Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources
016.33 Encyclopedia
This bibliographic guide to business information contains over 34,000 entries covering over 1,100 subjects. Included are: abstracts and indexes, almanacs, yearbooks, bibliographies, biographical sources, electronic products, price sources, research centers, and many other potential sources of information.

Dictionary of Business & Management
330.04 Rosenberg
Providing over 7,500 entries covering more than 30 business areas, this dictionary covers acronyms, abbreviations, and slang terms and includes several useful appendices.

Thorndike Encyclopedia of Banking and Financial Tables
332.3 Thorndike
This resource is a compilation of tables in six areas: loan payment and amortization; compound interest and annuity; interest; savings and withdrawal; installment loan, leasing, and rebate; and investment. Prior to each table, there will be a synopsis of interest rates, terms, and other data followed by an explanation of how the table is to be used and several examples of how the table may be used in specific circumstances.

Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios
332.678 Industry
Containing information on over 800 different lines of business (as defined by the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification code), this publication allows one to see the proportions of a "typical" financial statement and balance sheet. Also provided are fourteen key business ratios (broken down into median, upper quartile, and lower quartile) that can be used to judge the performance of a company against what is "typical" for companies in the same category.

Annual Statement Studies
338.0973 RMA
Arranged by line of business, this source provides similar information to that found in Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios. Five years of comparative historical data is presented and the information is also broken down by company size based on sales and assets.

Financial Studies of the Small Business
338.509 Financial
Where many statistical sources dealing with ratios and analysis of financial statements and balance sheets have dealt with larger corporations, this resource presents the same information for companies with a capitalization of under $1,000,000. Data is presented in four different formats: for the business type as a whole; broken down by sales volume; for the 25% most profitable; and with five years of historical data.

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios
338.509 Troy
Basing its information over 4.8 million corporate federal income tax returns, this resource provides fifty measures for 192 industries of operating performance, liquidity, debt servicing ability, profitability, and measures for investor analysis that allow for comparison between a company and its industry peers. For each industry, two tables are provided (corporations with and without net income, and corporations with net income) that are broken down into 13 different segments based on size of assets.

Business Strategies
346.0652 Kess
This resource bills itself as "a comprehensive blend of tax, human resource and accounting concerns, unified into a single source of planning concepts and devices for successful management of a business." Consisting of four loose-leaf binders, topics are arranged by broad category (tax and accounting; sale of the business; insuring the business and its assets; etc.) and broken down into component parts describing applicable laws, regulations, and explanatory material. Separate indexes of charts, checklists, sample letters, forms, and codes, regulations, and rules are provided in volume one.

Warren's Forms of Agreement
346.73 Warren
The stated purpose of this resource is to "supply forms of contracts used to document the most common business transactions." While the bulk of this source is taken up by sample forms, each section also contains important commentary that will notify the user of important legal, tax, and business considerations that are applicable. Each section begins with a long form contract that shows the customary requirements for that subject matter, followed by clauses for specific issues that can be added to the general form, substituted for portions of it, or combined to form the necessary contract.

Exporters' Encyclopedia
382.6 Exporters
Covering the world of exports, this resource is divided into five separate sections: the export decision (basic information, sample documents, and a glossary of important terminology); export markets (detailed information at the country level); export know-how (more in-depth coverage of specific issues); communications data (information on radio and cable regulations, international mail, time zones, and postal data); information sources/services (government assistance, associations, world trade centers, and treaty organizations); and transportation data (information on the various ports within the United States, foreign trade zones, and U.S. Customs Service Ports of Entry).

Encyclopedia of Business and Finance
650.03 Encyclopedia
Two-volume collection of more than 300 signed articles covering the major topics in business: accounting, economics, finance, information systems, law, management, and marketing. Extensive cross-referencing and an easy-to-understand writing style make this an excellent resource for the lay-person in search of information.

Webster's New World Office Professional's Handbook
651 Webster's
This is a resource that covers the ins and outs of running an office - everything from how to select appropriate office equipment, compose letters and forms, and properly mail and ship packages and letters to articles on time management, how to handle interviews, plan for business trips, and proper punctuation.

Business: The Ultimate Resource
658 Business
The name really does describe this. With 150 essays on numerous business topics - everything from leadership and organizational theory to product development and creating marketing plans, this resource is concise and relevant to today's business environment. Additional sections cover management topics in a convenient checklist format; "actionlists" broken down by topic; brief overviews of important works in management theory; biographies of key figures in business; an extensive dictionary; a world business almanac of statistical tables and profiles of states, countries, and industries; and a comprehensive list of business information sources.

Encyclopedia of Small Business
658.022 Hillstrom
Over 480 entries cover everything from online auctions and licensing, to 401(k) plans and ergonomics. With an emphasis to how the many topics covered affect smaller businesses, the accessible essays provide information on nearly every aspect of running a small business. Numerous cross-references and listings of additional resources provide further avenues of locating information.

Small Business Sourcebook
658.022 Small
Covering the United States and Canada, this resource covers a multitude of information resources for those engaged in small businesses. The bulk of the work consists of "small business profiles" that provide start-up information, associations and other organizations, information on licensing, education programs, lists of reference works, sources of supply, statistical sources, trade periodicals, trade shows and conventions, consultants, franchises and business opportunities, databases, libraries, computer systems and software, libraries and research centers. Information is also provided on more general topics of interest to all small business owners, as are directories of state, federal, and regional agencies and offices that can provide assistance or resources.

101 Business Ratios: A Manager's Handbook of Definitions, Equations, and Computer Algorithms
658.1511 Gates
Explains the ratios found in other sources - how to obtain them, and what they mean. Organized into six sections (sales, profit, debt/capital, efficiency, marketing, and investment), this resource provides a definition; an essay - detailing what the ratio measures, why it is important, who looks at it, and what the number mean; and an explanation in plain English on how to do the calculation. Additional information is provided on how to find the appropriate variables and how to present the ratios in numerical and graphical formats.

Business Plans Handbook
658.4012 Business
This source contains many sample business plans covering a variety of businesses (geared toward the small business), a glossary of small business terms, a directory of small business development centers, and a bibliography. Brief introductory material covers the basics of putting together a business plan and recommendations from lenders on what they look for.

Franchise Annual
658.84 Dixon
This directory covers American and Canadian - with a brief section on foreign - companies that offer franchises to the public. Information offered includes: name and contact information, description of the business, number of units currently operating (with a breakdown for those that are company owned and those that are franchised), applicable fees and royalties, and whether the company offers financing. More general information on how to investigate the franchisor, state regulations, contract terms, and contract rights is also provided.

Complete Business Writers Manual
808.0666 Bell
This resource provides guidelines and sample letters for a variety of business situations - everything from recruitment and employment, consulting and contracting, and report and proposal letters to performance appraisals, legal and regulatory letters, and routine office correspondence.

Craighead's International Business, Travel, and Relocation Guide to 84 Countries
910.202 Craighead
This resource is designed to meet the needs of individuals who need information about doing business, living, and working in the countries most important to international business. While general information on the country is provided (brief history, current economic and political framework, etc.), the strength of this publication lies in its detailed explanations of business customs, meeting and entertainment protocol; family issues; transportation; and social customs that should be understood by expatriate businesses, individuals, and families.

Entrepreneur Start-Up Guides
Shelved at the end of the Business Reference print collection
This collection of over 200 guides explains the nuts and bolts of starting, owning, and operating specific types of businesses - everything from car washes and taverns to herb gardens and personal shoppers. Each guide provides information on choosing a location, what the requirements for the facility are, what equipment is necessary, how to manage inventory, personnel issues, legal requirements, record keeping and taxes, financial management, and advertising and promotional information. More general information included with each guide includes information on how to write a business plan, the location of additional business resources, and agencies and offices that can be of assistance.

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