Research Guides: CISB 4397: Entrepreneurship: Overview

Company Resources

Mergent Intellect This link opens in a new window
Find information on comparable companies to assist with determining number of employees, revenue, and industry classification.
If you don't know a specific company, use Advanced Search to look by Industry and Geography or Location Type.
To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
PrivCo This link opens in a new window
Find private companies, mainly in the U.S., with M&A potential. Many will be in trending industries.
Frequent users will want to create an academic account using your SMU email address.
IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
Search on company name to find company benchmark report with comparison data on the company and its competitors.
View the Industry Research tutorial for more insights.

Social Media
Search for small or privately held companies on LinkedIn and other social media sites.

Industry Resources

Mergent Intellect This link opens in a new window
Search by company and click on the Industry Details tab to access First Research reports. The Questions section contains items to address in your business plan.
To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
Search by NAICS code or keyword for U.S.-based industry information. The Competitive Landscape includes Success Factors and Competition.
View the Industry Research tutorial for more insights.
Gale Business: Insights This link opens in a new window
Search by company and select industry or search by NAICS code. Reports include both American and Global perspectives.

Associations can be a great source of free information on industries. In addition to what is available on the website, you can contact them using your SMU email address and let them know you are working on a class project. You may also want to reach out to a local chapter for personalized assistance. Each of these databases includes a list of appropriate associations for the industry.

Market Research Resources

Mintel Reports This link opens in a new window
Access U.S. business-to-consumer market research by selecting from the Category drop-down list.
Download the Databook within a report for all the survey findings.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Passport This link opens in a new window
International business intelligence on industries, countries, and consumers.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
PitchBook This link opens in a new window
Enter industry name into search box to find market research reports.
Mobile not included. Downloads limited to 10 records per day/25 records per month. Record typically defined as a single row of data in a spreadsheet.

DealBook
Get financial information from this news service produced by the New York Times.

Demographic / Psychographic Resources

Data.Census.gov
Use Advanced Search to select Topics (e.g., age, marital status) and Geography (whole country down to zip code).

Mintel Reports This link opens in a new window
Use Demographics dropdown to locate Lifestyles reports with psychographic data. Product-specific reports contain Consumer tab.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Mergent Intellect This link opens in a new window
Click Demographics to search by zip code, town or MSA and see basic Census data.
PRIZM Household Distribution contains detailed psychographic groupings. Select spreadsheet, then enter SMU email to obtain data. Read Segment Definitions.
Click Consumer Data to view self-reported lifestyles and hobbies.
To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
Simmons Catalyst This link opens in a new window
Use crosstabs to compare psychographic preferences among demographic groups.
Includes brand data
View the Simmons Catalyst Training Research Guide for more insights. Simultaneous users permitted: 35

Resources for all areas

Library Search - Advanced This link opens in a new window
Good starting point for finding information in local newspapers and non-business publications.
Statista This link opens in a new window
Statistics & studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, etc, Use to find original source for more information.
View the Finding Data tutorial for more insights.
SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new window
Create maps and visualizations from many demographic sources including Simmons and PRIZM.
To create an account, click on "create an account" and enter your SMU e-mail address and a password. Also, only 5 users can use this resource concurrently. Please log out when done using this resource.

Why Do I Need This Guide?

To create a business plan you will need to include data on the industry, competitors and potential customers. This research guide will direct you toward potential sources to ensure success.

The Business Plan Template is used for the Big iDeas Business Plan Competition and some classes.

CISB 4397 Library Resources Presentation

Industry & Market Research Presentation
PDF version of the Powerpoint presentation on Duda Family Business Library resources
Research Worksheet
Use this worksheet to find useful information using the resources discussed in class.

Related Guides

Further Your Skills with Workshops

The one-hour, hands on Demographic & Consumer Research workshop focuses on resources that provide demographic and psychographic data.

Business Research Workshops

Need a different time? If you have a group of 4 or more, we can add a session for you. Request a workshop.

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