Don't Miss Lists and Other Reading Resources

Starting a Small Business

Getting Started

• Fishman, Stephen and Lisa Guerin. Deduct it! Lower your small business taxes. Nolo, 2009.
• Fleischer, Charles H. HR for small business- an essential guide for managers, human resource professionals, and small business owners. Sphinx Pub., 2009.
• Gerber, Michael. The most successful small business in the world: the first ten principles. Wiley, 2010.
• How to start a business in Wisconsin. Entrepreneur Press, 2007.
• Small Business Sourcebook: The Entrepeneur's Resource: Vol. 1:Specific Small Business Profiles; Vol. 2: Specific Small Business Profiles, T-Z, general small business topics, general small business resources... Thomson Gale, 2006.
• Steingold, Fred. Legal forms for starting and running a small business. Nolo, 2008.
• Steingold, Fred. Legal guide for starting and running a small business. Nolo, 2009.
• Strauss, Steven D. The small business bible: everything you need to know to succeed in your small business. Wiley, 2008.
• Tyson, Eric. Small business for dummies. Wiley, 2008.

 

Raising Money

• Advani, Asheesh. Business loans from family and friends: how to ask, make it legal and make it work. Nolo, 2009.
• Alterowitz, Ralph. Financing your business made easy . Entrepreneur Press, 2007.
• Barreto, Hector V. The engine of America: the secrets to small business success from entrepreneurs who have made it. W iley, 2007.
• Burk, James E. Financing your small business . Sourcebook, 2006.
• Hicks, Tyler Gregory. How to raise all the money you need for any business: 101 quick ways to acquire money for any business project in 30 days or less. Wiley, 2008.
• Lesonsky, Rieva. Start your own business: the only start-up book you'll ever need. Entrepreneur Press, 2007.
• Start, run and grow a successful small business. Wolters Kluwer, 2008.
• Steingold, Fred. The complete guide to buying a business. Nolo, 2007.
• United States Congressional Oversight Panel. The credit crisis and small business lending hearing before the Congressional Oversight Panel, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, April 29, 2009. U.S. G.P.O. For Sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2009.

 

Creating a Business Plan

• Business plans handbook Vol. 15 offers over 30 actual business plans for examination by savvy entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business in e-book format. This latest version includes a downloadable business plan template.

• Business plans handbook: a compilation of  actual business plans developed by small businesses throughout North America. Thomson Gale, 2008.
• Business plans that work: for your small business: a business owner's toolkit publication. Toolkit Media Group, 2008.
• Chambers, K. Dennis. The entrepreneur's guide to writing business plans and proposals. Praeger, 2008.
• Croston, Glenn E. Starting green: from business plan to profits: an ecopreneur's tollkit for starting a green business. Entrepeneur Press, 2009.
• McKeever, Mike P. How to write a business plan. Nolo, 2008.
• Save your small business. Nolo, 2009.

 

Searching for the Basics

• Business.gov (portal to access small business informtion throughout the U.S. government)
• Census Publications. U.S. Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census | American Factfinder | Fedstats
• U.S. Small Business Administration. Statistics of U.S. Businesses and Nonemployer Statistics | State Profiles.
• Community Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics. ESRI, 2008.
• RMA Annual Statement Studies (annual). Risk Management Association.
• Troy, Leo.  Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios (annual). Prentice-Hall.
• Wisconsin Business Services Directory (annual). Harris InfoSource.
• Wisconsin Manufacturers Directory (annual). Harris Info Source.

 

Magazines and Other Databases

                   

         DemographicsNow

A multi-level database offering a variety of simple, easy-to-use demographic data reports. Customize results by geography, choosing the area best suited to your needs. Perfect for anyone who needs to identify cultural patterns or sociological trends. [search tips]

Connect to Madison Public Library’s Research and Reference Resources, which offers a wide array of business links: Associations and Nonprofit Groups, Company Research, General Resources, Wisconsin/Madison Area Business Sites, and more.

 

Other Resources

• Entrepreneurs' Toolkit: Resources for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur
• City of Madison Office of Business Resources (OBR)
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) 608-441-2820
• Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (U.W.) 608-263-7680
• Small Business Administration (Madison office) 608-441-5263
• Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Division of Business Dvelopment
• Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation-South Central Office 608-257-5450

 

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