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 7
These resources can help you in planning your business:
Balance Sheet (CCH Business Owner's Tool Kit):
This website has a clear description of a balance sheet and what it is used for.
This website has a clear description of a balance sheet and what it is used for.
Balance Sheet (SBA):
This webpage from the Small Business Administration gives a definition of what each field of the balance sheet means.
This webpage from the Small Business Administration gives a definition of what each field of the balance sheet means.
Balance Sheet Template (CCH Business Owner's Tool Kit):
You can use the template provided here to create your own balance sheet.
You can use the template provided here to create your own balance sheet.
Basic guide to financial management in small for -profit businesses :
This web site has a great deal of information about financial analysis and financial management.
This web site has a great deal of information about financial analysis and financial management.
BBBTips on Small Business Start Up Costs:
From the Better Business Bureau.
From the Better Business Bureau.
Creating a profit and loss statement:
This web site defines what a profit and loss statement is, and what it is used for. It also provides a calculator for estimating profit and loss.
This web site defines what a profit and loss statement is, and what it is used for. It also provides a calculator for estimating profit and loss.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Income (profit and loss) Statement (CCH Business Owner's Toolkit):
This page describes the components of an income (also know as profit and loss) statement and gives an example of one. You can also link to an income statement template to download.
This page describes the components of an income (also know as profit and loss) statement and gives an example of one. You can also link to an income statement template to download.
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 your mission statement work:
This electronic book will help you write your mission statement.
This electronic book will help you write your mission statement.
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.
Mission Statements:
A guide to developing a mission statement, with notable examples from successful companies.
A guide to developing a mission statement, with notable examples from successful companies.
Mission statements :
This book has 301 mission statements from businesses around the world. It can help you think about how you want to describe your business.
This book has 301 mission statements from businesses around the world. It can help you think about how you want to describe your business.
Monthly cash flow:
Cash flow is an excellent measure for how healthy your business is. You will want to keep close track of your cash flow to avoid end of month shortages. If you do have problems, you can use your cash flow document to resolve them.
Cash flow is an excellent measure for how healthy your business is. You will want to keep close track of your cash flow to avoid end of month shortages. If you do have problems, you can use your cash flow document to resolve them.
My Best Segments:
Enter a zip code and find out what type of people live there. It is brief but useful information.
Enter a zip code and find out what type of people live there. It is brief but useful information.
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.
Projecting cash flow:
Find out how much cash it will take to keep your business up and running.
Find out how much cash it will take to keep your business up and running.
Projecting Income:
This article provides information on how to calculate projections for start up businesses.
This article provides information on how to calculate projections for start up businesses.
Start up requirements:
It takes more than money to start a business. Review this worksheet and make sure you know what you will need to get started.
It takes more than money to start a business. Review this worksheet and make sure you know what you will need to get started.
Starting a business in Minneapolis:
Great guide to starting a business in the city.
Great guide to starting a business in the city.
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 profit and loss statement: what does it mean?:
This page has a clear description of a profit and loss statement.
This page has a clear description of a profit and loss statement.
The small business start-up kit :
Great information on small business start up.
Great information on small business start up.
The small business start-up kit :
Great information on small business start up.
Great information on small business start up.