Click a unit number below to view resources for that unit.
The Web sites of other organizations and agencies can answer your questions. Or you may need to write down an address or phone number so you can call or visit the organization in person.
Documents are PDF forms and letters provided by government agencies and other organizations. You may want to print them if they are particularly important for your business planning.
Library books are available for check-out from the Minneapolis Public Library. Ask a reference librarian for help if you have trouble locating them.
Resources for Unit 1
These resources can help you in planning your business:
10 Minute guide to household budgeting:
A good overview of how to set up a household budget.
A good overview of how to set up a household budget.
A marketing action plan:
This resource will help you decide if you are going to be able to reach your target customers with your marketing plan.
This resource will help you decide if you are going to be able to reach your target customers with your marketing plan.
All About Credit -- from the Twin Cities Beehive:
Review all aspects of credit and get help sorting out your finances.
Review all aspects of credit and get help sorting out your finances.
AllPages:
Nation wide telephone directory information. Use it to look up businesses in the same category as yours to find competitors.
Nation wide telephone directory information. Use it to look up businesses in the same category as yours to find competitors.
Basic Budget Worksheets for Personal Budgeting:
Several types of budget worksheets that can help you better understand the importance of a good budget.
Several types of budget worksheets that can help you better understand the importance of a good budget.
BBBTips on Small Business Start Up Costs:
From the Better Business Bureau.
From the Better Business Bureau.
Blue Ocean Strategy:
A guide to thinking about marketing and customers.
A guide to thinking about marketing and customers.
Businessballs SWOT analysis with template:
A template or guide for producing a SWOT chart.
A template or guide for producing a SWOT chart.
Competition demystified:
The reality of competition is that it creates a strong business environment.
The reality of competition is that it creates a strong business environment.
Complete small business start up guide:
Excellent information on starting a business.
Excellent information on starting a business.
Creating a Budget:
This book takes you step by step through the budgeting process.
This book takes you step by step through the budgeting process.
Defining your target audience:
Advice from the American Marketing Association. Register for free to get more information.
Advice from the American Marketing Association. Register for free to get more information.
Drive a modest car and 16 other keys to small business success:
Put together enough small impact decisions and success will be around the corner.
Put together enough small impact decisions and success will be around the corner.
Finance Start-Up:
Numerous resources to help you find loans and assistance to finance your business.
Numerous resources to help you find loans and assistance to finance your business.
Guerrilla marketing weapons [electronic resource] : 100 affordable marketing methods for maximizing profits from your small business:
This guide tels you how to get the most profit from your business.
This guide tels you how to get the most profit from your business.
KnowThis.com Marketing Virtual Library:
Market research, marketing plans and more.
Market research, marketing plans and more.
Major Milestones:
There are many small events that will happen before you open your business. Here is a chart that shows you what those are.
There are many small events that will happen before you open your business. Here is a chart that shows you what those are.
Make the rules or your rival will:
Be proactive and take advantage of what you know.
Be proactive and take advantage of what you know.
Market and Sell:
A strong marketing strategy is essential for convincing customers to try your product or service. Here are some articles to help you make a marketing plan.
A strong marketing strategy is essential for convincing customers to try your product or service. Here are some articles to help you make a marketing plan.
Marketing Dilemma:
This document shows the relationship between customer service, product quality and pricing. It is a way to view the relationship between those in your business.
This document shows the relationship between customer service, product quality and pricing. It is a way to view the relationship between those in your business.
Marketing matrix: 100 ways to improve your strategic and tactical marketing:
Another way to look at the price, customer and quality triad.
Another way to look at the price, customer and quality triad.
Marketplace Money: Small business success:
Ruth Hayden clearly presents what you need to know to succeed.
Ruth Hayden clearly presents what you need to know to succeed.
Minnesota Factbook:
Provides information on public, private, nonprofit and regional companies in the Upper Midwest.
Provides information on public, private, nonprofit and regional companies in the Upper Midwest.
Money -- how do I start a budget from the Twin Cities Beehive:
Excellent information on how to create a personal budget and use it.
Excellent information on how to create a personal budget and use it.
My personal financial statement:
How much do you have in assets? what are your liabilities? This worksheet will help you find out.
How much do you have in assets? what are your liabilities? This worksheet will help you find out.
My personal monthly budget:
Use this worksheet to review your finances -- are you current on paying all of your bills? do you have any loans that will be coming due soon?
Use this worksheet to review your finances -- are you current on paying all of your bills? do you have any loans that will be coming due soon?
My unique market position:
Your business is unique because you are unique. No one else will do business in quite the same way, and you get to take advantage of that.
Your business is unique because you are unique. No one else will do business in quite the same way, and you get to take advantage of that.
Napolean Hill:
Perhaps the classic book on success in business and in life.
Perhaps the classic book on success in business and in life.
Podcasts on business topics:
Listen to interviews with experts from many areas of business to get hints, tips and strategies for marketing, human resources and more.
Listen to interviews with experts from many areas of business to get hints, tips and strategies for marketing, human resources and more.
Portraits of success 9 keys to sustaining value in any business:
Value is where you find it.
Value is where you find it.
Practical Money Skills for Life:
Budgeting guide with step-by-step explanation of how to create a budget.
Budgeting guide with step-by-step explanation of how to create a budget.
Quick MBA Swot Analysis:
Use this guide to get a better understanding of SWOT analysis
Use this guide to get a better understanding of SWOT analysis
Simply essential personal budgeting kit:
Everything you need to know about setting up a budget.
Everything you need to know about setting up a budget.
Start Up Costs:
This chart lists all of the costs that may be related to starting your business. Some of the costs won't apply, others will.
This chart lists all of the costs that may be related to starting your business. Some of the costs won't apply, others will.
Start Up Costs (Small Business Administration):
The U.S. Small Business Administration has many kinds of information to help entrepreneurs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has many kinds of information to help entrepreneurs.
Start up costs and financing:
You already know it takes money to start a business, but where can you get the money from? The first step is finding out what you need.
You already know it takes money to start a business, but where can you get the money from? The first step is finding out what you need.
Start Up Costs Overview (FindLaw):
This site provides you with information about calculating start up costs for a new business.
This site provides you with information about calculating start up costs for a new business.
Taking Stock of What I Already Have:
Print this worksheet and then follow its steps to create a detailed picture of what you can put into your business. (This is separate from the short Business Plan worksheet.)
Print this worksheet and then follow its steps to create a detailed picture of what you can put into your business. (This is separate from the short Business Plan worksheet.)
Target customers:
Target customers are the ones your business wants to attract and keep. This diagram shows you how you can understand your customer.
Target customers are the ones your business wants to attract and keep. This diagram shows you how you can understand your customer.
The discipline of market leaders: choose your customers, narrow your focus and dominate your market:
This is an terrific guide to selecting a target market and achieving success
This is an terrific guide to selecting a target market and achieving success
The small business start-up guide : a surefire blueprint to successfully launch your own business :
Clear and concise information.
Clear and concise information.
Three fundamental aspects of small business success:
These don't cost money, but do require your commitment, energy and ambition.
These don't cost money, but do require your commitment, energy and ambition.
Up against the retail giants:
Size and speed allow small retailers competitive advantage over the big players.
Size and speed allow small retailers competitive advantage over the big players.
What can I learn from my toughest competitors:
You can learn from what other businesses have done right and what they have done wrong. While competitors can be tough, they can also give you incentive to make your business all that it can be.
You can learn from what other businesses have done right and what they have done wrong. While competitors can be tough, they can also give you incentive to make your business all that it can be.
What clients love: a field guide to growing your business:
What customers like, and how you can make your business the best.
What customers like, and how you can make your business the best.
What's Working:
Listen to some audio presentations about various business topics.
Listen to some audio presentations about various business topics.
WomenVenture:
With an eye to the needs of women entrepreneurs, WomenVenture offers business support and development classes and workshops.
With an eye to the needs of women entrepreneurs, WomenVenture offers business support and development classes and workshops.