Small Business Resources

The Jacksonville Public Library believes that each resident of Duval County has the right to live in an economically sound community. To that end, the Library's Small Business Resources provides free print materials, e-resources, and programs to the residents of Jacksonville to help start and grow businesses, to find jobs, and to manage their personal finances to achieve economic success.

Business Plans Handbook Series

Learn how to structure and write a business plan, with examples from actual plans in retail, service, and manufacturing industries.

The Business Plans Handbook Series provides a collection of business plans from companies like lawn care services, house cleaning, food trucks, pet boarding, coffee shops, party planning, and more. A business plan template is also provided to help users develop and structure their own plan.

Resource Category: 

DemographicsNow Library Edition

Ideal for consumer and market insight, find highly detailed demographic data on more than 24 million U.S. businesses and 206 million consumers.

The DemographicsNow tools and mapping capabilities help users research competitors, analyze market size, build and direct marketing lists, profile current and potential customers, and much more. Generate both standard and custom reports to help make informed and accurate decisions.

Watch the DemographicsNow Library Edition tutorial

Resource Category: 

Gale Directory Library

An essential tool for research and marketing, this online collection provides authoritative directories on companies, publishers, and associations in industries like business, health and medicine, government, media, and more.

Access publications like Brands and their Companies, Encyclopedia of Associations, and the Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media for thousands of company and organization contact information.

Resource Category: 

Insurance and Liability Collection

Insurance and Liability Collection provides access to academic journals and trade publications covering the insurance industry and topics such as labor relations, mortgage banking, legal issues, and more. The database offers content of interest to individual property owners and multinational corporations alike.

Resource Category: 

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning Logo

Learn relevant, professional skills on LinkedIn Learning. All you need is your library card and PIN to enjoy unlimited FREE access to 16,000+ on-demand courses in 7 languages – all taught by passionate, expert instructors with real-world experience. Start learning today, at your own pace and on your schedule! New courses are added each week!

Start Your Next Learning Path

Keep up to date with technology and gain multimedia, design, web development, and social media skills. And build career-boosting business know-how! Explore hundreds of topics in management, leadership, and marketing.

Try the Mobile App

For customers using the LinkedIn Learning mobile app please note that the Library ID (case sensitive) is: jaxpubliclibrary.

Watch the LinkedIn Learning tutorial

Reference Solutions

Reference Solutions is a powerful online reference and research tool providing library cardholders instant, real-time access to accurate, in-depth information on 24 million U.S. businesses and 235 million U.S. residents. Reference Solutions makes it faster and easier to find new business opportunities, research executives and companies, find news articles, conduct job searches, research papers, locate addresses and phone numbers, conduct market research and much more.

You can find information on:  U.S. Businesses, U.S. Jobs and Internships, U.S. Standard White Pages, U.S. New Movers and Homeowners, U.S. Historical Businesses, U.S. New Businesses, U.S. Consumers and Lifestyles.

Watch the Reference Solution tutorials

Small Business Collection

Perfect for business schools and entrepreneurs, this compilation provides insights, tips, strategies and success stories.  Users will find hundreds of full-text subject appropriate periodicals.

Search this database to learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business. Resources include sample business plans, how to guides, articles and websites.

Small Business Collection

Value Line

An investment research platform that includes Value Line publications plus tools to track stocks and mutual funds, compare companies, and stay updated on market trends.

Watch the Value Line tutorial

Resource Category: 

Weiss Financial Ratings

Tools to protect your finances, invest wisely, grow your wealth, and learn more about your finances. Immediate access to the Weiss' Independent and Unbiased Ratings for:

  • Life & Annuity Insurers
  • Property & Casualty Insurers
  • HMOs & Health Insurers
  • Banks
  • Credit Unions
  • Stocks
  • Exchange-Traded Funds
  • Stock Mutual Funds
  • Bond & Money Market Mutual Funds

Watch the Weiss Financial Ratings tutorial

Additional Features:

  • Simple Search Screens Make Finding Information Quick & Easy
  • Help Patrons Navigate Tricky Medicare Supplement Insurance
  • Decisions, and get the Best Price for their Plan
  • Compare Companies or Investments Side by Side
  • Get Stock Quotes and Live News Feeds on the Companies We Rate
  • Unbiased, Accurate Ratings Your Patrons Can Trust
  • More Detailed Analysis for the Intermediate Investor or Business Professional
  • Users Can Create Their Own Screeners to Compare Companies or Investment Using Criteria that are Important to Them
  • Easy-to-Use Letter Grade Ratings Perfect for the Beginning Investor or First-Time Researcher
  • Users can Create their Own Personal Watchlist for Immediate Notification of Changes to Their Portfolio
  • Important Articles from Weiss Ratings on Timely Investment, Banking, and Insurance Options


 

Resource Category: 

Small Business and Side Hustles

Small Business and Side Hustles Newsletter

Learn How to Build Your Small Business Website with Free Courses

 
Small Business and Side Hustles Library U newsletter

Go "Back to School" with the Library and Learn Small Business Skills

 
Small Business and Side Hustles Library U newsletter

Tips and Tools for Conducting Market Research for Your Small Business

 
Small Business and Side Hustles Library U newsletter

Create Your Business Plan this Summer with Help from the Library

 
Small Business and Side Hustles Library U newsletter

May is Small Business Month: Celebrate with FREE Business Resources!

 
Small Business and Side Hustles Library U newsletter

Small Business Help and Free Resources at Your Library

 

Get a Library Card

Jacksonville Public Library card

Read Jax logo