Ask HN: Where to find market research stats? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Where to find market research stats?

6 pointssome1else7 comments

I'm making a business plan draft, so I'm searching for some basic stats:

* Number of small businesses

* Number of small businesses started in the past few years

I'm currently reviewing OECD Stat extracts and their Factbook, but I'd like to have more detailed stats about USA. I've been doing some guerilla surveys, although I'd really appreciate a stats resource with a greater sample and more integrity :-)

Where do you collect your market research stats? Thanks

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I've had tremendous success finding stats through government agencies. they do extensive researcha nd the results are public, though sometimes you have to request the information be send to you.

Anyway, the obvious place to look for that kind of data is the U.S Census Bureau

I found this table (from 2002-2004). If you poke around long enough, you'll find newer data-sets I'm sure. http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/smallbus.html

Make sure to check this one also http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/

Great stuff! Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI) on SBA looks similar to what I'm looking for. I'll definitely try and sift through the Census website too.

Go to the closest business library and schedule an appointment at the research desk with the librarian. I know, this sounds so dreadfully analog, but this is basically a free government-supplied expert consultant for your startup. They know all the right sources to consult, and have them all at hand.

For those of you that are just interested in the topic:

http://www.inc.com/guides/marketing/24018.html - An article about Market Research

http://www.euromonitor.com/USA - Expensive Market Research reports :-/

http://www.marketresearch.com/browse.asp?categoryid=52&S... - A bit less expensive Market Research reports

If at all possible, use the resources at your local university for these kinds of reports. Pay the kid next door for access if you have to, the databases most universities have access to are pure gold. They're usually set up through the schools library so poke around on their site to see what kind of information they could provide you. Although there are certainly free ways to piece together your market research, the amount of detail in professional reports are well worth it.

In fact just send me an email and ill dig up what I can through my own school.

Thanks! I'll put together a list of most important facts and mail it tommorrow.

Pretty sure we have a fair amount of these:

http://timetric.com

Ping us an email if there's things we can help you out with.

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