Learn the steps to starting a business, get help creating a business plan, and find data on your customers, competitors, and industry by accessing BPL's online resources for business.
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Gale Business: Entrepreneurship
Information on opening, operating, and growing a small business including financing, managing, marketing, and accounting; contains sample business plans. To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.
Library card required -
Gale Business: Plan Builder
A step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing and optimizing a business or nonprofit; the Gale Business: Plan Builder dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success. Gale Business: Plan Builder requires each user to create a username and password. To set up your personal account, select “Visit the Resource” below, then “Get Started”, and then “First Time Here? Get Started." To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.
Library card required -
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,000 online courses in seven languages, hosted by expert instructors with real-world experience. Courses on LinkedIn Learning include Leadership, Project Management, Mental Wellness, Job Hunting, Digital Marketing, Data Science, 3D Animation, and CAD. For Mobile users: 1. Download the LinkedIn Learning app from Google Play / App Store 2. Open the app 3. Select - "Sign In" 4. Select "Sign in with your library card" 5. You'll be prompted to "Enter your Library ID". Tap on the box and enter "bklynlibrary" (all lowercase, no quotation marks) 6. Use your BPL library card number or username and PIN and click on "Continue". First time users will be prompted to select topics of interest.
Library card required -
Mergent Intellect
Access to public & private U.S. and international business data, executive contact information, First Research industry profiles, current D&B Key Business Ratios, job search, residential look-ups, and Census demographics. To learn more about using this resource, To learn more about using this resource, check out these video tutorials: on Mergent Intellect’s Company Quick Search on Mergent Intellect’s Advanced Search on Mergent Intellect’s First Research Industry Profile
Library card required -
Mintel Reports Academic
Market research reports with analysis of consumer markets, companies, and brands. Unfortunately, the vendor restricts this resource to "view-only". You may not print or download from Mintel.
Only at Central Library -
Plunkett Research Online
Market research, industry analysis and company profiles; Job seeker resources To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.
Library card required -
Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA)
Business, physician, dentist, and residential directory listings; job postings; data for entrepreneurs to research target customers, competitors and suppliers. To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.
Library card required -
SimplyAnalytics
Demographic, business, and marketing data on a local level; users may create reports and maps with hundreds of demographic, business and marketing variables. Remote access to SimplyAnalytics is available to anyone within Kings County (Brooklyn) with a Brooklyn Public Library card. Exceptions to remote access content are below: PRIZM Premier behavioral marketing & audience segments and Nielsen Scarborough local market research are only available to users on-site at any Brooklyn Public Library location. PRIZM and Scarborough data is not available to remote users. On-site users will sign in to SimplyAnalytics with their BPL card number and PIN. Remote users will sign in to SimplyAnalytics with an email address and password. First-time remote users must follow the "Create an Account" link. You may have on-site and remote SimplyAnalytics accounts but these accounts are NOT connected. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Library card required -
Statista
Quantitative data categorized into 21 market sectors such as media, business, finance, and politics. To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.
Library card required -
The Salesman's Guide
The Salesman's Guide Retail Buyers Database is for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking national buyers for their products in business categories like fashion, specialty foods, home furnishings, and more. Find and download contact information for store buyers.
Only in library branches
Staff Picks
- Small Business
- Social Media Marketing
- Freelancing
Social media marketing : theories & applicationsStephan Dahl
Social media marketing all-in-oneJan Zimmerman
The essential social media marketing handbook : a new roadmap for maximizing your brand, influence, and credibilityGail Martin
Social media marketing for dummiesShiv Singh
Social media for business : foolproof tips to help you promote your business or your brandLinda Coles
Social media for fashion marketing : storytelling in a digital worldWendy Bendoni
The new rules of marketing & PR : how to use social media, online video, mobile applications, blogs, news releases, and viral marketing to reach buyers directlyDavid Meerman Scott
Likeable social media : how to delight your customers, create an irresistible brand, and be generally amazing on all social networks that matterDave Kerpen
Visual content marketing : leveraging infographics, video, and interactive media to attract and engage customersStephen Gamble
A social strategy : how we profit from social mediaMikołaj Jan Piskorski
How to be a successful freelance translator : make translation work for youRobert (Translator) Gebhardt
Freelance to freedom : the roadmap for creating a side business to achieve financial, time and life freedomVincent Pugliese
The essential guide to freelance writing : how to write, work, & thrive on your own termsZachary Petit
Thriving in the gig economy : freelancing online for tech professionals and entrepreneursAdam Sinicki
Starting your career as a freelance editor : a guide to working with authors, books, newsletters, magazines, websites, and moreMary Embree
The gig economy : the complete guide to getting better work, taking more time off, and financing the life you want!Diane Mulcahy
What if it does work out? : how a side hustle can change your lifeSusie Moore
The big life : embrace your mess, work your side hustle, find a monumental relationship, and become the badass babe you were meant to beAnn Shoket
The freelancer's bible : [everything you need to know to have the career of your dreams on your terms]Sara Horowitz
The ultimate side hustle book : 450 moneymaking ideas for the gig economyElana Varon