Business and Financial Research
Mount Prospect Public Library has a wide selection of business resources in print and online. Browse journals, newspapers, and newsletters found in the Business Reading Room, or use the Business Reference collection for research. The Business Reference Librarian can help with special research questions. Contact iflemming@mppl.org
Databases
Business and Company Resource Center (Infotrac) 
use at home 
use in library
1980 to present
A database of detailed company and industry news and information, including full-text periodical articles.
Business eBook Collection (Gale Virtual Reference Library) use at home use in library
Searches business plans, company and industry information, management, finance, national and international economics, and small business information.
NetAdvantage (Standard and Poor's) use at home use in library
A comprehensive source of business and investment information, offering on-line access to popular Standard & Poor's research products such as Stock Reports, Corporation Records, The Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, The Outlook, Mutual Fund Reports, and Bond Reports.
ReferenceUSA use at home use in library
Search for businesses, as well as residential listings. Users can locate businesses by a number of criteria, including geographic details, company size and revenue.
Stat-USA use in library
Stat-USA, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a single point of access to authoritative business, trade, and economic information from across the Federal Government.
General Resources
Business News
CEO Express (Patricia Pomerleau) more info » Founded in 1998, the best resources on the Web for busy executives; additional services for registration and fee.Know This (World Wide Web - Virtual Library) more info » Resource and reference site for those involved in marketing, market research, advertising, selling promotion.
MSN News (MSN) more info » Business and financial news.
Business Portals
Commerce Clearinghouse [CCH] Business Owners Toolkit (a Wolters Kluwer Business) more info » Guides, business tools, and current news information.Company Research
The Directory of Online Annual Reports (Annual Report Service) more info » Over 4,500 annual reports and 10-K filings for online viewing with additional companies added daily. Free registration requiredSEC Filings & Forms EDGAR (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) more info » Free access to company disclosure files of all forms.
Directories and Marketing
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers (Thomas Register) more info » Products, services, and supplier listings link industrial sellers to buyers. CAD drawings and product news also available.Advertising World : a marketing communications directory (University of Texas at Austin Department of Advertising) more info » Marketing communications directory portal.
Legal
FindLaw for Business (Part of the West Group) more info » 'Comprehensive guide to legal information including more than 5,000 human-edited site listings in more than 30 practice areas, as well as state-specific, federal, and international materials.'Everyday Law for Everyday People (Nolo) more info » Wills & estate planning, property & money, and more do-it-yourself legal solutions for individuals and small business.
Regional Resources
Associations & Organizations
Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce (Village of Mount Prospect)
Business Sites
Illinois Real Time Corporate/LLC Information Search (State of Illinois) more info » State of Illinois Business Portal with links to guides, forms, and more.Forms
Illinois Business Forms (Cyberdrive Illinois: State of Illinois) more info » Forms in PDF format.News
Crain's Chicago Business (Crain Communications)Small Business
Startup & Development
SBDCNet (National Information Clearinghouse) more info » A full service site with tools, resources, and advisor info.Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Business in Illinois (State of Illinois) more info » Large site; click on the Site Map and then on "Business Start-Up Guides" to find a link to the complete, 47 page "Starting a Business in Illinois Handbook", in PDF format.
SBA Small Business Startup Toolkit (United States Small Business ADministration)
Small Business Help: kits and free news (AllBusiness.com) more info » 'AllBusiness is based in San Francisco, California and backed by VantagePoint Venture Partnets, Sutter Hill Ventures and Reed Elsevier Ventures.
Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity - DCEO)
Associations & Organizations
SCORE (Chicagoland Chapter) more info » The SCORE Association is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, "Counselors to America's Small Business".Small Business Association (United States Small Business Administration)
Business Plans
BPlans.com (Palo Alto Software Inc.) more info » Free business plans online, along with tools and help about managing your business.Business Owner's Toolkit (Commerce Clearing House) more info » Planning, financing, managing, and more on this comprehensive site.
Franchising
Franchise Handbook (Enterprise Magazines) more info » Database of franchises; directories, articles, events calendar and moreFranchise Finder (Franchise Solutions, Inc.)
Help
Where Can I Get Help for My Business? more info » Resources, local and state, guides and counseling.Legal
EPA Small Business Gateway (Environmental Protection Agency)Finance and Investment
News and Advice
CNBC on MSN Money (Microsoft and NBC)CBS Market Watch
Financial Planning Toolkit (Commerce Clearing House: Wolters Kluwer)
SEC Investor Information Site (U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission) more info » Wise investing and avoiding fraud.
Investment Sites, Stock Symbols, and Quotes
Big Charts (Market Watch) more info » News, markets, historical quotes, interactive chartingTicker Symbol Lookup (Yahoo Finance)
News, Quotes, Research (Microsoft Money)
Exchanges Online
NASDAQNew York Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
"How to Read Stock Tables" (New York Stock Exchange)
Learn How to Read Financial Reports (IBM) more info » Click on 'Investor Tools', then 'Investment Guides' to find the guide.
Research Guides
Where Can I Get Help for My Business? more info » Resources, local and state, guides and counseling.Marketing Resources more info »Key resources for marketing and advertising research.
Jobs and Career Development
