Need Inspiration? Pick Up A Book!

This section will introduce several "how-to" books on business to help you get started with your research. These books will primarily introduce you to business plan writing. These books will also introduce general business types such as retail and service business models.

Find Books Using Relevant Subject Headings

• Freelance journalism.
• Authorship -- Marketing.
• Authorship -- Vocational Guidance.
• Desktop publishing.
• Publishers and publishing.
• Report writing.
• Entrepreneurship.
• New business enterprises -- Management.
• Small business -- Management.

Google Books 
Google Books is a search feature offered by Google. It enables users to search the full text of approximately 10 million books that Google has scanned and stored in its digital database. It also offers previews of books that are currently still in print.

Worldcat 
A global catalogue of library collections from various libraries around the world. You can search for books on business planning, new enterprises, start-ups, or your specific industry. You can search for all the locations with copies of a specific item, and then locate the item in a nearby library. In Worldcat, you can also view research articles and other digital content directly online.

 

illume
A search portal to BC's post-secondary and public library collections (93 libraries). 

 

Review Sample Plans for Ideas

In the page below you will find examples of successful business plans. Researching your business plan can be a very time-consuming experience, but it is an essential and worthwhile investment. Your business plan will become your most important day to day operating tool. The information resources and strategies in this guide will help you create an effective plan and increase your chances for business success.

Review Sample Plans for Ideas

Most books about starting a business will include examples of business plans, as well as business planning templates. In addition to books, online business resources frequently include sample business plans. Here are a few to get you started.

Business Plans

Bplans.com
This site offers a selection of free sample business plans, as well as articles on business planning. Bplans.com also sells business planning software.

• Magazine Journalist Business Plan
• Magazine Publisher Business Plan

Business Plans Handbook, Gale Publishing
This is a database of actual business plans written by North American entrepreneurs seeking financing for their businesses. Includes examples of many start-up business ideas. Access is available through many BC public libraries, made possible by a generous donation from the Sutherland Foundation. Affiliates of UBC can start here.

• Freelance Editor Business Plan: Word for Word
• Freelance Editor Business Plan: The Scrivener
• Grant Writer - Whitfield Resources LLC

Marketing Plans

Marketing Plan Outline from Government of Canada |This Government of Canada page reviews the components of a marketing plan and why a marketing plan is necessary for your small business. 

BDC Marketing Plan Template | This comprehensive marketing plan template from BDC is for Canadian entrepreneurs specifically and includes all the important sections of a marketing plan, including an executive summary, identification of your target customer, and how you'll measure your sales.

Small Business BC - How to Write a Marketing Plan
This guide shows you how to develop a marketing plan that includes details like how you intend to meet your customers’ needs and communicate the benefits of your products or services to them. When making any decisions about market positioning, pricing, promotions, and sales, your customers should always be top of mind.

 

In this section you will find links to information on funding for your business. No business can function without money to pay for overhead expenses and production or product costs. It is also unusual for a business founder to have the capital to fully fund their business. The sources in this section will help you consider the best source of funding for your business.

Suggestions for Obtaining Capital

With proper planning and a few resources to guide you on your way, identifying and securing capital to start and grow your business becomes a much smoother and gentler process.

There are several ways to secure the capital needed to fund your business:

• Government Funding: This is money that the government gives you to fund your business, based on your application to the funding grant. There are other types of government assistance you might wish to explore here: Business Grants and Financing.
• Personal Savings: This involves saving your money from your current employment to invest in your business.
• Personal Loans: This option means using your personal credit to secure a loan or using your personal credit card for business expenses.
• Crowdfunding/Micro-Lending: Crowdfunding and micro-lending are both alternative ways of raising capital that involve having large groups of people pre-buy your product before it is launched or loan you small amounts that you can then use to finance your business.
• Private Financing/Equity Financing: This types of financing come in the form of loans from banks or individuals. It is obtained through your business’ credit availability or through providing equity in your business in exchange for money. This financing involves going into debt or giving up some control of your business.

Need More?

Funding & Financing Page

Check out this page in the Learn Business Basics section of our site to review a growing list of different ways to raise capital for Canadian businesses. It has many funding resources to explore that fall into the categories above, and well as sections with opportunities specifically for Indigenous, women, and youth entrepreneurs, as well as regional funding opportunities.

Below, we have some resources that can help you find funding options for your business:

• Fundica
• Funding and Grants Database
• Innovation Canada

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

At the start of your research, it may not be clear what specific industry you should be examining. A good strategy is to find out if your business idea is classified in an industrial classification system. These systems organize industries by assigning them a numeric code. The most commonly used system is the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Once you know your Industry Classification Code you can use this number to:

• Find industry-specific statistics on government websites or in library databases
• Generate lists of competitors in company directories

Another common classification system is the Standard Industry Code (SIC). NAICS have mostly replaced the SIC, but the SIC is still used by some commercial databases. Finding and using these classification systems to effectively search can be tricky, so don't hesitate to ask a librarian for help.

Try These

Type	Code	Description
NAICS	71	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
NAICS	711	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports and Related Industries
NAICS	7115	Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
NAICS	711513	Independent Writers and Authors
NAICS	56	Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services
NAICS	561	Administrative and Support Services
NAICS	5614	Business Support Services
NAICS	56141	Document Preparation Services (includes proofreading and editing services)
SIC	7338	Secretarial and Court Reporting Services
SIC	7389	Business Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

Search or browse all NAICS or SIC codes on the NAICS Association website. Some NAICS codes are different in Canada — you can search by keyword or browse Canadian NAICS codes at Statistics Canada or Canadian Industry Statistics. To search for a SIC code using a NAICS code and vice versa, use the NAICS & SIC Crosswalks.   

For more information about planning your industry research, including identifying your industry codes, check out the video tutorial for Module 3: Planning Your Industry Research.

The Expensive World Of Business Information

Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research? 

Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.

There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results. 

Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.

For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.

Business Resources at Academic Libraries 

Colleges and Universities with business programs will have useful business collections you may be able to get access to through their academic library. Often these academic libraries can provide the general public with access to their collections, which include electronic resources like databases and e-books. For example, they could have alumni or community cards, and can provide temporary "guest" passes in certain situations. Contact your local college or university library to see what they can provide. Please note: you probably will not get access to their electronic resources with remote access.

Databases For Industry Research

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

• McAfee, R.(2010). Edifying editing. American Economist, 54 (1), 1-8.

"I've spent a considerable amount of time as an editor. I've rejected about 2,500 papers, and accepted 200. No one likes a rejection and less than 1% consider it justified. Fortunately, there is some duplication across authors, so I have only made around 1 ,800 enemies. The purpose of this little paper is to answer in print the questions I am frequently asked in person. These are my answers but may not apply to you."

• Proof-Reading.com; Social media consulting firm slashes proofreading costs by using Proof-Reading.com. (2008, November). Marketing Business Weekly, 280.

"Octane Interactive, a premier social media consulting firm, has reduced proofreading costs and increased its ability to turn around proposals by using the proven editors at Proof-Reading.com. Octane Interactive has been a Proof-Reading.com client since April, 2006. The firm's editor outsourcing program has allowed co-founder, Harry Hallman, to prosper in a harsh economic environment."

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

• Spangler, N. (2010). In Demand: A week inside the future of journalism. Columbia Journalism Review, 49 (4), 51-53.

"The article discusses U.S. online content provider Demand Media and the author's experience working briefly as a freelance writer for the company. Demand's business model of supplying large amounts of commercial content on the internet, such as how-to videos and instructional articles, is discussed, as is its use of algorithms and search data to determine what information consumers want and what advertisers will pay for."

• Fitzgerald, M. (2010). Building from the basics. Quill, 98 (5), 32.

"The author offers tips on how freelance journalists can achieve success. Freelance journalists should develop a network of writers who will help them handle rejection. They are advised to leverage their specialties and expertise that will help them get a career in higher-profile publications. The author also offers information on the importance of foundations to the success of journalists."

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

Provincial Library Database Partners

How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.

BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases

ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.

First Research Industry Profiles

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).

Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.

• Business Services Sector Industry Profile

"Companies in the sector provide support services to businesses, such as office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, security services, travel arrangement, cleaning, and waste disposal."

• Magazine Publishers Industry Profile

"Companies in this industry produce and distribute magazines and other print and electronic periodicals."

• Book Publishers Industry Profile

"Companies in this industry publish fiction and nonfiction trade books, as well as educational and professional titles, in print and digital formats."

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

• Industry Report Document Preparation Services in the US - 56141

Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.

UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.

In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.

Associations 

Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.

Canadian Authors Association (CAA) | The CAA is a national organization dedicated to promoting a flourishing community of writers across Canada. Check out the Vancouver and Okanagan CAA branches.

Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) | The CAJ is the national voice of Canadian journalists. The CAJ maintains and is associated with several e-mail or web-based list-servs where members and non-members can discuss issues related to journalism.

Editors' Association of Canada (EAC) | The EAC is the voice of Canadian editors. It represents 1600 members, both salaried and freelance, who work in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit, and publishing sectors. Check out the EAC British Columbia Branch (EAC-BC) page.

Federation of BC Writers | The Federation of BC Writers offers a variety of programs and services to members, and strives to raise the visibility of writers in BC. Check out their WriteOn newsletter.

Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) | The PWAC is a nation-wide non-profit organization that works to improve the working conditions and rates for writers in Canada.

The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC) | TWUC is the national organization of professional writers of books. The union works with governments, publishers, booksellers, and buyers to improve the position of Canadian writers. Check out the Resources page.

Magazines & Trade Journals

Trade journals (often called magazines or trade publications) can be very useful in helping you find current articles relating to business research. Contact your local research library to determine which trade journal subscriptions they have. There are also free trade publications that you can access online. 

Brick Magazine | One of Canada's oldest and most respected literary magazines. It features essays, interviews with writers, and cultural commentaries. Published 2 times per year.

Media Magazine | Official magazine of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). Published 3 times per year.

Quill Magazine | Official magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists (US). Quill is a respected and sought-after resource for journalists, industry leaders, students and educators on issues central to journalism. Published 6 times per year.

Blogs

Writer’s Digest | Website and blog for Writer’s Digest. Includes regularly updated blog posts, competitions, resources, discussion forum and other features.

Mibba | Blog focused on non-fiction and fictional creative writing. Mibba has regularly updated blog posts, a social network for writers and discussion forums.

All Freelance Writing | All Freelance Writing is a resource and community for freelance writers, indie publishers, and independent bloggers looking to build a successful writing career.

Discussion Forums

Scribophile | Online writer’s workshop that provides forums and review services. In return, you review and provide suggestions on other writer’s work.

National Novel Writing Month Forum | National Novel Writing Month is an international organization that supports writers at all levels. They host several forums that cover a variety of writing topics.

Consultant Websites

MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.

• US Business Services Index

Lists the performance of Business Service companies listed on the Dow Jones Industry Index. Provides a general sense for how the Business Service industry is performing.

Looks at places where workers in the arts and cultural industries, including writing, are concentrated in Canada and statistics about this industry.

Firsthand | A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.

• Writing and Editing

This section of the website provides an overview of the Writing and Editing Industry and links to associations and resources.

As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.

In this section we have gathered some of the most reliable freely available online government and employment websites for you to use in your research.

Canadian Websites

WorkBC | Find current employment outlooks, labour market information, relevant links, and a geographic representation of the BC workforce. Start by searching your Industry Profile.

• Labor Market Outlook Reports

Report projects what the Canadian job marketing will look like from 2014 to 2024. A useful way to find growing industries that could use your services.

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada
Provides market research, industry statistics, licensing information for intellectual property, and information about doing business internationally. The Industry Canada site features interactive applications such as customizable trade reports, cost calculators, and online business planning guides. You can also search broad Canadian industry statistics.

• Document Preparation Services (NAICS 56141)

"This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in writing, editing or proofreading documents;..."

The Daily - Statistics Canada
The premier source for Canadian statistical information, including census information. Search 'The Daily' releases by subject to identify corresponding census tables, latest news, and publications. Similarly, you can browse by data source, including surveys & questionnaires relevant to your market research, which also link to census tables, latest news and publications.

• Business, Consumer and Property Services

This subject area supplies statistics on companies that provide services to other businesses and consumers. The sections on Professional, Technical and Scientific Services and Information and Culture are particularly relevant to freelance writers and editors.

• 2015. Bahar, Sumaya; Liu, Huju. "Unincorporated Self-employment in Canada, 1989 to 2010" 10-18-2015. Statistics Canada.

This report from Statistics Canada provides an overview of self-employment in Canada up to 2010. It provides useful statistics on the self-employed market place and general trends in the self-employment industry.

Learn More About Compliance Issues

When it comes to starting a business, one of the first decisions you need to make is the legal structure of your business - sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited company. You'll also need to register your business and you'll need to be aware of many municipal, provincial or federal regulations. The websites in this section will help you.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

• Provides an overview of Canadian copyright law and its application. Also provides you with a route to register a copyright if you choose to add this layer of protection to your work.

General Business Resources

Small Business BC (SBBC)
SBBC is a great place to start for information on BC specific regulations and guidelines, for whatever stage you are in your business development. This is a great post on the topic.

BizPaL
This is the one-stop website to assist Canadian businesses that are just starting up, or expanding into new areas. BizPaL asks you a short series of questions about the nature and scope of your current or proposed business. Based on your answers, BizPaL provides you with a customized list of government permits and licences that you may require to operate your business. All of the information that you provide is kept anonymous, and you may save or print your results for future reference.

Canada Revenue Agency - Business
This section of the Canadian federal tax agency's website contains important taxation and documentation requirements that businesses operating in Canada must adhere to.

• Keeping records
• Business Number (BN) registration
• Business expenses

The Province of British Columbia
Provides information on programs and resources available to small business owners in British Columbia. Includes information on taxes and industry regulations. Start with the Permits, Licences & Registrations section.

 

Company Research Tips

An in-depth investigation and analysis of your competition is one of the most important components of a comprehensive market analysis. A competitive analysis allows you to assess your competitors' strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace, and to implement effective strategies to improve your competitive advantage. Here are some research strategies for doing your competitive analysis:

• Company directories can be used to create lists of competitors by industry, product line, size, etc.
• Doing a company name search in a general research database is an excellent way to learn more about your competitor’s products, services, prices, and media coverage.
• If your competitors are public companies, learn more about them by reading their financials and annual reports.
• News archives provide a range of competitive information on both public and private companies.
• Patents are a good way to learn about the technical and design features of a competitor's products. You can refer to this UBC Library Research Guide, created by UBC Engineering Librarians, if you are looking for patent information. Most of the resources listed are freely available.

For information on primary and secondary market research, as well as common sources for secondary market research, watch our video tutorial Module One: Introduction To Market Research.

Finding information on public companies is considerably easier than finding information on privately-held companies. Information on public companies is readily available online, or at your local library. Another good starting point is the list of resources in the next section of this Accelerator Guide: Find Competitors. Unlike public companies, private companies are not required to file with the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR). Searching for private company information is considerably more difficult and will require a lot of patience, and a healthy dose of creativity. 

Learning About Competitors

To create a list of competitors and find basic information about them (e.g. number of employees, contact information) you will need to consult business directories. Many directories are available online for free, while others are fee-based commercial databases. You can find directories that are particular to an industry or geography. Your local library will likely have a good collection of directories that you can consult in person.

For further information about secondary market research, see our video tutorial Module Two: Secondary Market Research for Industry Analysis.

If you know of some public companies in your industry, then annual reports can provide a great deal of useful financial information including sales volume, revenue increases, and total market share. You can search the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) for Canadian Company filings. If the competitor you are researching does business in the US, then you search the Security and Exchange Commissions equivalent, EDGAR, which provides free public access to corporate information including financial information and operations by reviewing registration statements, prospectuses and periodic reports filed on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. You also can find information about recent corporate events reported on Form 8-K that a company does not have to disclose to investors. You can use advanced search features to search by Standard Industry Classification (SIC) codes.

Free Business Directories

Frasers
A comprehensive industrial directory and search tool, with information on products and services provided by Canadian industrial wholesalers, manufacturers, and distributors. You can search by product name, company name, or brand name.

• Five Pages Publishing

"Product technical manuals are our passion. We combine our writing and illustrating skills with many years of practical experience and knowledge to develop or assist in developing all types of product manuals."

CanadaOne - Canadian Business Directory
CanadaOne has a directory of over 20,000 Canadian businesses.

• Pacific Technical Writing Service

Company that specializes in technical writing for the aviation and manufacturing industry.

D&B Hoovers
Provides information on 18 million US and international companies, both public and private. D&B Hoovers' reports are generated quickly, and are easy to read. A fair amount of information is provided for free, but much more is available with a paid subscription. If you know the company name or ticker symbol of any of the key players in your industry, try searching for their Hoovers records to find key information. Use the link above for free information or contact your local library to see if they provide access. Affiliates of UBC may have access. 

• Studio B Productions Inc

"Studio B Productions specializes in providing technical writing for marketing, training, and book publications. The company's writers produce guides, presentations, white papers, customer support materials, and books that can be more than a little technical or written so that even a high level executive can understand."

• Advancement, LLC

"PPI Technical Communications helps clients write it right. The consulting firm helps businesses get their point across through technical communications and information management services."

bc211 - The Red Book Online A searchable directory of community resources serving the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, Squamish-Lillooet and Sunshine Coast regional districts. Search by service-type.

• West End Writers' Workshop

"Holds meetings where beginner, emerging, and published writers of all genres can have their work critiqued."

Proprietary Business Directories

Business in Vancouver, Book of Lists
Comprehensive collection of BC business data compiled annually as the popular BIV Book of Lists. Provides data on over 1000 companies including: websites, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, top executives' names, company age, revenues, profits and much more. UBC affiliates and in-person community researchers can obtain access to a print version (here are details on how to locate it) or you can get your own online subscription.

The Blue Book of Canadian Business
Detailed profiles for over 60 Canadian corporations, including missions/values, history, operations, social responsibility and executive biographies. Also contains directory type information for 2,500 Canadian companies, a ranking of the top 500 companies and a list of the top 400 Canadian stocks. UBC affiliates and in-person community researchers can obtain access to a print version of this periodical (here are details on how to locate it at UBC in Vancouver).

Reference Canada
Provides information on more than one million businesses throughout Canada. Includes name, address, phone number, contacts, number of employees, annual sales volumes, line of business, and credit rating. Vancouver Public Library subscribes to this online directory so check with your local library about access.

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

Mapping Competitors

Online maps such as Google Maps or Bing Maps and popular directories such as Yelp are a fast way to locate nearby competitors, and to get a better sense of the region your business operates within. Try searching for the name of your product or industry and narrowing your results by focusing the map on a specific location, such as a city or neighborhood.

SimplyAnalytics

This is an Internet-based mapping application that enables users to develop interactive thematic maps and reports using thousands of demographic, business, and marketing data variables. Check your local public or academic library for access. UBC affiliates can learn more and get access.

Trade Shows

Attending trade shows is an excellent way to learn more about your competitors. Contact local associations or read trade publications to find out what trade shows are coming to your community.

Canadian Writers' Summit

• Canada's largest conference for writers. Is organized by several writer groups and features a wide range of speakers, vendors and networking events.

Editors Association of Canada Conference

• "The Editors' Association of Canada (Editors Canada) promotes professional development opportunities for editors and other communications professionals at its annual conference, held each spring. The weekend event offers 30 to 40 programmed sessions spread out over three days, which are led by experienced presenters and panelists from across Canada."

Federation of BC Writers: Annual General Meeting

• Annual meeting for the major provincial writers' group. The event includes speakers, networking events and a chance to participate in the governance of the organization.

10Times.com
The largest worldwide online directory of trade fairs, business exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, and seminars for various industries. Search for trade shows by industry, country, date, organizer, or venue.

TSNN.com
Online directory of trade shows, exhibitions, public events, conferences and seminars.  Please note: free registration required.

One thing you will need to do in the financials section of your business plan is discuss how you will price your products and/or services, and how this compares to your competitors. You will need to develop a financial plan that includes your projected revenues and net income. The following resources will help you find financial information on competitors in your industry.

Free Tools For Finding Financial Info

Finding your competitors' financial information as a writer is difficult. Since most writers operate as sole proprietors they do not have to publicly disclose their income. The next best thing is to use your list of competitors and see if they provide their hourly, page or word rates. You can then estimate their number of billable hours, or other pay scale, and calculate their income. Also, rely on your contacts and mentors in the industry to gain a sense for what are reasonable rates for writers or editors.

• Canadian Authors: Member Directory

Database of authors working throughout Canada. You can search by name, location, genre, availability and services.

• Editors’ Association of Canada: Online Directory of Editors

Database of editors working in Canada. You can search by keyword, skills, media/genres, subjects, language and location.

• Federation of BC Writers: Member Index

Alphabetical index of writers working in British Columbia who belong to the Federation of BC Writers.

• The Writers’ Union of Canada: Member Directory

Database of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s members. You can search the directory by name, city and province.

Finding Benchmarks & Ratios

Financial Performance Data (formerly SME Benchmarking Tool)
Tool for benchmarking your financial reports with others in your sector. Website also includes a collection of financial data and annual reports of various Canadian companies. For instructions on using the Financial Performance Data click here. To create a report using Financial Performance data click here.

• NAICS: 711513

Financial Performance Indicators for Canadian Business
Offers current financial ratios by industry, based on data provided by Statistics Canada. The indicators are designed to serve as financial performance benchmarks against which individual firms and industries can be compared. Affiliates of UBC, UNBC, UVic and SFU have access through Abacus Dataverse. If you are visiting, please contact your local library about access.

 

Proprietary Tools For Finding Financial Info

UBC Company Research Guide
This research guide was created by UBC business librarians. Follow this link to go directly to the section of the guide that features various UBC Library electronic resources that are recommended for searching for financial information on competitors, such as credit rankings, stock prices and investment analyst reports. You can explore the navigation on the right-hand side to find more recommended research sources on the general topic of company research.

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

LexisNexis Academic
Provides access to business and financial news, US and international company financial information, market research, industry reports, and actual SEC filings. Search features permit comparison of companies based on criteria such as sales, income, and number of employees. Follow the 'Business' link to find company annual reports, financial, and credit reports. Check your local library to see if they provide access. 

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

Tools For Calculating Your Own Financials

• Financial Ratio Calculators - Business Development Canada
• Financial Ratios Calculator: Debt to Equity and Other Ratios - Canada One
• Business Calculators - GoForth Institute

• Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator - All Freelance Writing

Both market size and market share held by competitors are key factors when assessing the competitive environment. Keep in mind that there is no single source of market size and market share data. Market information is usually pieced together from various sources and is not often readily available for niche or emerging industries. One strategy is to combine a competitor's name or a comparable, established industry with the term market share in article databases or read market research reports. You will need to identify and describe your market – who your customers are and what the demand is for your products and services.

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

• Meyer, M. (2015). Making it. Columbia Journalism Review, 53(6), 41.

"Meyer talks about survival strategies of an online freelancer. For Kyle Chayka and other winners in this economy, freelancing is both a career in its own right and a calculated risk, a bet wagered in the hopes of winning something better--whether that something is a staff job, a book deal, a larger professional network, a more prestigious beat, or some other means of advancement."

• Pratt, A. (2016). MacGyver your own freelance community. The Quill, 104(1), 31.

Author outlines her path to a freelance journalist career and the challenges along the way. Ends with several suggestions for places to seek support and help. 

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

• Bower, Crai S. (2012). "Getting fired without a boss." Quill 100, no. 2: 28.

"The article focuses on the challenges of freelance writing and being fired by losing contracts without a boss. It mentions how freelancers work like every other writer to produce pieces with clean content and maintain an inequitable relationship with editors and publishers who would not give future assignments for sloppy works. It mentions the unpredictability of freelance work and the need to work harder without a real boss."

• Frick, Elizabeth (BETTE), and Liz Willis. (2011). "Focusing Your Business: Support for the Independent Consultant or Contractor." Intercom 58, no. 2: 30-31.

"The article considers the issue of being a generalist in the field of technical communication. It discusses the lack of focus of independent contractors as one of the major disadvantages of being a generalist. The authors offer suggestions on how to have focus in the business of freelance technical writing."

eMarketer

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Or, contact your local public or academic library for their access details.

Global market research and trend analysis database that focuses on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media, and emerging technologies.

• eMarketing. (2015). "Marketing in Canada: Compassion, Humor and Helpful Tips Are the Ways to a Mother's Heart."

"Erica Ehm, founder and publisher of YummyMummyClub, a digital magazine for mothers, and CEO and creative director of YMC Works, a marketing company that targets mothers, spoke with eMarketer’s Alison McCarthy about what mothers in Canada are looking for from brands on social platforms and what brands can do to cultivate relationships with them."

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

• Industry Report Document Preparation Services in the US - 56141

Try Primary Research

The main point of this guide is to introduce you to a wide range of secondary market research resources but keep in mind there is great value in analyzing other information including:

• Advertising, blogs and sales brochures
• Your personal network and employees
• Direct observation and interviews

 

 

The resources listed in this section will help you identify population characteristics, and help you develop your customer profile. This research will also help you identify geographic areas where the largest number of your potential customers live. This can be very useful when determining a location for your business, and also when formulating your marketing strategy. Don't forget that trade associations and trade journals collect information about customers and can be great information sources for this area of your research.

Community Information Database (CID) - Government of Canada’s Rural Secretariat
The Community Information Database (CID) is a free internet-based resource that provides access to socio-economic and demographic data for all communities across Canada. Sample data includes: population, education, income, employment, families, and much more. The CID also includes an interactive map for displaying and accessing data. Learn more in the FAQs and the Community Information Database (CID) Tutorials

• Greater Vancouver A: Household Income
• Burnaby: Household Income

Census Profile - Statistics Canada
Provides Canadian community profiles from the latest Census of Canada. These profiles are very useful for comparing statistics on different municipalities or regional districts. Includes details on family characteristics, primary language, mobility, educational attainment, marital status, labour force activity, earnings, and mode of transportation to work.

 

• Census Profile: Vancouver Centre
• Census Profile: Surrey

Socio-Economic Profiles - BC Stats
The socio-economic profiles consist of charts and tables for the various regional districts, health areas, college regions and school districts. Each region contains a map, demographic profile, economic hardship, labour market structure, education concerns, crime, health problems, children at risk, and youth at risk. The profiles are presented in a format that allows comparison to other regions in the province and to BC overall.

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

PCensus
Provides access to detailed Canadian demographic information including population, income, and spending levels by province, city, or postal code. PCensus can also generate custom reports using Census data. Contact Vancouver Public Library or your local research library to obtain access.

Survey of Household Spending - Statistics Canada
Raw data in table form from the Survey of Household Spending (SHS). This general resource provides information on household spending by demographics. Report includes detailed information on Canadian spending patterns, household equipment, and housing conditions. Also includes the ability to view data from British Columbia only; click on "Add/Remove Data".

• The average household expenditure on reading materials and other printed matter by province or in Canada as a whole. Compare changes over last few years.

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

Vividata (formerly "Print Measurement Bureau")
Includes information on Canadians' usage of over 3500 products and services. Information includes demographics, attitudes, media consumption, retail outlets, frequency of usage and brands used. UBC affiliates and in-person library patrons can learn more about the resource here.

• Includes Readership by province and major Canadian cities broken down by data such as:  martial status, family size, net income, and language spoken. PMB Category Reports - PMB 2011 Spring Study. Information on the personal buying preferences of Canadians with regard to Readership.

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

• Simba Information. (2012). Trade E-Book Publishing 2012

"Trends on e-books read, bought and acquired for free are showcased along with demographic intelligence about the e-book consumer—including gender, age, household income, education level and more. Unlike other research sources, Trade E-Book Publishing precisely measures the commitment consumers have to digital content by making the distinction between those who merely read and those who buy before drilling down for further analysis."

UBC Psychology Research Guide

Sometimes it can be useful when researching consumer behaviour and other marketing topics with psychological dimensions to consult article databases in that research area. This is an online guide to print and online resources about psychology in the UBC Library collection. UBC affiliates will have access to all the resources listed. 

Public Opinion Polls

Roper Center for Public Opinion
Preserves the data from polls conducted by many leading survey organizations for the use of researchers, students, and journalists. Includes a section on how to analyze polls. Only for those affiliated with UBC.

• Pew Internet & American Life Project. Pew Internet & American Life Poll: E-reading and Gadgets, Jan, 2014 [dataset].

Considers the type of e-readers consumers use in the United States and the frequency of e-reader use.

Primary Research

The main point of this guide is to introduce you to a wide range of secondary market research resources but keep in mind there is great value in analyzing other information including:

• Advertising, blogs and sales brochures
• Your personal network and employees
• Direct observation, focus groups and interviews with potential customers