Knowing the 4-digit SIC and 6-digit NAICS code for your industry will help you find information. The U.S. Bureau of the Census has a website that will help you identify the best number for your business. If you need to convert SIC to NAICS or vice versa, the bureau provides a concordance.
Reference Solutions will help you find competitors in your field. We don't subscribe, but the Columbia Public Library/Daniel Boone Regional Library (CPL/DBRL) does as do many other public libraries. Your library card will give you access from home. Contact me if you have questions. To request a library card from CPL/DBRL, go to https://www.dbrl.org/library-card-application.
Provides reports for all of the industries in the United States as categorized by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). It also includes reports on industries in Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, and the U.K.
SBDCNet resources (Small Business Development Centers)
Trade associations collect information on their industry. Sometimes they will provide free data, but other times you may have to contact the association directly to see what they have. Check out the website and look for links labeled "Research," "Media," or "Statistics." You can find trade groups listed in the two sources listed above.
Trade journals can provide valuable data for the entrepreneur. Trade associations often publish them and may provide access via their website. You'll also find trade magazines listed in the "Industry References" section of the listed above Industry Surveys (NetAdvantage). Use the "Journal Finder" link in the middle of the our homepage, http://library.missouri.edu, to see if the Libraries provide access.
