Jackson Library

Find Information on starting a new business:

• Journal databases, such as ABI/Inform and EBSCO Business Source Complete 
  Find journal and news articles. For ABI/INFORM, search under the subject "development stages enterprises"; for EBSCO, use subject "new business enterprises". Search also for articles on new emerging technologies under the subject "technological innovations" in EBSCO and "technological change" in ABI/INFORM.  
• Jackson Library Catalog: find more sources on the topic using "new business enterprises" and "entrepreneurship" as the subject search terms. Some notable titles are:
  • Entrepreneur.  Catalog record
  • International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management.  Catalog record
  • E-myth enterprise : how to turn a great idea into a thriving business. Catalog record
  • Entrepreneurship : successfully launching new ventures.  Catalog record
  • Finding Fertile Ground: Identifying Extraordinary Opportunities for New Ventures.  Catalog record
  • Finding and Evaluating an Idea [videorecording] Catalog record

Check Selected Business Sites for business opportunities:

• Entrepreneur Magazine: Find companies grouped by categories in Business Opportunities section. 

• Wall Street Journal - Small Business: Click on the Business Opportunities link or browse the listing of companies for sale in the Businesses for Sale section.

Check the Jackson Career Corner:

• Book of Lists, find lists of top private companies in California metropolitan areas and the Bay Area.

• Search Jackson Library Catalog using the subject term "business planning", "new business enterprises - planning." Some notable titles are:
  • Preparing Effective Business Plans : an entrepreneurial approach. Catalog record
  • The business plan : how to win your investor's confidence. Catalog record
  • Dare to prepare : how to win before you begin. Catalog record
• Sample business plans are available from a number of websites:
  • Moor Corp Competition: Sample plans from MBAs
  • Bplan.com
  • U.S. Small Business Administration
  • moreBusiness.com

Identify investment opportunities:

• Capital IQ : Use Analytics and Targeting section to screen for investors based on your specified criteria.  
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey: Learn from a quarterly study of venture capital investment activity in the U.S. where VCs invest.  
• Venture Capital Database: From a survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association, find therecipients of funding from venture-capital firms for the past four quarters.

For print sources:

• Check industry sources in Reference collection (Alphabetical Subject Section: Venture Capital). Notable titles are:
  • Galante's Venture Capital & Private Equity Directory - an electronic version is also available at Jackson CD-ROM Workstation. (Stanford Users may obtain online access at the Information Desk of the Library ) Catalog record  
  • Pratt’s Guide to Private Equity & Venture Capital Sources: Basic description of VC and PE firms worldwide. Introductory articles discuss the strategies of approaching and structuring deals with investors. Catalog record
• Search Jackson Library Catalog - search the catalog using the subject term "venture capital."

For other sources of financing a business venture such as federal grants, loans, etc:

• Business.gov: Find resources on funding a start-up company using government programs and loans.  
• moreBusiness.com: Explore multiple options for financing a new small business enterprise.

Learn about structuring a VC deal:

• Journal databases, such as ABI Inform and EBSCO Business Source Complete : find journal and news articles using the combinations of subjects "venture capital" and "negotiations" or "entrepreneurs" in ABI ; in EBSCO try the combination of subject terms "venture capital" and "negotiation in business". 
• Jackson Library Catalog: find books and journals on the topic using "new business enterprises: Finance" and "small business: Finance" as the subject search terms. Some notable titles are:
• Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur.  Catalog record
• Finding an angel investor in a day : get it done right, get it done fast. Catalog record
• The Handbook of Financing Growth: strategies and capital structure. Catalog record
• Cases in Entrepreneurship: the venture creation process. Catalog record
• How to Raise Capital: techniques and strategies for financing and valuing your small business. Catalog record

Learn about company valuation approaches:

• Journal databases, such as ABI/Inform and EBSCO Business Source Complete : Find journal and news articles. For subject search, use "valuation" in combination with "venture capital". 
• Jackson Library Catalog: Find books and journals on the topic using "business enterprises - valuation". Some notable titles are:

• The Business Valuation Book Catalog record
• Business Valuation by Industry: detailed studies of actual businesses sold  Catalog record
• Equity Valuation and Analysis with eVal Catalog record
• Understanding Business Valuation: a Practical Guide to Valuing Small to Medium-sized Businesses Catalog record

Check the web site:

• ValuationResources.com

Learn about the best business strategies in growing a successful business venture:

• Journal databases, such as ABI/Inform and EBSCO Business Source Complete : Find journal and news articles. For search in ABI/INFORM, use subjects: "entrepreneurs", "organizational structure", "strategic planning", "business growth" and the combination of the search terms; in EBSCO use subjects "new business enterprises", "corporation growth", "strategic planning" and the combination of the search terms.
• Jackson Library Catalog: Find books and journals on the topic using "new business enterprises". Some notable titles are:
• Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Catalog record
• Harvard Business Essentials: Entrepreneur's Toolkit: Tools and Techniques to Launch and Grow Your New Business Catalog record

Find information on harvesting strategies, such as taking company IPO or selling a company:

• Jackson Library Catalog: Find sources on the topic using "going public (securities)", "sale of business enterprises." Some notable titles are:
• The Initial Public Offering: A Guidebook for Executives and Boards of Directors Catalog record
• The IPO Decision: Why and How Firms Go Public Catalog record
• Planning for an Exit from the Start [videorecording] Catalog record
• The Complete Guide to Valuing and Selling Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Selling and Ensuring the Maximum Sale Value Catalog record

Identify the potential acquirers for a company:

• Capital IQ - use Analytics and Targeting section to screen for investors based on your specified criteria.

Check the web site:

• CCH Business Owners Toolkit: Find templates for all legal forms including personnel policies and tax documents.