Research Tools

NOTE: QRCA provides these links as a convenience. QRCA is not liable for the content or security of any of these websites.

Local and National Business News

• Bizjournals.com
  Incorporates 41 city/regional business journals (free and very useful)
• www.kompass.com
  1.5 MM businesses worldwide
• PaintedCows.com
  Contains extensive links to useful marketing/ advertising sites
• BizStats.com
  Every statistic for small business covered by industry, market size, profitability, debt to equity ratios and much more.
• Free Management Library
  Produced by the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits, this site has useful links for both profit and nonprofit organizations
• Knowledge@Emory
  Offers the latest business insights, information and research from a variety of sources. Free registration.

General Information

• New York Public Library
  NY city public library catalog
• www.mysearch.com
  A metasearch engine combining google/yahoo/etc.
• www.forbes.com
  Better than most business magazine sites
• www.corporateinformation.com
  Web guide/meta search vehicle for private companies
• Marketing Terms
  Search an extensive collection of Internet marketing terms
• MelissaData
  Free online lookups: area codes in a radius, carrier routes radius, home sales by zip, nearest mailing house, zip, city & phone, zip demographic, zip codes in a county, zip distance, zips in a radius.
• Competitive Intelligence Guide
  The Internet Intelligence Index is designed to help you gather competitive intelligence information. Contains links to over 600 intelligence-related Internet sites, covering 25 major industries. Compiled by the Fuld & Company Library

Government Information

• Business.gov
  The official business link to the U.S. government. Guides you
  through the maze of government rules and regulations and provides access to services and resources to help you start, grow, and succeed in business. Topics covered: business laws, employees, finances, government contracting, international trade, taxes, and more.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
  National Information Clearinghouse

Entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurial Edge
  The Edward Lowe Foundation provides information services for small business entrepreneurs.
• InventNet
  Site is run by nonprofit group of independent inventors.
  Has advice on everything from patent law and software to marketing your invention: classified ads, a newsletter, an online forum, Web links, and inventions for sale.
• Free Patent Searching Engine
  Excellent search engine to search US and world patent data. FreePatentsOnline.com allows you to set up a free account. You will be able to run searches, organize, comment, share documents (PDF downloading included) and even set-up alerts.
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
  Search the patent and trademark databases. This site also provides answers to general questions about patents and trademarks. Includes a glossary and guides

Marketing Business/Knowledge

• Know This
  Knowledge Source for Marketing Professionals – virtual library
• Marketing Profs
  Online publishing company providing both strategic and tactical marketing know-how through a combination of provocative articles and commentary

Demographics

• American Fact Finder/ U.S. Census Bureau
  Provides quick access to summarized census data.
• Consumer Expenditure Surveys
  Information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics.
• Statistics Canada
  Canadian national statistics agency providing economic, social and census data
• Small Business Development Center: Demographics
  Statistical information for a wide range of demographic and economic topics. Sources of data are arranged by geography and by subject.
• U.S. Census Bureau
  The gateway to the 2000 census
• Current Industrial Reports
  Monthly, quarterly, and annual measures of industrial activity helpful for market analysis, forecasting, and decision-making in the private sector.
• U.S. Census Bureau Maps and Cartographic Resources
• Census Scopes
  Provides simple-to-use charts, maps and graphs for demographic information from the University of Michigan’s Social Science Data Analysis network.
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
  The NAICS code, developed in cooperation with Canada and Mexico, is the classification system used to statistically track our economy. NAICs replaces the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

Miscellaneous Tools

• GreenBook
  GreenBook is a reference resource for a growing audience of buyers of market research services (corporations, advertising agencies, market research firms, etc.) who use it to find partners for their research projects.  Online and in print, the directory offers access to detailed, structured, and reliable information on market research providers, consultants, and facilities.
• Research Randomizer
  Good if you need to randomly select a set of numbers (e.g., to select "winning" survey participants, etc.)