Introduction Industry Overviews Competitive Environment Market Analysis
Business plans usually give an overview of the industry context of the new venture, including analysis of trends, challenges, growth prospects and financial norms in the industry.
The following sources provide the types of information needed for preparing an industry overview.
Industry Profiles & Analysis | News About Industries | Industrial Statistics & Classification Codes | Industry Ratios & Norms
Profiles and analyses are produced by investment houses and risk advisory services. The perspective is on guiding investment decisions.
Business Monitor Online
Quarterly reports on major industries in 175 countries. Includes forecasts and SWOT analyses.
Investext Plus
ISI Emerging Markets
Plunkett's Research Online
Reports on 25+ industries, with analyses, market trends, and industry statistics. Includes new, emerging industries.
Standard & Poor's Market Insight
Industry and trade associations work to keep people within an industry informed about the industry through newsletters, magazines, and trade fairs. The information can range from detailed focus on a product line to general coverage of an industry.
Business & Industry (RDS)
Factiva
Full text articles from industry publications. Strong on international sources of business information.
LexisNexis Academic
The US Census Bureau is the major source of statistical data on US industries. The Bureau uses NAICS, an industry classification system, to display data at levels of detail ranging from industry sector to discrete products. Knowing the classification codes for an industry or product can be helpful for many aspects of industry research.
American Factfinder
Quick access to US Census data on industry sectors and products. At the top page choose Annual Economic Surveys and/or Economic Census. Data on employment, plant hours, payroll, number of establishments, cost of materials, value of shipments, inventories, and detailed capital expenditures.
North American Industry Classification Manual (NAICS) Print edition: Dewey Library Reference | HF1042.N67 1997 (copies also at Barker, Rotch) Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC) Print edition: Dewey Library Reference | HA40.I6 U587 1987
A hierarchical, numeric classification system used to define products and organize information about industry sectors. NAICS was adopted in 1997.
The SIC code has been superceded by NAICS but is still used by some commercial databases.
Ratios are tools that allow you to plan and assess your firm's progress over time and to compare it to other firms in the same industry or of the same size. Financial and operational ratios are available.
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This page was last updated on 10/29/07