Small Business Executives Training Program Sponsored by Rutgers University Libraries NJ Small Business Development Center Rutgers Center for Entrepreneurial Management

I. What is my market?

Industry Information

• How many bakeries are there in Camden County?
  County Business Patterns (Census Bureau)
• How much chocolate and candy do Americans eat?
  Current Industrial Reports (Census Bureau)
• Does New Jersey lead the nation in cranberry production?
  National Agricultural Statistics Service Reports (Agriculture)
• Is there a good overview of the biotechnology industry?
  Office of Technology Policy Reports (Commerce Department)

Demographics and Consumers

• How diverse is the population of Newark?
  1990 Census Lookup (Census Bureau)
• How much do Americans spend eating out?
  Consumer Expenditures Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• How well off are senior citizens anyway?
  Income of the Aged Chartbook, 1996 (Social Security Administration) as well as A Profile of Older Americans: 1999 (Administration on Aging)
• What is the per capita income for Middlesex County?
  Regional Economic Information System (Bureau of Economic Analysis via Oregon State Univ.)

Economic and Financial Statistics

• What is the latest unemployment rate for New Jersey?
  Region II - New York (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• What are the most recent GNP figures?
  Selected National Income & Product Account Tables (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
• What were home mortgage rates like for the past ten years?
  Statistical Abstract (Census Bureau)
• How much was the Swiss Franc worth yesterday?
  Noon Foreign Exchange Rates (New York Federal Reserve Bank)

Hands-on Practice 1

• Economic Statistics Briefing Room (White House)
• Fedstats (Census Bureau)

II. What is my environment?

Current Regulations

• What regulations govern day care centers?
  Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives and Records Administration)
• Are there environmental regulations that apply to dry cleaning?
  Sector Notebooks (Environmental Protection Agency)
• How do I report a theft for tax purposes?
  Tax Info For Business (Internal Revenue Service)

Pending and Current Legislation

• Has there been any recent congressional activity on electronic commerce?
  United States Congress
• What laws were enacted in the last three years affecting health care providers?
  Public Laws (National Archives and Records Administration)
• How do I contact my Congressman?
  Member and Committee Information of the 106th Congress

Sources of Assistance

• Who can I turn to for financial assistance?
  Financing Your Business (Small Business Administration)
• Who offers general assistance to small businesses in New Jersey?
  New Jersey Small Business Development Center
• How can I get help with information research?
  Business Research Guide and Government Information Resources (Rutgers University Libraries)

Hands-on Practice 2

• Thomas (Library of Congress)
• U.S. Business Advisor (Small Business Administration)