Don't see what you need?
Search our site!

 

Starting Your Business:
A Guide to Resources for the Akron-Area Entrepreneur
Prepared by the librarians in the Business & Government Division
of the Akron-Summit County Public Library

Contents

Printer friendly version of this document

Introduction

There are many reasons why people want to start their own business. They can include: financial independence, ability to set their own hours and doing work that relates to their particular interests. In addition to hard work, talent, and perhaps a bit of good luck, starting your own business requires both planning and research.

This guide will discuss books, internet sites, and local and government organizations that can help you with these tasks. The guide is organized into subject areas, with each area containing a list of relevant books that are available in the library as well as links to helpful internet sites.

The books listed in this guide represent only a portion of the relevant books that are available in the library. If you would like additional books, please search our catalog or contact a business librarian for help. Librarians in the Business Division can help you in person, on the phone, or on-line. Our contact information is:

Business & Government Division
Main Library
60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326
(330) 643-9020

Or ask a question on-line through our Ask A Librarian service.

Some of the best sources of information on business start-up are available for free from internet websites. If you are not comfortable using the Internet, classes on using the Web are available through the library's Electronic Services office. The most current list of classes is available at the Main Library or any of the branches. You can also access the list of classes from the library's web page under Electronic Services Computer Training.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Do You Have What It Takes?

Starting and successfully running your own business requires many skills, persistence, and hard work. Successful entrepreneurs tend to share certain personal charactertistics and traits. If you would you like to learn what these characteristics and traits are, take a look at the following websites:The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has a list of questions you can ask yourself to see if entrepreneurship is for you. The SBA also has discusses what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Commerce Clearing House (CCH) has a variety of self-assessment tools to help you decide if you would make a good entrepreneur. Or if you would like a more interactive experience, take one of the following quizzes to see if you have what it takes:

Go Back to Table of Contents

Getting Started

General Entrepreneurial Resources:So you've decided that you have what it takes to start your own business, but don't know how to get started. This section contains a list of general entrepreurial books and websites that discuss the overall process of starting a business.

Library Resources

  • Abrams, Rhonda. Six-week start-up: a step-by-step program for starting your business, making money, and achieving your goals. Palo Alto, CA: The Planning Shop. 658.041 Ab161si

  • Dunung, Sanjyat. Straight talk about starting and growing your business : smart advice for entrepreneurs from entrepreneurs. New York: McGraw-Hill. 658.11 D928st

  • Gottry, Steven. Common sense business : starting, operating, and growing your small business--in any economy. New York: Harper Business. 658.022 G686c

  • Harper, Stephen. The McGraw-Hill guide to starting your own business : a step-by-step blueprint for the first-time entrepreneur. New York: McGraw-Hill. 658.1141 H295

  • Hingston, Peter. Starting your business. 1st American ed. New York: Dorling Kindersley. 658.11 H663st

  • Kamoroff, Bernard. Small time operator. Laytonville and Willits, Calif: Bell Springs Pub. 658.022 K15s

  • Kawasaki, Guy. Art of the start: the time-tested, battle-hardened guide for anyone starting anything. New York: Penguin. 658.11 K22ar

  • Kennedy, Joe. The small business owner's manual: everything you need to know to start up and run your business. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 658.022 K35s

  • Kirk, Randy. Running a 21st-century small business : the owner's guide to starting and growing your company. New York: Warner Books. 658.022 K59r

  • McGuckin, Francis. Business for beginners : from research and business plans to money, marketing and the law. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks. 658.11 M148b

  • Mulvehill, Suzanne. Employee to entrepreneur: the employee's guide to entrepreneurial success. Delray Beach, FL: Business Publications, Inc. 658.022 M961em

  • Strauss, Steven D. The business start-up kit. Chicago: Dearborn Trade. 658.11 St912b

  • Sullivan, Robert. The small business start-up guide. Great Falls, VA: Information International. 658.022 Su951s

  • Turner, Marcia. The unofficial guide to starting a small business. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 658.1141 T949u

  • Root, Hal. The small business start-up guide: a surefire blueprint to successfully launch your own business. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc. 658.11 R782sm

Internet Resources

  • U.S. Small Business Administration (or SBA)
    http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html
    The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns. The SBA site includes a Small Business Planner which provides information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business life cycle.

  • CCH's Business Owner's Toolkit
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/
    Sponsored by Commerce Clearing House, this site provides guidance and discussion on many aspects of starting and running a small business.

  • Small Business Development Center at the Summit Medina Business Alliance
    http://www.akronsbdc.org
    The Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Summit Medina Business Alliance offers a broad range of consulting services for small businesses in Summit and Medina Counties. The staff consists of experienced and certified consultants and professional volunteers that offer assistance for a broad range of business activities. This site provides access to their resources and discusses many aspects of starting a small business.

  • Entrepreneur.com
    http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizstartups/index.html
    This is the website for Entrepreneur magazine, and contains an assortment of discussions about starting up a business.

  • SCORE.org
    Starting Your Business
    http://www.score.org/starting_your_business.html
    This page on SCORE's national website discusses many topics related to starting a business.

  • The Startup Journal: The Wall Street Journal's Center for Entrepreneurs
    http://www.startupjournal.com
    Sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, this site contains many articles about a wide variety of issues related to starting and operating a small business.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Business ideas:You may have decided to start a business, but need ideas for what kind of business to start. Or you may have an idea for your business, but don't know if it is a good one. This section provides a list of books and internet resources that can help you think of a business idea or determine if your idea will work.

Library Resources

  • Abrams,Rhonda. What business should I start?: 7 steps to discovering the ideal business for you. Palo Alto, CA: The Planning Shop. 658.041 Ab161w

  • Furman, Elina. Generation Inc.: The 100 best businesses for young entrepreneurs. New York: Berkely Books. 658.041 F986ge

  • Jones, Katina. The 200 best home businesses : easy to start, fun to run, highly profitable. Avon, MA: Adams Media. 658.041 J77tw

  • Kurtzman, Joel. Startups that work: the 10 critical factors that will make or break a new company. New York: Portfolio. 658.11 K96s

  • Ramsay, Gregg. The 100 best businesses for the 21st century. Grafton, New Hampshire: W. Hill Pub. 658.11 R 1780

  • Rogak, Lisa. The 100 best businesses to start when you don't want to work hard anymore. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 658.1141 R721o

  • Sweeney, Susan. 101 Internet businesses you can start from home. Gulf Breeze, FL: Maximum Press. 658.84 Sw974o

Internet Resources

The website for Entrepreneur magazine(http://www.entrepreneur.com/toolkit) has an assortment of start-up guides for a variety of businesses. One caution: there are lots of advertisements on this site.

Funding your business:

The majority of new businesses are initially financed with the entrepreneur's own resources, such as personal savings, credit cards and informal loans from family members and friends. Eventually, however, it may be necessary to obtain more money either to continue to expand your business or to replace equipment. The CCH Business Owner's Toolkit presents a nice overview of the funding process and how it works. This section discusses the sources of funding.

Despite the claims of many television infomercials, most government agencies do not provide free money to start a for-profit venture. Most often, what the infomercials call "free money" is a loan at a discounted rate. The difference between what the interest on such a loan would be and the lower rate available through the agency is the "free" part of the money. While this can amount to thousands of dollars in interest savings for the entrepreneur, it is not the envelope of cash the late night talkers would have you believe. However, there are sources of funding available for some new businesses, including the low interest rate government loans, specialized grants for highly technological research, free mentoring resources, or incentives to locate a business in certain municipalities or regions. In addition venture capitalists and angel investors may offer financial support of your business in exchange for a share in the yet-to-be realized profits.

This section will provide leads for connecting with these various funding sources, plus the legendary "government grants."

Library Resources

  • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Washington, D.C.: The Office of Management and Budget, annual. Desk-Reference - ask at Business & Government desk. Also available on the web at http://www.cfda.gov. This is the list of all federal "government grants."

  • Burk, James E. Financing Your Small Business. Napierville, IL: Sphinx Publishing. 658.1522 B959f

  • Goldstein, Arnold S. Starting on a Shoestring: Building a Business Without a Bankroll. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. 658.1141 G624s

  • Green, Charles H. The SBA Loan Book. Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation. 658.1522 G795s

  • May, John. Every business needs an angel : getting the money you need to make your business grow. New York: Crown. 658.1522 M466ev

  • Norman, Jan. What no one ever tells you about financing your own business : real-life financing advice from 101 successful entrepreneurs. Chicagok, IL: Dearborn Trade Pub. 658.1522 N842wf

  • Pratt's guide to Private Equity Sources. Newark, NJ: Thompson Venture Economics. (formerly Pratt's Guide to Venture Capital Sources) Desk-Reference - ask at the Business & Government Desk. 332.66 P889m

  • Sisson, Robert. Show me the money : a complete guide to financing your small business through banks and alternative sources. Avon, MA: Adams Media. 658.1522 Si623s

  • Timmons, Jeffry A. How to raise capital: techniques and strategies for financing and valuing your small business. New York: McGraw-Hill. 658.1592 T548t

  • Van Osnabrugge, Mark. Angel investing: matching start-up funds with start-up companies. San Francisco: Josey-Bass. 658.1522 V272an

Internet Resources

  • Small Business Grants and Loans
    http://ascpl.lib.oh.us/internetresources/bg/grants.html
    A collection of governmental and private sources for funding your small business compiled by librarians at the Akron (Ohio)-Summit County Public Library.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    Provides advice on gettting financing for your business at http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P10_0500.asp

  • Jumpstart, Inc.
    http://www.jumpstartinc.org/
    216-363-3400
    Jumpstart funds a very select group of start-up businesses via a rigorous screening process.

  • National Venture Capital Association
    http://www.nvca.org/members.html
    Phone: 703-524-2549
    List of member companies and links to those with web sites for businesspeople seeking financing.

  • Ohio Department of Development
    Economic Development Division
    http://www.odod.state.oh.us/EconomicDevelopment.htm
    1-800-848-1300
    The Economic Development Division provides information and support on financial assistance (primarily loans and tax incentives), job creation and retention, and infrastructure development. Also on this site is a link to EDD approved projects on a monthly basis.

  • Ohio Venture Association
    http://www.ohioventure.org/links.html
    1120 Chester Avenue
    Cleveland, Ohio 44114
    (216) 566-8884
    The Ohio Venture Association is a group of northeast Ohio business people dedicated to the interchange of ideas on entrepreneurship, new ventures and venture capital.

  • SCORE.org
    Starting Your Business
    http://www.score.org/financing_your_business.html
    This page on SCORE's national website discusses many topics related to financing a business.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/financestartup/index.html
    This site discusses many aspects of financing your business start-up. It discusses general concepts such as how to estimate your start-up costs, performing break-even analysis, the basics of borrowing, and credit scores. It also discusses and provides links to the many different sources of funding that are available to small businesses, including the SBA's own programs.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Writing a business plan:

Your business plan is essentially the resume for your enterprise; it identifies your goals and outlines how you will achieve them. It is a necessary document for receiving any funding to begin your business. Before writing a business plan you need to research the market for your business and also to explore what kind of financing you will need. Most business plans include a cash flow analysis, a balance sheet and an income statement. The library has many sources to help you research the market for your business as well as books on how to write a business plan.

Library Resources

  • Bangs, David H. Business plans made easy. Irvine, Calif.: Entrepreneur Press. 658.4012 B216b

  • Business plans handbook: a compilation of actual business plans developed by small businesses throughout North America. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. 658.4012 B979

  • Business plans that work: for your small business. Chicago, IL: CCH Inc. 658.4012 B979M

  • Covello, Joseph A. Your first business plan. Napierville, IL: Sourcebooks. 658.4012 C873y

  • Eglash, Joanne. How to write a .com business plan. New York: McGraw-Hill. 658.4012 Eg31ho

  • Fullen, Sharon. How to write a great business plan for your small business in 60 minutes or less. Ocala, FL: Atlantic Publishing Group. 658.1141 F965ho

  • Gillman, Joan. Business plans that work. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp. 658.152 G482b

  • Lasher, William. The perfect business plan made simple. New York: Broadway Books. 658.4012 L343pe

  • McKeever, Mike P. How to write a business plan. Berkeley, CA: Nolo. 658.1522 M154h

Internet Resources

  • Bplans
    http://www.bplans.com/
    Contains articles and sample plans, including what the site producers claim to be the largest collection of free business plans on the web

  • Business Resources Software
    http://www.businessplans.org/mootcorp.html
    Presents the winners of the Moot Corp. competition, an event sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin that simulates entrepreneurs asking investors for funding. MBAs from the best business schools in the world present their business plans to panels of investors. The investors then choose the best new venture.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    (http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P02_0001.asp).
    This site provides advice on many aspects of a business plan, including why to write one, how to actually write the plan, and what to do with the plan once you have written it.

  • The CCH site also provides sample business plans for both a manufacturing business and a service business at http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp. They are not intended for use as a template, or to cut and paste your own figures into, but rather to give the entrepreneur who is new to writing business plans a format for how to provide information in the best possible manner.

  • Interactive Business Planner
    http://www.cbsc.org/ibp/home_en.cfm
    From the Canada Business Service Centres, sponsored by the Canadian government, comes this site. Using software designed to operate on the Web, the user will be guided in writing a 3 year plan for a new or existing business.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/index.html
    This page from the SBA website provides guidance on writing a business plan. it includes strategy considerations, detailed step-by-step procedures,and sample business plans.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Market / Industry research:

Library Resources

  • Berinstein, Paula. Business statistics on the web : find them fast-at little or no cost. Medford, NJ: Cyber Age Books. 025.0463 B511b

  • Boettcher, Jennifer C. and Leonard M. Gaimes. Industry research using the Economic Census. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 338.0973 B673.

  • Community sourcebook of county demographics. Arlington, VA: C.A.C.I. Desk Reference 304.6 So724c

  • Community sourcebook of ZIP code demographics. Arlington, VA: ESRI. Desk Reference 304.6097 So84

  • MPA. Market profile analysis. Murray Hill, N.J: Dun & Bradstreet Corp. Desk Reference 658.83 M1ak

  • Industry norms & key business ratios. New York, N.Y.: Dun & Bradstreet Credit Services, Desk Reference 338.5 In2

  • Risk Management Association: Statement studies. Philadelphia: Risk Management Association, Desk Reference 338.43 R54s

  • Standard & Poor's industry surveys. New York: Standard & Poor's, 1996-. Index table - ask at Business & Government Desk

Internet Resources

  • ASCPL Research Databases
    http://www.ascpl.lib.oh.us/databases
    Search for magazine and newspaper articles related to your targeted demographic group, a specific company, or a specific industry. You'll need an Akron-Summit County Public Library card to access these sites outside of a Library building.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P03_3000.asp.
    This site provides advice on conducting market research for small businesses.

  • U.S. Census Bureau
    http://www.census.gov/
    The primary source for the vast majority of demographic information. Select "American Factfinder" for demographic information about a specific geographic area.

  • The Right Site
    http://www.easidemographics.com/
    Free demographic reports based on the 2000 Census, with the option of paying for updated reports.

  • Industry Data Finder
    http://www.rh.edu/library/industry/industry.htm
    Produced by the Cole Library in Hartford, Connecticut, this guide to a variety of industries includes links to industry-specific sources available to all such as trade journals and associations, sources of industry-specific current news and events, government regulating agencies, and major companies, as well as sources available only to members of the Cole Library community, some of which are also be a available via ASCPL.

  • Industry Research Desk, Industry Portals
    http://www.virtualpet.com/industry/mfg/mfg.htm
    Lists, by industry, a variety of resources such as trade groups and journals. Also has a good tutorial called "How to learn about an industry or specific company."

  • Internet Intelligence Index (I3)
    http://www.fuld.com/
    By Fuld & Co., a "global leader in competitive intelligence," comes this compilation of internet sites devoted to researching a variety of industries. To access the I3 from the Fuld homepage, select "Intellingence Index and CI Tools" and then "I3."

Go Back to Table of Contents

Deciding on your Legal Form of Business:In Ohio, there are several different forms of business organization from which you can choose. For example, some basic forms of organization are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and limited liability company. The form you choose can affect many aspects of your business such as the taxes you pay, your legal liability, adn owner succession. Choosing which form of organization is right for you can be complicated and depends on many factors. This section provides a list of resources to help you undertand the different types of business organization and how to decide which is the right one for you. But before you make any final decisions, you should consider reviewing your situation with an attorney or a financial advisor.

Internet Resources

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/chooseastructure/index.html
    This page on the SBA website provides guidance on choosing a business structure. It provides a general description of the different forms of business ownership, as well as the pros and cons of the different formats. It also discusses some special onwership structures.

  • Internal Revenue Service
    http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98359,00.html
    This page on the IRS website discusses the different business structures from a tax perspective. For each business format, it includes guidance on which tax forms must be filed for the different types of federal tax such as income taxes, self-employment taxes, estimated taxes, employment taxes, and excise taxes.

  • Entrepreneur.com
    http://www.entrepreneur.com/startupbasics/businessstructure/archive166108.html
    Entrepreneur.com is the on-line site for Entrepreneur magazine. This page is an archive of articles related to choosing the right business structure.

  • Ohio Secretary of State
    http://www.sos.state.oh.us/
    Depending on which legal business form you choose, you may need to register with the State of Ohio. This is done through the Ohio Secretary of State. This site contains more information about registering business entities.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights:

Depending on what kind of business you start, you may need to protect your ideas. Any innovations or new product ideas you develop are valuable assets and need to be protected so that your legal rights are not infringed upon. This section contains a list of library resources and links to internet resources that discuss these issues.Library Resources

  • Gilbert, Jill. The entrepreneur's guide to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets & licensing . New York: Berkely Books. 346.73048 G465en

  • Elias, Stephen. Patent, copyright, and trademark. Berkeley, CA: Nolo. 346.73048.

  • Lechter, Michael A. Protecting your #1 asset : creating fortunes from your ideas : an intellectual property handbook. New York: Warner Books. 346.73048 L459p

Internet Resources

  • ASCPL Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Website
    http://akronlibrary.org/internetresources/st/patent.html
    This is a list of the Internet Resources compiled by the Science and Technology Librarians at the Akron Summit County Public Library. It includes the United States Patent Office and the United States Copyright Office, as well as a few other useful sites.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/protectyourideas/index.html
    This page on the SBA website provides guidance on protecting your intellectual property rights. choosing a business structure. It discusses many aspects of intellectual property, including how to identify unique features of your products, answers to commonly asked questions about intellectual property, and advice on how to protect your intellectual property.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Laws, Licensing and Regulations:

There are a number of legal questions that can arise when starting your own business. Often an attorney will need to be consulted. However the library does have a number of basic legal sources, such as the Ohio Revised Code, the United States Code and the Akron Code of Ordinances. These can be used to answer simple legal questions and provide some basic sample legal and business forms.

General Business Laws and Regulations

Library Resources

  • Employment coordinator. Deerfield, IL: Clark Boardman Callaghan. Services Table -- Ask at Business & Government Desk

  • How to start a business in Ohio. [United States]: Entrepreneur Media. 658.1109 H847st

  • Sautter, M. G. Employment in Ohio. St. Paul, Minn: LexisNexis Matthew Bender. Desk Reference 344.77101 Sa261e

  • Sitarz, Daniel. Small business legal forms simplified. Carbondale, IL: Nova Publishing Co. 346.730652 Si632c

  • Steingold, Fred. The employer's legal handbook. Berkeley, Calif: Nolo. 344.7301 St822e

  • Steingold, Fred. Legal forms for starting & running a small business. Berkeley, Calif: Nolo. 346.730652 St822L

  • Steingold, Fred. Legal guide for starting & running a small business. Berkeley, Calif: Nolo. 346.730652 St822Le

Internet Resources

  • Akron Bar Association
    7 W. Bowery St., Suite 1100
    Akron, Ohio 44308
    330-253-5007
    http://akronbar.org/
    A professional association for attorneys in Summit, Portage, and Wayne counties, the website features a searchable members' directory to locate an attorney by name or area of practice. Also operates a Lawyer Referral Service at 330-253-5038, which will put you in touch with a pre-screened attorney with specialization in an area of the law, who will then provide a deeply discounted one-half hour consultation.

  • Business.gov
    http://www.business.gov/topics/business_laws
    Provides links to legal and regulatory information for small businesses. Topics covered range from hiring a lawyer to general start up questions such as which type of business organization is best for an individual business to specifics on environmental regulation of hazardous waste spills or handling a lawsuit.

  • U.S. Department of Labor
    http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-employers.htm
    This page provides shortcuts to Federal employment laws and the services that the DOL provides employers.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    http://www.epa.gov/sbo/
    The Small Business Ombudsman program provides small businesses with help in complying with environmental regulations.

Licensing and Corporate Filing

There is a lot of paperwork involved in starting a new business. The following web sites can help lead you through the maze of corporate regulations.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Running the Business

Taxes

Calculating the many types of taxes for your small business can be an overwhelming task. This section lists a number of books and web sites which can help to lead you through this maze. You may also need to consult a Certified Public Accountant.

Library Resources

  • CCH Federal tax guide. Chicago, IL: CCH, Incorporated. Services Table -- Ask at the Business & Government Desk

  • J.K. Lasser's small business taxes. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 343.7306 J61sb

  • Kamoroff, Bernard. Small time operator. Laytonville and Willits, Calif: Bell Springs Pub. 658.022 K15s

  • Nwanna, Gladson I. A simplified guide to small business tax deductions. Baltimore, MD: Frontline Publishers. 343.7305 N992si

  • Parker, James O. Tax smarts for small business. Naperville, IL: Sphinx Publishing. 343.730526 P243t

  • Rosenberg, Eva. Small business taxes made easy : how to increase your deductions, reduce what you owe, and boost your profits. New York: McGraw Hill. 343.730526 R813s

Internet Resources

Go Back to Table of Contents

Managing / Marketing Your Business

Library Resources

  • Antion, Tom. The ultimate guide to electronic marketing for small business : low-cost/high return tools and techniques that really work. New York: John Wiley and Sons. 658.872 An632u

  • Cyr, Donald G. Marketing your product. North Vancouver, BC: International Self-Counsel Press. 658.8 C997m

  • Davis, Martin E. Managing a small business made easy. Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Press. 658.022 D263m

  • The Entrepreneur magazine small business advisor. New York: John Wiley. 658.022 En61

  • Fleischer, Charles H. HR for small business : from hiring to firing and everything in between. Naperville, IL: Sphinx. 658.3 F596h

  • Francis, Linda Leigh. How to run your business so it doesn't run you. Redwood Valley, CA: Borah Press. 658.022 F818h

  • Gordon, Kim T. Maximum marketing, minimum dollars : the top 50 ways to grow your small business. Chicago, IL: Kaplan Publising. 658.8 G663ma

  • Grensing-Popha, Lin. Employee management for small busines. North Vancouver, BC: International Self-Counsel Press. 658.303 G827em

  • Kaden, Robert J. Guerrilla marketing research : marketing research techniques that can help any business make more money. London: Kogan Page. 658.83 K11gm

  • Kennedy, Joe. The small business owner's manual: everything you need to know to start up and run your business. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 658.022 K35s

  • King, Ruth. The ugly truth about small business : 50 never-saw-it-coming things that can go wrong-- and what you can do about it . Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks. 658.022 K54u

  • Kirk, Randy. Running a 21st-century small business : the owner's guide to starting and growing your company. New York: Warner Books. 658.022 K59r

  • Markulis, Peter. Strategic management for small and growing firms. Central Point, OR: Oasis Press. 658.022 M346stO'Berry, Denise. Small business cash flow : strategies for making your business a financial success. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. 658.1524 Ob12sm

  • Pinson, Linda. Keeping the books : basic recordkeeping and accounting for the successful small business. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Trade Pub. 657.2 P658k

  • Schenck, Barbara Findlay. Small business marketing for dummies. New York: Hungry Minds.648.8 Sch324sm

  • Stewart, Martha. The Martha rules : 10 essentials for achieving success as you start, build, or manage a business . Rodale. 658.11 St851ma

  • Tracy, John A. Accounting for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 657 T761ad

Internet Resources

  • U.S. Small Business Administration - SBA
    http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/index.html
    This page on the SBA website links you to information about several aspects of managing your business. It includes guidance on leadership traits, decision-making skills, how to manage your employees, setting prices, marketing and advertising, and forecasting for future growth.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    Managing Your Business Finances
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P06_0100.asp
    This section of the Business Owner's Toolkit provides guidance on several aspects of managing your business finances, including bookkeeping, credit and collections, cash flow, and purchasing.

  • Marketing Your Product
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P03_0101.asp
    This section of the Business Owner's Toolkit provides guidance on marketing your product, including analyzing the market, market research, developing your product, packaging and pricing, distribution,and promotion and advertising.

  • The People Who Work for You
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P05_0000.asp
    This section of the Business Owner's Toolkit provides guidance on managing your employees, including recruiting and hiring, paying your employees, benefits, employment rules, motivating your employees, and disciplining and terminating employees.

  • SCORE.org
    Managing Your Business
    http://www.score.org/managing_your_business.html
    This page on SCORE's national website discusses many topics related to managing your company.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Buying a Business

Rather than starting a business from scratch, you may be interested in buying a business that is already in operation. This section provides a list of books and links to internet sites that discuss how to buy an existing business. It also provides links to internet sites that list businesses that are currently for sale.

Library Resources

  • Balanko-Dickson, Greg. Tips and traps when buying a business. New York: McGraw-Hill. 658.16 B171t

  • Goldstein, Arnold S. Buying and selling a business made E-Z. Deerfield Beach, FL:Made E-Z Products. 658.1141 G624b

  • Simmons, Chad. Business valuation bluebook : how successful entrepreneurs price, buy, sell and trade businesses. Tempe, AZ: Facts on Demand Press. 658.16 Si592b

  • Smorenburg, Michael. Business buyer's kit : everything you need to know to find, buy, and finance a business for $500,000 or less. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 658.16 Sm666b

  • Sutton, Garrett. How to buy & sell a business : how you can win in the business quadrant. New York: Warner Business Books. 658.16 Su967h

Internet Resources

  • BizBuySell.com
    http://www.bizbuysell.com
    This site is sponsored by the Wall Street Journal. It is one of the largest sites listing businesses that are currently available for sale. The listings can be searched by geography, price, and date of posting. It also provides a listing of business brokers across the United States, as well as discussions about how to buy or sell a business.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/Text/P01_0820.asp
    This section of the Business Owner's Toolkit deals with buying a business. It discusses topics such as why to buy a business, locating a good business to buy, researching the business, and deciding whether or not to buy.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
    http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/buyabusiness/index.html
    This page on the SBA's website is devoted to buying a franchise. It includes discussions on choosing a business, performing research, determing the value of the business, the sales agreement, due diligence, and closing on the deal.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Franchises

Starting a new business can be very risky. Because of this risk and work involved in starting a new business, many new entrepreneurs choose franchising as an alternative to starting a business from scratch. If you are concerned about the risk involved in starting a new business, then franchising may be for you. This section provides a list of books and links to internet sites that discuss franchising.

Library Resources

  • Arden, Lynie. 220 best franchises to buy : the essential sourcebook for evaluating the best franchise opportunities. New York: Broadway Books. 658.8708 Ar676t

  • The franchise handbook : a complete guide to all aspects of buying, selling or investing in a franchise. Ocala, FL: Atlantic Publishing Group. 658.8708 F816ha

  • Franchising 101 : the complete guide to evaluating, buying and growing your franchise business. Chicago, IL: Upstart Publishing. 658.8708 F816

  • Keup, Erwin J. Franchise bible : how to buy a franchise or franchise your own business . Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Press. 658.8708 K43fr

  • Lesonsky, Rieva. Entrepreneur magazine's ultimate book of franchises : from the franchise experts at Entrepreneur magazine. Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Press. 658.8708 L637e

  • Mancuso, Joseph. Mancuso's small business basics : start, buy or franchise your way to a successfull business . Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks. 658.022 M269ms

  • Seid, Michael. Franchising for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 658.8708 Se458f

Internet Resources

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/Text/P01_0900.asp
    This section of the Business Owner's Toolkit deals with buying a franchise. It discusses topics such as why to buy a franchise, finding a franchise, investigating the franchise, and deciding whether or not to buy.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
    http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/buyafranchise/index.html
    This page on the SBA's website is devoted to buying a franchise. It includes a franchise overview, a consumer guide to franchises, franchising strategy, and a guides and instructions for buying a franchise.

  • Entrepreneur.com - The Franchize Zone
    http://www.entrepreneur.com/franzone/
    This page on the Entrepreneur.com website is devoted to franchises. It discusses how to buy a franchise, provides access to numerous articles about franchises, and lists available franchises according to different criteria such as business category, fastest growing, and newest franchises.

  • FranchiseGator.com
    http://franchisegator.com/
    This site allows you to search franchise opportunities. It also has numerous discussions about the many aspects of starting a franchise.

  • The International Franchise Association
    http://www.franchise.org/ The International Franchise Association is a membership organization of franchisors, franchisees and suppliers. The website is dedicated to providing franchise information.

  • The U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
    Franchise and Business Opportunities Rule
    http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-fran.htm
    The U.S.Federal Trade Commission regulates franchise offerings. This page on their website contains laws and regulations, as well as other useful information that you need to know before buying a franchise. Make sure you understand your rights as you deal with franchisors.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Minority / Women Owned Businesses

Although the business resources listed throughout this guide are applicable to all persons, there are some additional books and internet sites which are devoted to minority and women owned businesses.

Library Resources

  • Baskin, Elizabeth Cogswell. How to run your business like a girl : successful strategies from entrepreneurial women who made it happen. Avon, MA: Adams Media. 658.022 B315h

  • Boudreaux, Bill. The complete startup guide for the Black entrepreneur. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 658.1108 B756c

  • Cantando, Mary. The woman's advantage : 20 women entrepreneurs show you what it takes to grow your business. Chicago, IL: Kaplan. 658.421 C229w

  • Caplan, Suzanne. A piece of the action : how women and minorities can launch their own successful businesses. New York: AMACOM. 658.1141 C244p

  • National minority and women-owned business directory. Minneapolis, MN: Diversity Information Resources. 331.6 N277mw

  • Shepard, Molly Dickinson. Stop whining & start winning : 8 surefire ways for women to thrive in business. New York: Plumes. 658.1082 Sh547st

  • Wilmerding, Ginny. Smart women and small business : how to make the leap from corporate careers to the right small enterprise. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 658.1108 W743s

Internet Resources

  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
    http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
    The MBDA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and was created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. This website provides directions to regional offices, information on many aspects of starting and running a business, access to minority contracting opportunities, access to business tools, advice on writing a business plan, and more.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    Office of Women's Business Ownership
    http://www.onlinewbc.gov/
    This site is the SBA's Online Women's Business Center. Its mission is to assist women achieve their dreams and improve their communities by helping them start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background.

  • SBA's Office of Advocacy
    http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/minority.html
    This page provides access to SBA research reports about women and minorities in business.

  • Ohio Department of Development, Division of Minority Business Affairs
    http://www.odod.state.oh.us/DMBA/ This division of the Ohio Department of Development is geared toward assisting in the growth of minority businesses in Ohio.

  • Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
    http://www.wbenc.org/
    The WBENC was founded in 1997 and is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. It is dedicated to expanding opportunities and eliminating barriers in the marketplace for women business owners.

Go Back to Table of Contents

Local Organizations / Sources of Assistance

Starting a business can be very challenging and scary, but there are many local organizations dedicated to helping you. The following is a list of Akron-area organizations that provide free or low-cost services to entrepreneurs. They are a great resource for additional information or to help you understand and utilize the resources available at the library or on the internet.

  • Akron Business and Trade Organizations
    http://ascpl.lib.oh.us/internetresources/bg/akrontradeorg.html
    An online directory of Akron-area professional and business organizations for beginning to develop your network.

  • Akron Commercialization Center
    32 College Street
    Akron, Ohio
    330-972-8124
    http://www.uakron.edu/acc/
    Sponsored by the University of Akron, ACC provides business development support, such as laboratory and office space, to technology-based businesses.

  • Akron Industrial Incubator
    58 W. Center Street
    Akron, Ohio
    330-375-2173
    www.ci.akron.oh.us/aii/
    Established in 1983, the Akron Industrial Incubator is a cooperative partnership formed by The City of Akron, The University of Akron, The Akron Development Corporation and the State of Ohio to assist small businesses. The Incubator offers 146,000 sq. ft. of improved rental space and lab facilities in a secured building with 24 hour, 7-day-a-week accessibility. Joint secretarial services, financial and business planning, and other assistance are included in the reduced rent. To join the Akron Industrial Incubator program, entrepreneurs must have a business with a commercially focused product, service, or technology, and must meet other criteria.

  • The Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Akron
    http://www3.uakron.edu/cba/fitzgerald/startbusiness/startbusiness.htm
    The vision of the Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies is to promote entrepreneurship throughout the university, community, region, U.S. and the world through the dissemination of practical “experiential” and theoretical knowledge, which will benefit society as a whole.

  • Jumpstart, Inc.
    737 Bolivar Road
    Suite 3000
    Cleveland, OH 44115
    216-363-3400
    http://www.jumpstartinc.org/
    Jumpstart is a nonprofit venture development group which works with early-stage ideas and companies which have growth potential. Funds a very select group of start-up businesses via a rigorous screening process.

  • NEO 411
    50 Public Square, Suite 200
    Cleveland, Ohio
    216-696-1292
    1-800-505-4811
    http://www.neo411.biz/
    Seeks to be a conduit between the entrepreneur community and assistance providers. There is a Resource Guide on the website and they will provide telephone assistance.

  • Nortech, the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition
    737 Bolivar Road
    Suite 3000
    Cleveland, OH 44115
    216-736-3100
    http://www.nortech.org
    Nortech is a regional coalition of technology leaders founded in 1999 to promote entrepreneurship and business expansions in high technology industries. Their website offers a resource guide and more.

  • Small Business Development Center at the Summit Medina Business Alliance
    330-375-2111
    http://www.akronsbdc.org
    Provides high quality, customer-driven business counseling, education and information. info@akronsbdc.org

  • SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives
    One Cascade Plaza, 18th Floor
    Akron, Ohio
    330-379-3163
    http://www.akronscore.org/cgi-bin/texis/SCORE/pilot/main2.html
    Provides business counseling by retired executives or small business owners, for new or established small businesses. Services are free, requiring only the commitment of time, effort and follow-through to implement the plans.

Go Back to Table of Contents


Updated December 2006

 

Click for Akron, Ohio Forecast