Library Services

Guide to Starting Your Own Business!

Getting Started

Small Business Profiles: A Guide to Today's Top Opportunities for Entrepreneurs. Detroit: Gale Group, 1994. HD2346 .U5 S64 (Athens Reference)

2 volumes. Gives detailed start-up instructions, cost and profit figures, marketing and advertising information, etc. Easy to read. All kinds of businesses included. Is an annual publication with up-to-date information.

Franchise Opportunities Handbook. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, 1994. HF5429.3 .F694 1994 (Athens Reference)

Explains franchising. Provides a checklist to help evaluate a franchise. Lists sources of government and non-government assistance, and franchise companies. Gives sources of information.

Business Plans Handbook. New York: Gale Research Co., 1995- . HD62.7 .B865 v. 1- (Athens Reference)

Contains actual business plans for a bakery, diaper service, inn/resort, printing company, toy company, salad packaging company, etc. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Complete Book of Business Plans. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, 1994. HD62.5 .C68 1994 (Athens Reserve)

Provides general guidelines to writing a business plan, a checklist to help you think through your plan, a sample business plan, and a step-by-step guide to writing a plan. Talks about financial ratios and accounting, and gives actual examples of business plans for different types of businesses, such as a hotel, day care center, insurance company, etc.

Small Business Sourcebook: the Entrepreneur's Resource. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. HD2346 .U5 S65 2001 (Athens Reference)

2 volumes. Volume one gives specific business profiles, A-S. Lists different businesses and for each lists start-up information, associations and other organizations, reference works, sources of supply, statistical sources, trade journals, trade shows and conventions, consultants, franchise and business opportunities, information centers, etc. Volume two lists specific business profiles, T-Z, and general small business resources such as associations, educational programs, reference sources (includes state and federal sections).

Mancuso, Joseph. Mancuso's Small Business Resource Guide. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 1996. HD62.7 .M367 1996 (Athens Reference)

A source of information on advertising, associations, banks, patents, etc. A good resource.

Robertson, Charles T. How to Start a Small Business in Georgia: with Forms. Naperville, IL: Sphinx Publishing, 1999. HD62.5 .G461 1999 (Athens and Elberton)

Simple explanation of federal and Georgia laws pertaining to starting a business. Simple step-by-step instruction and forms needed. Includes licensing, trademarks, contract and insturance law, health and safety law, information on taxes, etc.

Dicks, J. W. How to Incorporate and Start a Business in Georgia. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 1998. HD62.5 .G46 1998

Covers selecting an operating entity, incorporation, raising capital, dealing with the law, preparing contracts and leases, understanding copyrights, trademarks and patents, and mastering taxes.

Encyclopedia of Associations. Detroit: Gale Research Co. HD2425 .E56 2003 (Athens Reference)

A comprehensive list of national organizations described briefly, with names, addresses and telephone numbers. Indexes include name of organization, key word, and geographic area.

RMA Annual Statement Studies. Philadelphia: Robert Morris Associates, 1994. HF5681 .B2 R6 1994 Athens Reference)

Provides composite financial data on manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, service, agriculture, and contracting. Gives industry-level information, with breakdowns by size categories. Provides balance sheets, income statements, and financial ratios.

Russell, Cheryl. The Official Guide to the American Marketplace. Ithaca, N.Y.: New Strategist Publications, 1995. HA214 .A6 1995 (Athens Reference)

Statistics. Use for market analysis. Profiles consumers by age group, share of the market, and income.

Kess, Sidney. Business Strategies. Chicago: Commerce Clearing House, 1984- . KF1355 .A6 K47 1984 (Athens Reference)

4 volumes. Vols. 1-3 provide information on marketing techniques. Practical information. Forms, planning aids, etc. Vol. 4 is Business Strategies, a bi-monthly bulletin providing business planning information and new developments.

Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 2000. Z6951 .A97 2003 (Athens Reference)

Lists newspapers, magazines, trade journals, television and radio stations with their ad rates, circulation, location, etc. Geographical arrangement.

Community Analysis

Georgia County Guide. Athens: Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia. HA 321 .G416 (Athens Reference)

Provides all kinds of statistics for each county in Georgia.

Georgia County Snapshots. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Community Affairs. F292 .A15 G46 (Athens Reference)

Arranged by county, gives information on county demographics, economy, unemployment, per capita income, government, taxes, debt, etc.

CityScapes. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Community Affairs. F284.3 .C57 2000 (Athens Reference)

Profiles of 173 Georgia cities with populations of 10,000 or more, with the exceptions of Athens, Augusta, and Columbus which are covered in the Georgia County Snapshots. Provides profiles on the history, people, government and economy of each city.

Georgia Employment and Wages. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Labor. HD5725 .G4 A28 (Athens Reference)

Gives employment and wage data on a county-by-county basis.

Georgia Statistical Abstract. Athens: College of Business Administration, University of Georgia. HA321 .G4 (Athens Reference)

Statistics about everything in the state of Georgia.

Schretter, Howard. Atlas of Georgia's Substate Districts. Athens: Institute of Community and Area Development, University of Georgia, 1989. G1311 .F81 S37 (Athens Reference)

Maps of the state broken down into different governmental districts, such as Health Districts, Game and Fishery Regions, Probation Districts, etc.

Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of the Census. HA202 .U5 (Athens Reference)

Synthesis of census statistics in tabular format. Includes demographics, vital statistics, etc.

American Business Climate & Economic Profiles. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1994 HC106.8 .A433 1994 (Athens Reference)

Provides geographic profiles, rankings, information about the cost of living, population, labor force, unemployment, income, major businesses, and the business climate of all 319 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and the 50 states.

County and City Data Book, 1994. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1994. HA203 .A36 1994 (Athens Reference)

Very detailed statistics on cities and counties. Includes population, housing, earnings, building permits, population characteristics, etc.

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, 1997-98. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1998. HA202 .S84 1997-98 (Athens Reference)

Contains data similar to that found in the County and City Databook, but on the state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) levels.

The Sourcebook of County Demographics. Fairfax, VA: CACI Marketing Systems, 2000. HA203 .S65 2000 (Athens Reference)

Demographics, marketing and income data arranged by county. Includes every county in the US. Data are relevant for analysis of sales territories and advertising audience, site prospects for capital expansion, and potential consumer markets.

The Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics. Arlington, VA.: CACI Marketing Systems, 2000. HA203 .S66 2000 (Athens Reference)

Demographics on more than 150 characteristics such as age, race, income, households, etc., arranged by ZIP Codes.

Helpful Web Sites

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/ - Web Site for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

http://ga2000.itos.uga.edu/ - Web Site for the Georgia 2000 Information system. Provides access to databases for Georgia and the Southeast, including demographic data and projections through 2000. Includes political districts with links to Web pages for Georgia Senators and Representatives. Also includes manufactures' locations, primary product, number of employees, etc.

http://inc.com/ - Inc. magazine website. All kinds of information and articles on starting and growing your own business. Helpful online guides to such things as writing business plans, starting a business, buying a business or franchise, marketing, law, human resources, etc.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/ - Entrepreneur magazine website. Articles and information on topics such as marketing, management, finance. Includes start-up kits, franchise directory, business opportunities, etc.

http://www.americanexpress.com/ - Information about their services to small businesses, corporations, and merchants. Includes free advice and information on financial services such as investing, and banking. Applications for lines of credit and loans from OPEN: The Small Business Network^SM

Magazines for Entrepreneurs

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Current highlights of what's happening in the business world in Atlanta, and the region, as well as a section summarizing the week in business nationwide.

Formerly Georgia Labor Market Trends. Monthly statistical summary of employment trends in Georgia. Gives state-wide statistics, as well as at the county and city level.

Entrepreneur

Resource for small businesses. Helpful hints. Success stories. Trends.

Georgia Business and Economic Conditions

Statistical articles on current business and economic conditions in Georgia.

Georgia Trend

Highlights trends in Georgia business, economy and politics.

Inc.

A magazine for growing companies. Articles on issues of importance to small and beginning businesses.

Success

Timely articles relevant to entrepreneurs on how to succeed in business.