Starting With Your Company!
You are going to collect as much information about your company and its industry as you can. Start with the company itself, including:
Your company's website
The interviews you will be doing with company founders
Your company's social media accounts
Who Else is Talking About Your Company?
This could be information in the news, data from library databases, company analysts, consumers, or social media accounts outside the company!
- ProQuest One Business
A comprehensive business database containing millions of full-text items across scholarly and popular periodicals, newspapers, market research reports, dissertations, books, videos and more. Includes the full text of the Wall Street Journal. Formerly called ABI/INFORM Collection - Gale Business Insights: Global
Detailed company and industry profiles including SWOT reports, market share reports, and financial reports. Thousands of company histories and industry essays from Gale's core business collection. Case studies, scholarly journals, and business news for deep research coverage of global economies. - Access World News
Through nearly 7000 news sources, find diverse global, local, regional, and national perspectives on topics related to controversial issues, the environment, health, education, science, the arts, literature, business, economics, criminal justice, and more. - Statista
Easy to use statistics search engine with access to more than a million statistics and facts.
- Data Axle Reference Solutions
Directory information for publicly and privately owned companies in the United States, as well as information about individual consumers. Formerly called Reference Solutions / ReferenceUSA.
What About Private Companies?
Since private companies don't have to share their financial information, it is not available to find. Some databases have estimates, or maybe a couple of data points gleaned from articles. This guide includes article sources for companies, which can be helpful, but if you are looking for more information, here are some USF databases that you can use to find the very limited information available on private companies.
- PrivCo
Registration Required. See "more" for access information. PrivCo.com is a source for business and financial research on non-publicly traded corporations, including family-owned, private equity-owned, venture-backed and international unlisted companies. - Nexis Uni
Select the Find a Company button below the search box. Click the search box, type in the name of your company, and then use the pull down menu to select All Private Companies which allows you to search for any information available on your private company. - StatistaSometimes there are charts and graphs on private company sales, revenues, and trends. Use the search box to search your company.
- Gale Business Insights: GlobalClick the button that says Browse all Companies, then do a search for your company name.
- Data Axle Reference SolutionsClick on US Businesses, then do a Quick Search by typing in the name of your company. In the company report, look for location sales volume.
What's Happening Outside Your Company? Industry and Competitors
What is influencing your company? Are there others trying to do what they do?
- StatistaEasy to use statistics search engine with access to more than a million statistics and facts.
Business Plans
- Business Plans HandbookActual business plans compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses. Presents sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail and service industries which serve as examples of how to approach, structure and compose business plans.
- BRS AssistsThis guide from the Library of Congress features free business planning web sites, as well as book titles and subject headings to use to find books in our library.
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Business Plans IndexA free source that contains sample business plans in a variety of industries, and templates for creating your own plan.
Getting Help!
There are several ways to obtain assistance with your research. Read on!
The School of Management has a library liaison named Penny Scott, and you can contact her for help.
Her contact information is: email: plscott@usfca.edu * phone: 415-422-5389
It is best to call or email ahead, or make an appointment, to make sure she is available! Appointments are available virtually via Zoom, or in-person, and are great for groups or individuals.
If Penny is not available, or any time you need help, you can always get help, just Ask a Librarian!
You can also take a look at our Research Guides on many topics!