites. Go to this site to register for one-on-one counseling sessions that are held at the Broward County Main Library or other locations.

SmartBiz
www.smartbiz.com
This site provides information on small business, business strategies, online business, and sales and marketing.

SUNBIZ: Florida Division of Corporations Online Database
www.sunbiz.org/startbus.html
Sunbiz provides information on forming a corporation in the State of Florida.  Online forms and information on filing fees are included. The site allows online searching for names of corporations, trademarks, and fictitious names. It also provides access to articles of incorporation, annual reports, and other documents on file.

Community Resources

The following agencies handle requests for basic information and referrals, and provide education and information services.

Broward SCORE
299 E. Broward Blvd., #123
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone:   954-356-7263 (Monday through Friday, 10 am - 2 pm)
Fax:       954-356-7145
E-Mail:    mail@BrowardSCORE.org
Internet: www.score17.org

Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University
FAU-Boca Raton Campus
777 Glades Road, Fleming West
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991

Phone:    1-800-801-6520 or 561-297-1140
Fax:        561-297-1141
E-Mail:    sbdc@fau.edu
Internet: www.fau-sbdc.com

 

LINKS:  [BLG Home Page] [Business Home Page]