Canadian Market Research made fast and easy.
You have probably done a bit of research
already. (And spent far more time that you would have preferred)
Like most entrepreneurs, you have tried
Strategis and
Statistics Canada without finding a
great deal of specific information. (Do not be too discouraged - no one
has much success on those web sites.)
The trick to successful and speedy market research is to know what
sources exist before you go looking for them!
Researching a
Small Business 2002 gives you that edge. It allows you to draw
on our five years of experience in researching thousands of small
businesses in Canada.
And it now includes a February 2003 update.
It will cut your research time in half! (actually in a half
of a half!)
The advantage is that you will have a comprehensive list of key Canadian
sources specific to your type of business before you even start looking
for data.
No more fumbling around looking for sources that might not even exist.
Why waste time playing telephone tag with the government, when we can tell
you where to source the data yourself?
Researching a
Small Business 2002 gives you the title, author, publication
date, even the on-line address when one is available.
And if you need even more sources we provide you with a professional
research strategy on how to quickly find them yourself.
Time and money are at a premium for all new entrepreneurs.
Researching a
Small Business 2002 helps you save both.
Each chapter focuses on a different key aspect of researching a small
business in Canada. All advice is straight forward and to the point. The
sources identified are practical, accessible and most importantly cost
effective (that means FREE in most cases!).
Researching a Small Business 2002
A guide to finding free & low cost
Canadian Business data
Printed version: ISBN 0-9687011-2-4
Electronic Version: ISBN: 0-968-7011-3-2
Chapter 1: Business Research identified the mistakes that most
new entrepreneurs make when they conduct research. They spend days even
weeks researching their market only to learn later (when their business
goes bankrupt) that all of the information they gathered was either
exaggerated or false.
Learn how to approach market research so that you will discover the
true opportunities that exist not the one's you hope for!
Chapter 2: The Entrepreneur & the Idea reveals the three basic
questions that must be answered before you can be certain that you can
succeed at the type of business you want to start.
Many new entrepreneurs are eager to start the most profitable
business they can find without considering their own skills and
resources. No matter how lucrative a market is, if the business does not
match with the strengths of the entrepreneur it will fail.
Chapter 3: The Market provides you with a research strategy for
determining your real market. The principal Canadian sources for
market data are not only identified but you are told in detail how to
use them effectively.
Do not base your market strategy on hype. Understand the
opportunities that actually exist.
Chapter 4: The Industry identifies the key Canadian sources
available to develop your cash flow statement and create realistic
performance expectations.
For a business to be successful it must understand the current
performance of its industry and the trends and concerns affecting it.
Only then can you assess the strength of your competitors and be in a
position to outperform them.
Chapter 5: Marketing & Operations Analysis shows you step by step
how to create a Sales Framework Chart so that you can track the
performance of each aspect of your new business and identify specific
areas where you can improve your bottom line.
Appendix A - Researching on the Internet provides you with a
detailed research strategy that is guaranteed to increase your chances
of research success on the Internet. Learn how to get the most out of
search engines and how to research on-line even more effectively without
them!
Appendix B -Source Lists lists over 6500 Canadian references and
includes advice on how to find even more. The references are
organized by market and industry sector.
This is the heart of
Researching a
Small Business 2002. It is the most complete list of
Canadian small business data sources available anywhere.
Many business development centres and small business advisors right
across the country have purchased our guide as a key reference tool.
Appendix C - Data Sources identifies libraries and resource
centres across the country where you can access all the sources listed.
Appendix D - Statistics provides you with a few initial numbers
to help you get your business research started. They include basic
numbers about starting a successful small business in Canada (such as
the number one quality of a successful entrepreneur) as well as specific
numbers on which industries have seen the greatest increase in small
businesses and which one have seen them disappear!
February 2003 Update: includes
over 2500 new and updated
statistical sources organized by the same market and industry sectors
used in Appendix B.
What do people who don't work for the
company think?
I was very happy to receive and to assess your excellent research
guide "Researching a Small Business 2002".
We are recommending it to our Canada Business Service Centres across
Canada.
I found that it not only contained a vast amount of useful
information but that it was presented in a clear and simple manner, with
all pertinent websites and addresses included.
I especially liked the fact that the material was Canadian and I
found the price quite reasonable.
Marcelle Lafontaine
Liaison and Government Publications Coordinator
Canada Business Service Centres
National Secretariat
Ottawa
Let me express my sincere appreciation for your efforts in
publishing the guide to small business research which I recently
purchased and downloaded .. an absolutely remarkable achievement.
I was speechless when reviewing it for the first time.
As an entrepreneurship and marketing research prof and private
research consultant, your guide will be an immense help to me, let alone
the countless small business people out there baffled by secondary data
sources. So thank you.
Leslie P. Roberts
Mercatus Research Ltd.
Who buys such a guide?
Our guide has been purchased by individuals interesting in starting
their own business and by organizations dedicated to helping them.
Researching a
Small Business 2002 can be found right across the country in
Canada Business Services Centres, municipal business development centres,
public and university libraries, offices of business consultants as well
as in private companies.
A significant number of our customers purchase our guide every year so
they can take advantage of the updated and expanded content. These
include:
- The Business Link (Edmonton AB)
- Small Business Centre (London ON)
- Humber College Library (Toronto ON)
The guide is specifically designed for new entrepreneurs in Canada with
limited research experience and an even more limited research budget!
Who wrote the book?
The guide was written by John White, the principal and founder of
GDSourcing.
Prior to starting his own company in 1997, John worked for Statistics
Canada for a number of years both in data collection and dissemination. He
has a detailed understanding of their published and unpublished databases.
He also has reliable and accessible contacts throughout the government who
can identify the availability of special tabulations and upcoming reports.
John is involved in three seminar series in the Toronto area on
researching a small business. One is conducted on behalf of the Ontario
government, the second for Seneca College while the third is presented in
conjunction with the Self-Employment Benefits program funded by Human
Resources Development Canada.
Over the summer of 2001 he was involved in a pilot long distance
learning project with the Community Futures Development Corporation of
Alberni-Clayoquot. Through a series of on-line workshops John is helping
entreprenuers with disabilities on Vancouver Island research their
business ventures.
Researching a Small Business 2002 was the textbook chosen
by the program coordinator.
John has appeared twice on the television program CareersTV as a expert
guest and has been published and quoted in a number of entrepreneurial
publications including the Globe & Mail.
He stresses a practical approach to researching a new business that is
geared towards a small or moderate research budget.
Our business is research not selling books
Do you know what type of business most small business authors have
experience running? Writing books on how to start a small business! They
cannot tell you the details about conducting research because they have
never really done it.
Our business is selling
HPS Profiles. Each
profile is individually researched so that it focuses on your business'
specific niche. It identifies the key factors you need to know to ensure
your venture is positioned for success
We therefore have direct experience researching every type of business
imaginable. (Canadians are very innovative.)
The sources we identify are not culled from a library index. We have
actually used them in our own research.
Researching a
Small Business 2002 was originally designed as an internal
training manual for our employees but when we received a great deal of
interest from business advisors across the country we decided to begin
selling it to the public.
Now in its sixth edition the guide is even bigger and better than ever,
running to 975 pages in length. The new February
2003 update adds an additional 300 pages of new references.
We're cheap!
Data is not cheap. Information is a commodity in the New Economy and
its value is rising quickly. When you first approach a research firm you
will probably be taken back by the prices thrown about.
The Canadian market research industry has no concept of the realities
of the small business market. Data charges often start between $500-$1000.
Even Statistics Canada now charges for much of their data. Most
unpublished government data tables start between $100-$250 and easily
approach $1000 for just a few figures.
Small business owners do not have $1000s to spend on market research no
matter how valuable the data is. It is a basic reality of their budget
size.
We are cheap by nature. We do not like to spend money that can
otherwise be saved. Our principle business is conducting research for
small businesses and new entrepreneurs. These types of clients have only
so much money available to spend on our services so the more we spend on
data charges the smaller our profit margin.
Over the years we have therefore developed techniques and tricks on
paying the least amount of money to gain access to detailed data.
Researching a
Small Business 2002 reveals all our secrets!
For example:
- Learn how to get Canadian corporations to analyze your industry and
market for FREE
- Learn how to find U.S. government reports on key market
opportunities in Canada
The cost for the very foundation of our business? $35.00!
And you can even download a copy
right now and start
your market research immediately.
What are the odds your small business will
survive?
It is a fact:
less than half of new Canadian businesses survive to
their third year of operation.
DATA TABLE
| . |
Years in Business |
|
NEW |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
Survive |
100% |
76% |
59% |
48% |
41% |
35% |
30% |
27% |
24% |
21% |
19% |
|
Fail |
0% |
24% |
41% |
52% |
59% |
65% |
70% |
73% |
76% |
79% |
81% |
Source: Statistics Canada
How can you put the odds in your favour?
The key to small business success is effective market research.
Many entrepreneurs are so eager to get into business they don't
take the time to ensure they stay in business.
Researching a
Small Business 2002 shows you how to quickly and economically
(for FREE in most cases) find the specific Canadian market and industry
data you need to start a successful small business.
Remember:
Your business idea is only the seed of success. Your market research is
what tells you where to plant it to ensure that it grows.
Don't just start a business.
Start a successful one.
| Why is the Paper Guide so expensive?
For the 2002 issue we have moved to a print-on-demand format with
loose leaf binding. This has raised the price in the short term but
allows us to provide semi-annual updates of content and source lists
in the future.
Every purchase of a Paper Guide includes the February 2003
Update as well.
You will be able to purchase future updates at less than
the cost of an electronic version. You will not have to purchase
another full guide again!
If you have any questions about the guide please
e-mail us at [email protected]
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