Start A Business
Books
Just run it!: Running an Exceptional Business is Easier than You Think. 658.022 Cross, Dick.
Dick Cross has written a conversational book in which he describes a couple of strategies for building your business to avoid some of the pitfalls a small business is prone to. He addresses strategies of renewal and establishing vision and communication in your business.
HR for Small Business: From Hiring to Firing and Everything in Between. 658.3 Fleischer, Charles H.
This book addresses human resource issues from a legal perspective. This results in a somewhat technical discussion, but is made easier to digest through its breakdown into many small conceptual sections. Frequent sidebars, alerts, tips, and case studies help break down the complex topics.
Never Get a "Real" Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business, and Not Go Broke. 658.11 Gerber, Scott.
"Gerber is the founder and CEO of Gerber Enterprises, an entrepreneurial incubator for early and mid-stage companies. In this book, he doesn't bite his tongue or sugar-coat any realities of what he calls the 'broken promises' of working hard, getting good grades, going to college and getting a 'real job'." http://www.thefuturepreneur.com/?p=751
Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers--and Save the Planet. 658.4083 Kaplan, Jennifer.
Kaplan's book gives a great overview of incorporating environmentally friendly concepts into your business. It breaks down things you can do to be green in different areas of your business, such as human resources, travel, marketing, and purchasing, as well as others.
How to Write a Business Plan. 658.4012 McKeever, Mike P.
"This outstanding handbook presents a step-by-step guide to writing a professional, sound business plan." [Library Journal] As with other Nolo titles, professionalism is key to this book's offerings. A good guide to writing a business plan is an invaluable tool in getting a start on your business.
Bookkeepers' Boot Camp: Get a Grip on Accounting Basics. 657.9042 Mohr, Angie.
Angie Mohr is a chartered accountant and certified management accountant who directs an accounting and business consulting company. This book walks you through record keeping for a small business with case studies, templates, and self-tests to make sure each concept is understood.
Entreleadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches. 658.421 Ramsey, Dave.
Dave Ramsey delivers a book which speaks from his own experiences as a leader in the business world. It focuses on what he has found to be successful, distilled into a few easy lessons. It addresses the principles of leadership as applied to different aspects of your business.
Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business. 346.0652 Steingold, Fred.
Over 60 blank forms with instructions on how to fill them out. Also includes a cd-rom with files for these forms. Another source with a legal emphasis, but instead of focusing on human resources, it addresses many of the different aspects of your business which include legal forms.
Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business. 346.0652 Steingold, Fred.
This resource uses plain English to address the legal issues involved with your business. Plenty of sidebars help explain the more difficult concepts. Its chapter headings alone lead you to think about the legal implications of such issues as your product name.
The Small Business Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business. 658.022 Strauss, Steven.
"Budding entrepreneurs will find the advice they need building and growing the ideal business. New chapters cover green businesses, online advertising and marketing, emerging technologies, and cutting-edge business building strategies." [Awe, S.C. (May 1, 2010) Library Journal]
Databases
Academic Search Premier covers peer-reviewed full-text articles from journals and references sources. It covers many different subjects, so it is important to specify either the journal you are interested in or the subjects you want to search. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.
MasterFile Premier delivers articles, reference books, and an extensive image collection for every subject area, including access to Consumer Reports. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.
Small Business Reference Center
Small Business Reference Center includes business basics, start-up kits, industry information, and access to ebooks on a variety of business and career topics.
Business Source Premier includes coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, finance, and economics.
Reference USA contains profiles of US and Canadian businesses, healthcare services, and telephone directories. Company and address information is continuously updated. This source is useful as a directory, for its company profiles, and for its detailed custom search options that allow you to search by geographic area, business type, etc. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.
The Census Bureau contains local information through national information on demographics, economic information, and more.
Value Line offers a suite of products and information focused on investment and financial fields. This information is useful for inspecting industry segments as well as specific companies. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.
Directories
The (online) phone book. A great place to start when you find yourself in need of professional services or are facing day-to-day emergencies.
Harris Directory of Kansas Businesses. 338.9781 Harris
Updated yearly, contains great information for the aspiring businessperson. Contact information for businesses throughout Kansas arranged by city and including type and size of business along with statistical information.
Reference USA contains profiles of US and Canadian businesses, healthcare services, and telephone directories. Company and address information is continuously updated. This source is useful as a directory, for its company profiles, and for its detailed custom search options that allow you to search by geographic area, business type, etc. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.
Manhattan Public Library. The 2011 Manhattan Public Library Community Information Center: A Directory of Resources and Services in the Manhattan Area.
This directory begins with a subject breakdown with an alphabetical listing of organizations. Complete listings contain more detailed descriptions of the organizations or services including contact information.
Periodicals
Barron's National Business and Financial Weekly. Available in the Reading Room.
Barron's covers primarily finance and investment news. But also provides some material on industry-level business performance and specific companies. May be interesting to follow as examples of success or of what not to do. Online at http://online.barrons.com/home-page.
Consumer Reports. Available in the Reading Room, by the Information Desk, or on MasterFile Premier.
Consumer Reports can be used to determine good value in the products you use or sell. Its coverage of product recalls can also help your business stay on top of safety concerns. In a limited way, Consumer Reports can also be used as a mark of what sort of products are receiving interest from the market.
Inc. Available in the Reading Room.
A magazine with more than 30 years experience discussing issues important to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Articles focus on the different aspects of business such as finance, technology, start-up concerns, and more. Online at http://www.inc.com with additional resources and up-to-the-minute news and articles.
Fortune. Available in the Reading Room.
Fortune has been around since 1930, delivering information on global businesses and finances. It has an online presence at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/. A source to pay attention to for global trends and examples both good and bad.
SmartMoney. Available in the Reading Room.
SmartMoney is a magazine with a global business focus connected to The Wall Street Journal. It has columns on small business issues, consumer behavior issues, and articles on all manner of business topics. You can find them online at http://www.smartmoney.com/
The Manhattan Mercury. Available in the Reading Room.
The Manhattan Mercury is one of the primary newspapers in the Manhattan area. It has both print and online editions and contains classifieds, editorials, articles, and advertisements. The Mercury can be found online at http://themercury.com/
Kansas State Collegian. Available in the Reading Room.
The Kansas State Collegian is a daily newspaper published and run by Kansas State University students. It is published daily during the school year and weekly during the summer. It also contains advertisements, articles, classifieds and more. Published both in print and online at http://www.kstatecollegian.com/.
The Hype Weekly.
The Hype Weekly is an alternative, community built weekly paper with an emphasis on local events and culture. The Hype prefers to find funding through local small business advertising. Online at http://thehypeweekly.com/
Websites
Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC)
MAMTC is an organization which exists to help engineer business processes and to do business consulting with new or existing businesses. It has a manufacturing or industrial perspective, making it a good resource to contact.
Downtown Manhattan serves as a portal for an organization representing the continued development of the Manhattan, Kansas downtown district. This page includes information on events being held as well as jobs, available real estate, and existing businesses.
The Manhattan Workforce Center is connected with the Kansas Works initiative and JobFit. This is another resource which can help put you in contact with potential employees and training. The focus of their business services is to consult and outsource human resource functions.
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is an organization for the development and advocacy of business development in Manhattan. The Chamber of Commerce can put you in touch with local businesses and information on marketing, referrals, and special events.
Manhattan Economic Development
Manhattan Economic Development is a special purpose organization affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to specifically generate new businesses and support existing ones. They provide information on real estate, costs, demographics, incentive programs, and more.
Website for the large enclosed shopping center just off of downtown Manhattan. It hosts events, several large retail stores, restaurants, small retail, and seasonal retail. The shopping center itself can help by working on joint marketing initiatves, leasing information, and job postings.
OneKC for Women: Women's Business Center
Though it has a Kansas City focus, the Women's Business Center works to provide consulting, courses, referrals, mentoring and more to women entrepreneurs. It is also affiliated with the Women's Capital Connection and the Women's Employment Network.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration is the government agency whose specific purpose is to assist in the formation and well-being of small businesses. It provides funding assistance, training, counseling, business community, specific initiative assistance, disaster preparedness information and more. A valuable resource for the entrepreneur.
NetWork Kansas: Resources for starting or growing your business
NetWork Kansas is another portal of information resources for entrepreneurship. It was established by the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 and has since worked to establish a network of "expertise, education, and economic resources" focused on serving the new and small business sector of Kansas.
Washburn Small Business Development Center
With an outreach center located in Manhattan at the Chamber of Commerce, the Washburn Small Business Development Center is a great resource. They provide consulting, training, and resources to help develop new entrepreneurs. They also include a list of helpful resources with a focus on different government agencies.
Special thanks to Shelby Shellenger
