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Fort Vancouver Regional Library District
1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98663

360/695-1561
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1-888-546-2707 from area code 509 only


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Small Business

Looking for help starting up a new business? Need the name of Hewlett Packard's chief executive officer? Want to invest in stocks but don't know where to start? Let Fort Vancouver Regional Library help you with these and many other business and investment related questions using a variety of print, electronic and community resources.

Library Resources | Internet Sites | Community Resources | Search Strategies

Library Resources

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Materials listed here may be located at different branch libraries. Please check our online catalog for location and availability.

Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Smart, Building the Business, and Securing Your Company's Future
by Linda Pinson (2005)
658.4012 PINSON

The Anatomy of Buzz Revisited: Real-life Lessons in Word-of-Mouth Marketing
by Emanuel Rosen (2009)
658.8 ROSEN

Keeping the Books: Basic Record keeping and Accounting for the Successful Small Business
by Linda Pinson (2004)
657.2 PINSON

RMA Annual Statement Studies
Published by Robert Morris Associates (2008/2009)
Compares financial data on more than 150,000 statements of commercial bank borrowers and prospects.
R 338.0973 RMA ANN

Small Business Sourcebook
Provides start-up information for over 300 types of small businesses. This two volumes set is broken up into four parts: 1) Specific Small Business Profiles 2) General Small Business Topics 3) State Listings 4) Federal Government Assistance
R 658.022 SMALL B 25th ED.

Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Small Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes, & Stay Out of Trouble
by Bernard Kamoroff (2005)
658.022 SMALL T

Other Library Resources
In addition to books, Fort Vancouver Regional Library provides access to many databases that may be useful for company research. The following research databases are available at each branch library as well as from home. (Your Fort Vancouver Regional Library card number is needed to access these resources from home.)

Business & Company Resource Center: Provides up-to-date business information in these categories - company profiles, company brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and periodicals.
ReferenceUSA: Contains information on nearly 13 million U.S. businesses, 1.3 million Canadian businesses and 120 million U.S. residents.
Proquest: Magazine and newspaper database that includes local newspapers such as The Columbian and The Oregonian.
Small Business Reference Center: Provides up-to-date information on various business topics such as start-up aand management. It contains nearly 400 full-text periodicals and over 450 full-text reference books.

Internet Sites

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Better Business Bureau
In addition to helping consumers find out information about specific businesses, BBB provides a variety of useful publications and articles for the business owner.
Business.com
Calling itself “the business search engine,” this website works as a gateway to many aspects of business.
Rutgers University Libraries: Market Research
A very good reference gateway for market research.
Small Business Advisor
Focuses on the new or existing small business owner and also assists companies in doing business with the federal government. Features include checklists, tax advice, state information and newsgroups for small business owners.
Small Business Administration
According to SBA's website, it “is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses.” Established in 1953, SBA provides a wide range of assistance to the small business owner.
Startup Journal: The Wall Street Journal Center for Entrepreneurs
Pulling content from several sources including the Wall Street Journal, this website devotes itself to helping entrepreneurs. Topics include: Businesses for Sale, Franchise Opportunities, Online Business Plan, Trademark Search, and practical how-to ideas.

Search Strategies

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If you wish to locate books on small or home business in a public library, you may want to try the following subject headings to search in the catalog or to browse the 658 and 338.7 sections:
  • Business
    • Enterprises
    • Law
    • Names
    • Planning
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Franchises
  • Home-Based Businesses
  • Incorporation - Washington State
  • Marketing
  • New Business Enterprises
  • Self-Employed
  • Small Business
    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Handbooks, manuals, etc.
    • Law and legislation
    • Management
    • Planning
    • Purchasing
    • Taxation
    • Washington State
  • Small Business Administration
  • Success in Business
  • Venture Capital
  • Washington State - Commerce

Subject Resources

Community Resources

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Cascadia Revolving Fund
A non-profit organization that provides loans to small businesses in Washington and Oregon having trouble obtaining financing. Their goal is to help entrepreneurs start small businesses especially in economically depressed urban and rural areas.
936 SE Ankeny, Suite 1
Portland, OR 97214
503-235-9635
Chambers of Commerce
Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce
2903 W. Main Street
Battle Ground, WA 98604
360-687-1510
Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce
422 NE 4th Avenue
PO Box 919
Camas, WA 98607
360-834-2472
Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 524
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-3400
Skamania County Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1037
Stevenson, WA 98648
509-427-8911
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
1101 Broadway, Suite 120
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-694-2588
Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 449
White Salmon, WA 98672
509-493-3630
Woodland Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1012
Woodland, WA 98674
360-225-9552
Columbia Gorge Economic Development Association
Mission is to promote economic benefits of the Columbia Gorge Region.
400 E. Scenic, Suite 2420
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-2266
Columbia Gorge Small Business Loan Fund
Provides funds for new and existing businesses in the Columbia River Gorge area. Use of money must comply with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan's guidelines.
Skamania County EDC
PO Box 436
Stevenson, WA 98648
509-427-5110
Columbia River Economic Development Council
Works together with several local agencies to support economic development in Clark County.
1101 Broadway, Suite 120
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-694-5006
Ft. Vancouver SCORE
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a nonprofit organization partnering with the Small Business Administration, is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses.
1933 Fort Vancouver Way #TBG232
Vancouver, WA 98663
360-699-1079
Klickitat County Economic Development
Promotes economic development in Klickitat County, Washington.
131 W. Court St., ms-ch-26
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-7060
Rural Loan Fund
In cooperation with Evergreen Community Development Association, the Rural Loan Fund provides financing for small businesses in rural communities. This fund is available to the following counties in Washington State: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania and Yakima.
900 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2900
Seattle, WA 98164
800-878-6133
Skamania County Economic Development Council
Coordinates the economic development activities for Skamania County, Washington.
PO Box 436
Stevenson, WA 98648
509-427-5110
Vancouver Business Resource
A one-stop business resource developed by the city of Vancouver, in collaboration with local partners, devoted to help small businesses in Clark County. Useful and relevant information on starting, building and expanding a buisness can be found here.
Washington Small Business Development Center
Purpose is to provide knowledge and foster success for small businesses in Washington State.
Washington State University
Spokane, WA 99201-3899
509-358-7765

A subcenter of the Vancouver SBDC is located in Vancouver, WA:
12000 NE 95th St.
Vancouver, WA 98682
360-260-6372
Washington State Department of Licensing
Includes information on how to start and license a business in Washington State as well as a business resource guide for Washington business owners. Provides down loadable business license applications for many Washington cities.
1125 Washington St. SE
PO Box 9020
Olympia, WA 98507-9020
360-902-3600
Washington State Department of Commerce
Provides business and job assistance.
128 10th Avenue, SW
PO Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
360-725-4000