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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.

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

• Livestock. 
• Animal husbandry. 
• Animal Husbandry-- Management.
• Farm management.
• Farms, Small.

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). 

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.

• Agriculture Farm Business Plan
• Choosing Essential Equipment for Your Small Farm Business

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.

• Organic Grower and Supplier Business Plan - Great Lakes Organics
• Community-Supported Organic Farm - Earth Connection Farms Inc.
• Fertilizer & Commodity Chemicals Company - Agronix Organics, Inc. 
• Farm Business Plan - Gilmore Farms 
• Beekeeping Business Plan - Zuzu Enterprises

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

Funding Opportunities and Programs 

General

Funding Opportunities for British Columbian Producers, Processors, Innovators and Industry Developers, 2018 | A resource by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada that contains a list of funding opportunities at the federal and provincial level, as well as ones offered through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.  

Agriculture & Seafood Programs | A list of funding opportunities and programs compiled by Government of BC. The list is organized by the following sections: Business, Innovation & Market Developments, Insurance & Income Protection, Food Safety & Traceability, Environmental Sustainability, and  Recognition. 

Beef

BC Breeder and Feeder Association | Programs available for BC Producers including the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program, Bred Heifer Associations Loan Guarantee Program,  Interest Relief Program, and Advance Payments Program. 

British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association | Programs to improve operations and develop better management, health and safety practices.

Cattle Industry Development Fund | The Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund for projects that benefit the beef industry.

 

Other Finance Tools and Programs

AgPal Program | Search for programs and resources to help with business management, farming, innovation and community support. 

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Loan Programs | Financing options for agriculture, agribusiness, and agri-food. 

Advance Payments Program (APP) | A federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-interest cash advances. 

Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) | Leaders in administering government funding to help you build your agribusiness ideas.

AgriInvest | One of the Business Risk Management programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program | A loan guarantee program designed to increase the availability of loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives. 

Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program | Information about the Government of Ontario’s farm property tax rate. 

Market Access Initiative | A targeted intake to support the agri-food and agri-products sectors impacted by trade restrictions. 

Price Pooling Program (PPP) | Provides a price guarantee that protects marketing agencies and producers against unanticipated declines in the market price of their products.

 

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	11	Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
NAICS	112	Animal Production
NAICS	11211	Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming, including Feedlots
NAICS	11212	Dairy Cattle and Milk Production
NAICS	11221	Hog and Pig Farming
NAICS	11231	Chicken Egg Production
NAICS	11232	Broiler and Other Meat-Type Chicken Production
NAICS	11233	Turkey Production
NAICS	11234	Poultry Hatcheries
NAICS	11241	Sheep Farming
NAICS	11242	Goat Farming
NAICS	11251	Aquaculture
NAICS	1129	Other Animal Production
NAICS	11291	Apiculture
NAICS	11292	Horse and Equine Production
NAICS	11293	Fur-Bearing Animal and Rabbit Production
NAICS	11299	All Other Animal Production
NAICS	112991	Animal Combination Farming
NAICS	112999	All Other Miscellaneous Animal Production
NAICS	1152	Support Activities for Animal Production
SIC	02	Agricultural Production - Livestock and Animal Specialties
SIC	0212	Beef Cattle, Except Feedlots
SIC	0213	Hogs
SIC	0214	Sheep and Goats
SIC	0219	General Livestock, Except Dairy and Poultry
SIC	0241	Dairy Farms
SIC	0251	Broilier, Fryer, and Roaster Chickens
SIC	0253	Turkeys and Turkey Eggs
SIC	0254	Poultry Hatcheries
SIC	0259	Poultry and Eggs, Not Elsewhere Classified
SIC	0271	Fur-Bearing Animals and Rabbits
SIC	0272	Horses and Other Equines
SIC	0273	Animal Aquaculture
SIC	0279	Animal Specialties, Not Elsewhere Classified
SIC	0291	General Farms, Primarily Livestock and Animal Specialties

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

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.

UBC Library Discipline-Specific Databases

For some industries it may be beneficial to search in discipline-specific databases. These databases contain research on a specific topic, such as agriculture or environmental science. 

Web of Science Core Collection | Web of Science Core Collection is a rich collection of citation indexes representing the citation connections between scholarly research articles found in most globally significant journals, books, and proceedings in the sciences, social sciences and art & humanities. 

Zoological Record | Core database of articles and supplementary materials containing the world's zoological and animal science literature. Searchable on the Web of Science platform.

Agricultural & Environmental Science Database (AESD) | AESD facilitates in-depth research and comprehensive literature reviews in agricultural and environmental science. It includes AGRICOLA, Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management, and Environmental Impact Statements.

Agricola | National Agricultural Library index to all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines research.

CAB Direct (CAB Abstracts & Global Health) | International coverage of articles in agriculture, forestry, global health, human nutrition, animal health, natural resources management and conservation.

Organic Eprints | Organic Eprints is an international open access archive for papers related to research in organic agriculture. The archive contains full-text papers in electronic form together with bibliographic information, abstracts and other metadata.

BCC Research Centre

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.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

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.

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.

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.

• MarketLine. (2019, Nov.). MarketLine Industry Profile: Meat & Livestock in Global. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.
• MarketLine. (2018, June). MarketLine Industry Profile: Global Dairy. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.

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.

• Animal production - Quarterly Update 7/22/2019. 
• Dairy Products Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 7/1/2019. 
• Poultry & egg production - Quarterly Update 2/17/2020. 
• Hog & pig farming - Quarterly Update 3/2/2020. 

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.

• Irigoyen, S. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11211CA: Beef Cattle Production in Canada. Retrieved from: http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=46
• Ozelkan, E. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11235CA: Chicken & Turkey Meat Production in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=19…
• Ozelkan, E. (2018). IBISWorld Industry Report 11231CA: Chicken Egg Production in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=54
• Leach, N. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11212CA: Dairy Farms in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=49
• Irigoyen, S. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11411CA:  Fishing & Seafood Aquaculture in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=21…
• Ozelkan, E. (2018). IBISWorld Industry Report 11221CA: Hog & Pig Farming in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=52

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.

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.

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

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

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

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.

International 

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) | IFOAM's mission is leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement in its full diversity.

Organic Consumers Association (OCA) | The OCA is US-based public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics.

Canada

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC) | The CLRC is the national pedigree service for purebred and non-purebred livestock in Canada. 

Young Agrarians | The Young Agrarians is a grassroots initiative made up of agriculturalists and media conspirators intent on growing food sustainably. Young Agrarians are: young agriculturalists, farmers, urban farmers, market and community gardeners, community groups and academics, organizations and the public.

Chicken Farmers of Canada | A resource for chicken farmers; includes recipes, food safety, and resources on sustainability and farm to table. 

Canadian Hatching Egg Producers | The national representatives for the broiler hatching egg industry in Canada.

Egg Farmers of Canada | A resource for egg farmers; includes recipes, food safety, and resources on sustainability and animal care. 

Turkey Farmers of Canada | A national organization representing Canada’s 500+ turkey farmers. 

Canada Organic Trade Association | COTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. Check out their Data and Research section, including the Canadian Organic Market Report 2017. 

Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) | The OFC works on behalf of organic farmers in Canada to promote industry growth. 

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) | COG's mission is to lead local and national communities towards sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre while respecting nature, upholding social justice and protecting natural resources. COG's membership is diverse and includes farmers, gardeners, processors, retailers, educators, policy-makers, and consumers.

Farm Folk/City Folk | FarmFolk/CityFolk supports community-based sustainable food systems by engaging in public education with farm and city folk, actively organizing and advocating around local, timely issues, and by building alliances with other organizations. 

Farm Management Canada | Farm Management Canada (formerly the Canadian Farm Business Management Council) is the only national organization in Canada devoted exclusively to developing and distributing advanced farm management information. Visit the comprehensive Resources section of the website.

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) | The OACC was formed in 2001 with a vision to serve Canada’s organic sector through science and education. The OACC supports organic farmers and other stakeholders by conducting and facilitating credible and practical research across Canada. Check out the Resources section of the website.

Young Agrarians | The Young Agrarians is a grassroots initiative made up of agriculturalists and media conspirators intent on growing food sustainably. Young Agrarians are: young agriculturalists, farmers, urban farmers, market and community gardeners, community groups and academics, organizations and the public.

British Columbia 

Agricultural Land Commission | An independent administrative tribunal dedicated to preserving agricultural land and encouraging farming in British Columbia.

BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) | The BCAC provides leadership in representing, promoting, and advocating the collective interests of all agricultural producers in British Columbia.

Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC) | The COABC is an umbrella association for certification bodies which provides certification accreditation and leadership in the development of organic food production throughout British Columbia and Canada.

Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA) | The SSFPA represents the interests of small-scale food and beverage processors in British Columbia. It encourages the creation and development of these businesses and assists with the distribution of their products.

Island Farmers' Alliance (IFA) | The IFA's mission is to ensure the sustainability and growth of agriculture on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Check out the Partners and Links (link is external) page.

BC Association of Cattle Feeders | Represents cattle feeders and producers regarding issues relating to all aspects of the industry.  

BC Breeder & Feeder Association | Eepresents the feeder and breeder associations in British Columbia operating under the BC Provincial Government Loan Guarantee Program. 

BC Cattlemen's Association | A grassroots association that communicates the latest industry news & positions and offers programs & services to members.

B.C. Dairy Association | Representing the just under 500 dairy farms in British Columbia. 

B.C. Milk Marketing Board | The British Columbia Milk Marketing Board has the authority to promote, control and regulate the production, transportation, packing, storing and marketing of milk, fluid milk and manufactured milk products within British Columbia.

B.C. Egg Marketing Board | BC Egg is a non-profit organization that oversees and manages the province’s egg farming industry.

Dairy Farmers of Canada | Run for farmers by farmers, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the voice of Canadian dairy farmers.

BC Pork Producers Association | Resources on small lot pork producers, consumer information, and traceability. 

Canadian Pork Council | The Canadian Pork Council is the national voice for hog producers in Canada. 

B.C. Chicken Marketing Board | The BC Chicken Marketing Board regulates the pricing and production of BC chicken while meeting consumer expectations in animal care and on farm food safety.

B.C. Broiler Hatching Egg Commission | The Commission works under the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers (CHEP) who represents 300 farmers from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec.

B.C. Turkey Growers Association | The British Columbia Turkey Marketing Board and the B.C. Turkey Association represent British Columbia's registered turkey farmers. 

B.C. Poultry Association | BC Agriculture Council is a non-profit, non-governmental "Council of Associations" representing nearly 30 farm associations. 

Interior of British Columbia 

North Okanagan Organic Association (NOOA) | NOOA an accredited certifying body for the British Columbia Certified Organic Program.

Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission | Offers farm operators, aspiring farm operators and agriculture businesses one-on-one expertise and support. 

TIP: Use ASAE Gateway to Associations Directory to search for an association by name, interest area, or international geographic location (including Canada and BC). You can also search using a combination of various fields.

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. 

Successful Farming | They have a Livestock News section in their magazine.

Sustainable Farming Magazine | Leading magazine for sustainable livestock production.

BC Organic Grower Magazine | Published quarterly by the Certified Organic Association of British Columbia.

The Canadian Organic Grower | Canadian magazine on organic production and marketing. Print issues published by three times per year.  

Acres U.S.A. Magazine | North America's longest running magazine covering commercial-scale organic and sustainable farming. Published monthly.

Organic Farming Magazine (UK) | UK's leading journal on organic food and farming.

Tradepub.com - Agriculture | Offers an extensive collection of free Agriculture magazines, white papers, downloads, and e-books.

Consultant & Other Websites

Statista

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

A simple to use statistics portal that integrates statistics from thousands of sources, on topics related to business, media, public policy, health and others. Statistics can be exported in PPT, XLS, PDF, and PNG formats. Some basic content available for free.

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

PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.

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.

TIP: 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

Canadian Organic Standards | Mandatory standards for Canadian organic products. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | The Agri-Food Trade Service (ATS) provides a centralized access point to industry news, market information, trade counselling, and export support activities.

Statistics Canada Data | Formerly known as CANSIM, Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database is updated daily. It is free to search the data tables.

• Total and average off-farm income by source and total and average net operating income of farm operators by farm type.
• Production of selected dairy products.
• Cattle and calves, farm and meat production.
• Hogs, sheep and lambs, farm and meat production.

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.

• Canadian Industry Statistics

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.

• Poultry and egg statistics, February 2020
• Dairy statistics, December 2019
• Livestock estimates, January 1, 2020

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

US & International Websites

Small Business Administration: Free Small Business Data

This site is created and managed by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and provides a list of free sources of information that you can use to obtain data about markets in the US.

AgEcon Search: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics | AgEcon Search collects, indexes, and electronically distributes full text copies of scholarly research in the broadly defined field of agricultural economics including sub disciplines such as agribusiness, food supply, natural resource economics, environmental economics, policy issues, agricultural trade, and economic development.

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | International portal to publications and statistics on food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. International portal to publications and statistics on food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

US. National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Small Farm Digest | Articles about the practical and business aspects of running a small farm.

PubAg | PubAg is a portal to USDA-authored and other highly relevant agricultural research. It delivers over 40,000 full-text journal articles by USDA staff and citations to an additional 340,000 articles. Updated daily.

 

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.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada - Permits and Licenses Search

Search for the permits and licenses applicable to your industry and location to meet all federal, provincial and municipal regulations.

Animal Health Act  

Livestock Act 

Ministry of Forests and Range Act 

General Business Resources

Starting a New Farm | Valuable resources for entrepreneurs who want to start a new farm including The New Farm Start-up Guide, The Taking Stock farm business planning workbook, Farm Diversification Through Agri-Tourism Manual, and more. 

Running an Agrifood or Farm Business | Resources for the business management side of working in the organic farming industry, includes resources on business strategy, risk management, and more. 

BC Government Agricultural Licences & Forms | Licences are required for some agriculture operations – dairy, fur farming, game farming, honeybees, livestock, poultry and veterinary drugs.

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

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.

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

CanadaOne - Canadian Business Directory

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

Federal Corporations Data Online 

Free searchable database of federally incorporated/registered companies.

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.

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. 

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.

Mergent Online

Provides access to detailed information on US and international companies. Data can be compared and exported into software applications such as Excel. Affiliates of UBC can learn more and get access.

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.

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.

Agriculture and Food Trade Show Service

Canadian Health Food Association West

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

EDGAR

Filings with the US Securities & Exchange Commission by companies listed on US exchanges. 10-K Forms include detailed information on company history, structure, financial statements, and other relevant data.

SEDAR

A collection of corporate filings that are required by securities regulators, from companies operating in Canada. This website is an excellent source for information about a company's plans, competitive environment, markets, products, and assets. SEDAR is the Canadian equivalent of EDGAR.

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.

TIP: Remember to search using your NAICS code (eg. 112)

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.

 

Statistics Canada

• Net farm income: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3210005201
• Total and average off-farm income by source and total and average net operating income of farm operators by farm type: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3210006901 
• Financial ratios of farms, by revenue class: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3210009101
• Farm income in kind in Canada (x 1,000): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3210005501

Farm Income, Financial Conditions and Government Assistance Data Book, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-us/publications/economic-publications/fa…

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.

Mergent Online

Provides access to detailed information on US and international companies. Data can be compared and exported into software applications such as Excel. Affiliates of UBC can learn more and get access.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Irigoyen, S. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11211CA: Beef Cattle Production in Canada. Retrieved from: http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=46
• Ozelkan, E. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11235CA: Chicken & Turkey Meat Production in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=19…
• Ozelkan, E. (2018). IBISWorld Industry Report 11231CA: Chicken Egg Production in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=54
• Leach, N. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11212CA: Dairy Farms in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=49
• Irigoyen, S. (2019). IBISWorld Industry Report 11411CA:  Fishing & Seafood Aquaculture in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=21…
• Ozelkan, E. (2018). IBISWorld Industry Report 11221CA: Hog & Pig Farming in Canada. Retrieved from http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/ca/industry/default.aspx?entid=52

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.

• Packaged Facts. (2014). Animal Welfare: Issues and Opportunities in the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Markets in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www-marketresearch-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/academic/Product/…

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.

Canadian Household Spending - Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the national statistical office. The agency ensures Canadians have the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they require to function effectively as citizens and decision makers.

This table provides statistical information about household expenditures by Canadians broken down into a variety of categories. You can refine the table by region. You can view the full list of data tables here. 

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.

 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Passport GMID (formerly Global Market Information Database)

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff or faculty member you can access this resource. Please note this is not available for walk-in library users.

Passport GMID, produced by Euromonitor, is an integrated information system providing business intelligence on country economies and demographics, consumers, lifestyles, companies and industries. 

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

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

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

Public Opinion Polls

Ipsos

Links to Canadian, U.S. and international polls. Includes polls on consumer goods.

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.

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

Statistics Canada Data | Formerly known as CANSIM, Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database is updated daily. It is free to search the data tables.

• Total and average off-farm income by source and total and average net operating income of farm operators by farm type.
• Production of selected dairy products.
• Cattle and calves, farm and meat production.
• Hogs, sheep and lambs, farm and meat production.

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.