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 2
These resources can help you in planning your business:
Almanac of business and financial ratios:
This book is organized by industry and has financial ratios for each industry.
This book is organized by industry and has financial ratios for each industry.
Annual statement studies (RMA):
This book is arranged by NAICS code so it is easy to find the ratios for your industry.
This book is arranged by NAICS code so it is easy to find the ratios for your industry.
Art of pricing:
There isn't one perfect way to price items. This book will show you many ways to price your products and services.
There isn't one perfect way to price items. This book will show you many ways to price your products and services.
Biz Stats Industry and Business Statistics:
This website allows you to calculate financial ratios and benchmark performance of businesses. It is a good place to learn more about industry statistics and financial information.
This website allows you to calculate financial ratios and benchmark performance of businesses. It is a good place to learn more about industry statistics and financial information.
Calculating your mark up : with sample:
This sheet lets you see how prices are determined using the mark up method.
This sheet lets you see how prices are determined using the mark up method.
Click Z Stats:
A good source for trends and statistics related to marketing.
A good source for trends and statistics related to marketing.
Compare Minnesota:
Find out more about your industry in Minnesota with this resource.
Find out more about your industry in Minnesota with this resource.
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.
Consumer Expenditure Survey:
Learn how much money Americans make and how they spend it.
Learn how much money Americans make and how they spend it.
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.
Financial Performance in My Industry:
This document shows you what financial information you need to compare your business to others in your industry.
This document shows you what financial information you need to compare your business to others in your industry.
Finding my target customers:
Where do they live, how much money do they spend? Think about the customers you want to reach and how you can target your efforts toward them.
Where do they live, how much money do they spend? Think about the customers you want to reach and how you can target your efforts toward them.
Getting the most out of ratios:
Clear guidance of when and how to use financial ratios.
Clear guidance of when and how to use financial ratios.
Guerrilla marketing weapons : 100 affordable marketing methods for maximizing profits from your small business:
Get the most profit from your business.
Get the most profit from your business.
Guerrilla marketing weapons : 100 affordable marketing methods for maximizing profits from your small business:
Get the most profit from your business.
Get the most profit from your business.
How we plan to promote to our customers:
Promotion is an important part of how you sell your products and services. It can also be expensive. Use this information to learn to set promotional goals and tactics to get you the customers you want.
Promotion is an important part of how you sell your products and services. It can also be expensive. Use this information to learn to set promotional goals and tactics to get you the customers you want.
Identifying all potential individual customers for my product or service:
Use this resource to develop a list of the people you'd like to sell your product or service to. Get the best description of who you want to reach and then build your marketing program around reaching them.
Use this resource to develop a list of the people you'd like to sell your product or service to. Get the best description of who you want to reach and then build your marketing program around reaching them.
Identifying all potential organizational customers for my product or service:
Have you thought about selling your products or services to other businesses or organizations? These worksheets will help you decide if that is a market you want to sell to.
Have you thought about selling your products or services to other businesses or organizations? These worksheets will help you decide if that is a market you want to sell to.
Identifying all your target customers:
Not everyone will want to do business with you. Use this resource to find out who will, so you can target your marketing efforts to them.
Not everyone will want to do business with you. Use this resource to find out who will, so you can target your marketing efforts to them.
Industry analysis checklist (Entrepreneur.com):
This is handy checklist to let you see if you've done all of your industry research.
This is handy checklist to let you see if you've done all of your industry research.
Industry Research Desk: Industry Portals:
This web site is arranged by broad industry category, and will link you to good websites for industry information. It also has a guide to show you how to research an industry.
This web site is arranged by broad industry category, and will link you to good websites for industry information. It also has a guide to show you how to research an industry.
KnowThis.com Marketing Virtual Library:
Market research, marketing plans and more.
Market research, marketing plans and more.
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 Research Data:
This is a handy reminder of what kind of marketing and demographic data about customers is important.
This is a handy reminder of what kind of marketing and demographic data about customers is important.
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 research: finding your target market:
There are lots of people in the world. It can be tricky to find those that will want to do business with you, but a little research will go a long way.
There are lots of people in the world. It can be tricky to find those that will want to do business with you, but a little research will go a long way.
Minneapolis neighborhood profiles:
For each Minneapolis neighborhood, locate basic demographic information as well as a portrait of the area.
For each Minneapolis neighborhood, locate basic demographic information as well as a portrait of the area.
My industry analysis:
Use this set of resources to understand better how your industry works. You will be able to use these to think more deeply about how your business fits into its industry.
Use this set of resources to understand better how your industry works. You will be able to use these to think more deeply about how your business fits into its industry.
My products and services:
Use this sheet to identify the features and benefits of your products or services. Then consider the ways people will want to buy from you -- cash, check or charge?
Use this sheet to identify the features and benefits of your products or services. Then consider the ways people will want to buy from you -- cash, check or charge?
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.
NAICS (North American Industry Analysis Classification System):
Search this resource to find out what industry your business is in. Many other sources of information use the NAICS code to present information; it is helpful to know the NAICS your business is in.
Search this resource to find out what industry your business is in. Many other sources of information use the NAICS code to present information; it is helpful to know the NAICS your business is in.
Price: understanding costs and pricing for profit:
This resource provides the formulas for calculating prices using several pricing strategies. Try two or more for your product/service and see which will generate the most profit for you.
This resource provides the formulas for calculating prices using several pricing strategies. Try two or more for your product/service and see which will generate the most profit for you.
Pricing Strategies:
This site has clear explanations of what types of pricing can be chosen, and what difference it makes for your business.
This site has clear explanations of what types of pricing can be chosen, and what difference it makes for your business.
Pricing Strategy:
Use this site to learn different methods of setting product prices.
Use this site to learn different methods of setting product prices.
Pricing strategy:
There are many ways to price your services and products. No one way is better than another -- you'll decide how you want to price based on what your services and products are. And probably use a couple of different methods.
There are many ways to price your services and products. No one way is better than another -- you'll decide how you want to price based on what your services and products are. And probably use a couple of different methods.
Product and service management:
This source covers all aspects of product/service selection and management.
This source covers all aspects of product/service selection and management.
Product and service pricing:
How much you charge will have a direct impact on how much money you make. Take your pricing decisions seriously, and don't undersell yourself.
How much you charge will have a direct impact on how much money you make. Take your pricing decisions seriously, and don't undersell yourself.
Promotional budget:
It costs money to advertise, and you want to make sure you use the most effective ways to get the word out. Use this guide to develop your first year's advertising and promotions budget. Don't forget to look back at how your target customers get information.
It costs money to advertise, and you want to make sure you use the most effective ways to get the word out. Use this guide to develop your first year's advertising and promotions budget. Don't forget to look back at how your target customers get information.
Promotional plan:
This sheet will let you decide on your goals and tactics for your promotional plan(s). You'll want to use a couple of plans to reach everyone in your target market.
This sheet will let you decide on your goals and tactics for your promotional plan(s). You'll want to use a couple of plans to reach everyone in your target market.
Promotions Checklist:
Use this handy checklist to see if you have completed all the steps in your promotion efforts.
Use this handy checklist to see if you have completed all the steps in your promotion efforts.
Researching your market:
Handy information about market research.
Handy information about market research.
Secrets to pricing your product:
This article talks about how pricing decisions will make a difference in calculating financial projections.
This article talks about how pricing decisions will make a difference in calculating financial projections.
Small business notes -- promotion plan:
This is a short guide to making a plan for promoting your business.
This is a short guide to making a plan for promoting your business.
Summary of my target customers:
This grid will let you set up your target customers and look at how much money they can spend with your business.
This grid will let you set up your target customers and look at how much money they can spend with your business.
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.
Will my target customers want to buy from my business?:
Even if your target audience looks great, think about their priorities - is service quality important? low prices? convenience? And then see where your business can fit in their lives.
Even if your target audience looks great, think about their priorities - is service quality important? low prices? convenience? And then see where your business can fit in their lives.
Winning the profit game:
There is more than one way to price, and this book will show you how branding comes into play in pricing decisions.
There is more than one way to price, and this book will show you how branding comes into play in pricing decisions.