Business Research Guide - Free Internet Sources

This guide will help you begin your research quickly. It gives specific websites as well as some hints on how to actually search.  If you need further assistance, please use our Ask a Librarian service.

Jump to:

• How to Begin Your Research
• Web Search Engine Guides
• Web Organization & Search Tools
• Tips to Finding Very Specific Business Information in Google
• Blog Search Engines
• Start-ups & New Businesses
• Best Practices
• Marketing
• International Data & Statistics
• United States Data & Statistics
• Company Information
• Non Profit Industry Information
• Business News & Trends
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Other Research Sources
• Related Research Guides
• Additional Information

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How to Begin Your Research

When you first start out, think about what you know and what you need to know. Do you need to identify companies? Understand an industry? Need background on a product or service? These resources are selected as good places to begin but are not intended to be exhaustive. If you need to take it a step further, ask an information professional, an expert in the field or even brainstorm with a colleague.

Web Search Engine Guides

NoodleTools
UC Berkley
RBA Information Services
Web Search Guide

Web Organization & Search Tools

AskX
Deli.cio.us

RSS Feeds

Tips to Finding Very Specific Business Information in Google

Given below are sample searches that will help you focus your Google search results.

Sample Question: Need to learn about the craft beer brewing industry

• Note: To find background information on an industry or statistics, start with a professional or trade association.  To find an industry association, try a search similar to the one below
  

Sample Question: Need to understand applications of RFID (radio frequency identification systems)

• Note: For expert opinions on a topic or technology that you need to quickly understand, look for White Papers on the web.
  

Sample Question: Just type RFID

• Use Google's Enhanced Website Search the Tail. This site takes a search word and then ORGANIZES the output into commom categories to help you sort through the results.

Look at the left side of the page to see result categories.Examples are: RFID Tag, RFID Technology, RFID Chips, RFID Readers, and What is RFID?

Blog Search Engines

Technorati
Blog Search Engine
Google Blog Search

Start-ups & New Businesses

Business Plans Handbook
BizStats (Financial Ratios)
U.S. Small Business Administration

Best Practices (Some Free, Some Fee)

Best Practices
APQC

Marketing

ClickZ
Marketing Sherpa
BizJournals Book of Lists
Pew Research Center

International Data & Statistics

CIA World Factbook
International Monetary Fund Data & Statistics
LABORSTA Internet (International Labor Statistics)
NationMaster.com
World Bank

United States Data & Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau: Statistical Abstract
U.S. Census Bureau: State and County Quick Facts
U.S. Department of Commerce: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan Guide)
City-Data.com (Statistics about U.S. cities)
Country Business Patterns
National Center for Health Statistics
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
U.S Centers for Disease Control Statistics
Zip Code Statistics by State & County
U.S. Statistical Abstract (Look at data sources cited)
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Company Information

Alibaba (International Manufacturing Directory)
Annual Reports
BizJournals
Hoover's

Kompass
Thomas Register

Thomas Register Global

Non Profit Industry Information

GuideStar
National Center for Charitable Statistics

The Foundation Center

Business News & Trends

Chief Financial Officer
Chief Information Officer
Business Week
Reuters
BNET: The Business Network

Corporate Social Responsibility

Ethics World
Business Ethics: The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility Officer
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
CRS Wire: Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire
The Accountability Rating

Other Research Sources

Librarians' Internet Index
RefDesk
Gary Price List of Lists: Special Issues
DMOZ

Related Research Guides

• View all Research Guides

Additional Information

• Use of the databases implies acceptance of our Copyright and Licensing Restrictions.
• Need help accessing a resource from off-campus? Take a look at the Troubleshooting Tips page.
• Don't know where to begin? Check out the How do I begin my research? page for information on how to get started researching various topics and use citation information.
• Do you know the name of a database that you'd like to use? Use Databases (A-Z) to locate a known resource and get more information.
• The Databases by Subject page can help direct you to similar resources by topic.
• Additional databases are also available through the Jean & Alexander Heard Library.
• Want to browse electronic journals? Check out the E-Journals (A-Z).