How to Write a Business Plan 8th Ed.		This Nolo Press guide to writing business plans is available via Books24x7. Access from off campus with My.Emich login.
Business Plans and Profiles Index Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh		This site helps you look for sample business plans in books or on web sites. Scroll down the page to use an alphabetical list by business type (Accounting, Restaurant, Sporting Goods, etc. ...)
Business Plans Handbook		A number of sample business plans are available free online. Each of the 10 volumes has a variety of sample plans--you may have to scan the table of contents of several volumes to find a sample plan relevant to your undertaking. You can also use the Business Plans and Profiles Index above to locate these.
Bplans.com		This Web site offers 100 free sample business plans for many types of businesses. Short articles provide tips on writing good business plans, growing your business, purchasing a business, and other useful topics. Only some of the sample plans are free.
Interactive Business Planner Canada Business Service Centres		This interactive site leads you through writing various sections of a business plan. Includes sample plans and links to information sources. Free, but must register to create an account.
Seven Steps to a Successful Business Plan		This E-book available through NetLibrary outlines steps for developing a successful business plan. Access from off campus with My.Emich login.
Books you can checkout of the EMU Library		All located on the 3rd floor of Halle Library: Bankable Business Plans HD30.28 .R644 2004 Raising capital HG4027.6 .S534 2005
Books You Can Use at the Library		Located in the 1st floor Reference Collection at Halle Library: Business Plans Handbook vol.5 REF HD 62.7 .B865 1998
Business Plan "how to" E-Books via Books24x7		There are several how-to-write-a-business-plan books available full text in Books24x7.Once in Books24x7 interface, search the phrase business plan. Note: You can read the entire books online, but the system is designed so that you can not just print out the entire book. Access from off campus with My.Emich login.

Industry Research		This guide provides links to databases, reference sources, and Web sites that are useful in researching industry conditions. Some small business industry sectors are less well covered by standard sources, so it is possible that only some of the listed industry resources will be useful.
Advertising, Marketing, and Market Research		This guide directs you to useful sources on consumer spending, consumer lifestyles and attitudes, population or business demographics, and market research.
Company Research		Sources listed in this guide can be used to research competitors. If your potential competitors are private companies, it will be more difficult to find information on them.

Entrepreneur.com		This site by the publishers of the magazine Entrepreneur has many types of information for starting a small business, including a directory of franchise opportunites, sample business plans, and many articles with advice on small business topics. Mostly free, though it advertises products that are not free.
Starting a Business in Michigan		This state of Michigan site offers full text of the booklet Guide to Starting a Small Business, as well as links to sources of free one-on-one business counseling. Under the "Start a Business" menu, you'll also find information on licenses and permits, business taxes, buying or financing a business, hiring employees, Worker's Compensation, and selling to the government. Guide to Starting a Small Business is in PDF.

Encyclopedia of Small Business		Short articles on terms and topics of interest to small business from Absenteeism to Zoning Ordinances. This EBook is available via the Gale Virtual Reference Library. Access from off campus with My.Emich login.
Entrepreneur's Ultimate Start-Up Directory		This book offers hundreds of ideas for starting small businesses with brief information on potential, start-up costs, legal issues, web resources, target market, and whether the business has potential as a home-based business, online business, or part-time opportuity. Ideas are listed under numerous categories from advertising to pet-related to writing. Halle Library 1st floor Reference HD 62.5 .S742 2001
The Ultimate Small Business Guide : a Resource for Startups and Growing Businesses		This very useful reference book has short articles and checklists on many aspects of planning, starting, and growing a small business. Halle Library 1st floor Reference HD2340.8 .U48 2004
Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship e-book		Scholarly reviews of research on major aspects of entrepreneurship, such as theories of entrepreneurship, start-up and growth of firms, financing and venture capital, innovation and technology, women and ethnic entrepreneurs, habitual entrepreneurs, migration of entrepreneurs, small firm policy, and the economic and social history of entrepreneurship. Access from off campus with My.Emich login.
Ultimate Book of Franchises Entrepreneur Magazine		This reference book offers a directory of franchises arranged by type of business. Each entry includes number of franchises, costs including franchise fee, qualifications, information on training, the types of business and marketing support offered, and more. the book also includes much "how-to" information for potential franchise owners. EMU Library 1st floor Reference HF 5429.23 .L47 2007

MEDC Land and Buildings Databases		The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provides databases of commerical and industrial sites in Michigan, profiles of high quality sites, and information on the Michigan Certified Business Park (CBP) Program, Renaissance Zones, Michigan SmartZones, and surplus state-owned properties.
RSMeans QuickCost Estimator		This free calculator can be used to get a rough idea of the cost of constructing a building. Select from many business types then enter the square footage and the area code to get a quick estimate of building cost. Requires free registration See link in lower right of page to register
Chamber of Commerce Locator		Enter a U.S. city to get contact info and web site for a chamber of commerce. If you want to browse listings by state try this site instead: Chamber of Commerce Nationwide Directory
World Chamber of Commerce Directory		This paper directory available at the EMU Library lists chambers by state and city with contact information and web site addresses. Also, covers Canadian provinces and chambers abroad. Note this directory is from 2006--the EMU Library no longer has a subscription. EMU Library 1st floor Reference HF 294 .W65

Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center		The MI-SBTDC provides "counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses and innovative technology companies." The site offers online tools, information on training sessions, and other support for ventures.
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center Region 9		"The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center regional office, affiliated with the Eastern Michigan University College of Business is one of 12 offices statewide, providing services and support to the Michigan small business community in the areas of counsel, training and research." The Region 9 office serves Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties.
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center Region 12		The Region 12 SBTDC serves Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee and Washtenaw counties.
SCORE		The Service Corps of Retired Executives provides free advice for small businesses.

Banking Studies: Small Business Lending in the U.S.		This study ranks banks within each state by loan activity to small businesses.
Count Me In		Count Me In makes first business loans of $500 to $10,000 to female entrepreneurs.
Financing Your Business Small Business Administration		This site leads to information on small business financing, how to prepare for loan applications, SBA Loan Programs, surety bonds, equity capital, special purpose loans, and more.
Michigan Capital Access Program CAP		Information on a loan program available through a state partnership with local Michigan banks. in PDF
MoneyTree Report		"The MoneyTree Report is a quarterly study of venture capital investment activity in the United States." Statistical reports, white papers, and data spreadsheets related to venture capital and entrepreneurship are available at the site.
National Venture Capital Association		"The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) is a trade association that represents the U.S. venture capital industry." Site has information on the venture capital industry and links to other venture capital sites.
Pratt's Guide to Private Equity Sources		This comprehensive directory of venture capital firms lists over 5000 firms. Listings include address, web site, managers, project preferences, geographical preferences, industry focus, dollar value of capital under management, and more. EMU Library 1st floor north Ref HG 64 .P73 2005
Venture Capital and Financing Companies		This listing on the Reference for Business site provides contact info for venture capital firms and brief information on investment preferences. Listings are ordered by Canadian Province followed by U.S. states.

Doing Business with the State of Michigan		Detailed information on how to do business with the State of Michigan, including bid opportunities.
FedBizOpps (formerly called Commerce Business Daily)		All federal contracts over $25,000 should be posted via the FedBizOpps.gov site.
PTACs of Michigan		Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) of Michigan "assist Michigan businesses in obtaining and performing on federal, state and local government contracts."

Companies to Watch		"Companies to Watch (CTW) is a unique awards program developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation to honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace, exhibit innovative products or processes, or otherwise make those companies worth watching."
Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest		"The mission of the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs' Quest, and its business plan competition, is to continually encourage and educate entrepreneurs on the creation, start up and early growth stages of high-growth businesses within the state of Michigan."

Ann Arbor SPARK		SPARK's purpose is "to advance the economic development of innovation-based businesses in the Ann Arbor region by offering programs, resources, and proactive support to business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations looking for expansion opportunities."
Center for Entrepreneurship at Eastern Michigan University		The center sponsors business development activities, student service learning, a student club, and a business plan competition.
MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes		"The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes (MITEF Great Lakes) is one of the 24 worldwide chapters of the Cambridge, Massachusetts based MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc." The web site has information on networking events.
New Enterprise Forum		This Southeast Michigan organization "links entrepreneurs to management expertise, potential joint venture partners, mentors, business services, capital, and other critical resources."