Business & Investing

Choose a topic:

Business Planning
Business Law
Grow and Manage Your Business
Business Support Organizations
Company & Industry Information
International Business
Business Statistics
Marketing: Demographics/Consumer Habits and Trends
Investing and Finance

Looking for Additional Business Resources?

The Library’s Business Resource Center offers:

Public access computers with Microsoft Office 2016
Scanners
Free WiFi
Photocopier
Fax services
Meeting space:
- Study rooms (non-reservable)
- Public meeting rooms (must be reserved)
Business journals and newspapers
Print business references and directories

Business Planning

Business Plans & Financial Statement Templates

Downloadable template gallery from SCORE.

Does Your Business Need a License?

Search the state’s licensing website to see if your business needs to be licensed.

eBook Business Collection

A key resource for academic and business school libraries.

Entrepreneurial Studies Source

The latest insights on entrepreneurship and small business topics for business students and researchers. Content comes from business journals, magazines, reference books, case studies and company profiles.

IRS Starting a Business

Information and resources from the Internal Revenue Service.

Professional and Occupational License Search

Verify a license, registration, or permit.

Regional Business News

Provides coverage from regional business publications for the U.S. and Canada.

Small Business Reference Center

Offers coverage that addresses many small business topics from consumer small business reference books and business videos. Includes a help and advice section and how to create business plans.

Start-up forms from the State of Michigan

For corporations, LLCs, LLPs, and limited partnerships.

USA.gov – Small Business

Learn the steps to start a small business, get financing help from the government, and more.

Business Law

Gale Legal Forms

Official state specific, federal, business, personal, real estate and general forms covering hundreds of legal subjects and issues.

Legal Information Reference Center

Designed to assist the general public in legal matters of all kinds. Coverage includes exclusive full text for many top consumer legal reference books, thousands of legal forms, and detailed how-to instructions covering a wide range of legal issues. a majority of the full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo.

Legal Source

Authoritative database for current issues, studies, thoughts, and trends of the legal world. It is an excellent resource for attorneys, educators, business people, law librarians, students, paralegals, and others involved with the law.

Grow and Manage Your Business

Contract Connect

Your guide to doing business with the State of Michigan.

IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center

Provides extensive tax information and online tools.

PTACS of Michigan

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center Offices of Michigan provides local businesses with the resources and know-how to successfully obtain government contracts.

Business Support Organizations

Automation Alley

A technology cluster that promotes productivity, innovation & new business growth.

Howell Chamber of Commerce

Find valuable resources for local businesses.

Howell Main Street

Howell Main Street Inc. is a volunteer-led organization focused on creating a vibrant, strong, and economically viable downtown. Visit their website to find information on opening a business downtown, check their online community events calendar, and discover everything to eat and do in the downtown area.

Livingston County SPARK

Links to entrepreneurial services and resources available throughout the area to help you define the opportunity, develop your business plan and find resources to help you grow.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Find quick facts about Michigan business, start-up financing, labor information & more.

Michigan Small Business Development Center

Provides resources and tools for small businesses in Michigan.

SBDC Net

The SBDC National Information Clearinghouse serves the Small Business Development Center Network and America’s small business community. Market research reports and more for small businesses.

SCORE

Free mentoring and education resources for business development and growth. Click here to for information on how to meet with the Livingston County SCORE mentor at the Howell Carnegie District Library.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Planning tolls and services.

Company & Industry Information

AnnualReports.com

Searchable database of company annual reports.

AtoZdatabases

Detailed information on 30 million businesses and executives, over 200 million residents and 2 million new businesses, as well as new movers/homeowners, U.S. healthcare professionals, a jobs database, background and criminal search and email marketing.

Data Axle Reference Solutions

Formerly ReferenceUSA, this resource provides detailed information on millions of U.S. and Canadian businesses; searchable by company name, geographic area, yellow pages heading, and more. Additional databases cover U.S. Healthcare and Consumers/Lifestyles. Updated annually. New to Data Axle Reference Solutions? Try these video tutorials.

EDGAR Corporate Information

Searchable database of SEC filings.

NAICS Codes

Searchable North American Industry Classification System identification tool.

SIC Codes

Searchable tool for Standard Industry Classification Codes.

Thomas Register

Comprehensive online resource for finding companies and products manufactured in North America.

International Business

Export.gov

Resources, webinars and solutions to help businesses export. “Doing Business In” guides for more than 100 countries.

GlobalTrade.net

Online directory of International Service Providers. Market analysis & tips.

U.S. Department of State Business Center

Business support, trade policies, and country commercial guides.

UNdata

A world of information from the United Nations Statistics Division.

Business Statistics

Consumer Price Index

Monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for goods and services.

Current Employment Statistics

Detailed industry data on employment, hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Economic Census

Profiles U.S. national and local economies every five years.

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)

Search & download regional and national financial and economic data.

Livingston County Demographics

Local demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Michigan Labor Market Information

Employment trends, wages, and jobs in demand.

Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS)

Launched in September 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS) is an experimental data product featuring modeled state-level retail sales. This blended data product uses Monthly Retail Trade Survey data, administrative data, and third-party data provided by state and NAICS codes beginning with January 2019.

Producer Price Index

Average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.

SEMCOG

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments new and information.

Demographic, transportation, economic, land use, and public safety information from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Marketing: Demographics/Consumer Habits & Trends

AARP Surveys & Statistics

National and state-based research on the needs, concerns, and interests of AARP members and the 50+ population as a whole.

American FactFinder

Population, housing, economic, and geographic information.

Data.gov

Data.gov is the home of the U.S. Government’s open data. With Data.gov you will find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.

Gale Business: DemographicsNow

Robust and highly-detailed demographic data, ideal for gaining consumer and market insight as you consider opening a business, finding an audience for your products, analyzing the shifts and needs of a given population, and more.

Pew Research Center

Social & demographic trends.

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