Business and Financial Research
Mount Prospect Public Library has a wide selection of business resources in print and online. Browse journals, newspapers, and newsletters found in the Business Reading Room or use the Business Reference collection for research. The Business Reference Librarian can help with special research questions. Please contact Patricia Smolin at psmolin@mppl.org.
Be the Next New Business Success Story
The Village of Mount Prospect is seeking new businesses – with a focus on retail and restaurants. The Village is teaming up with the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center, Mount Prospect Downtown Merchants Association and the Mount Prospect Public Library to help new businesses get established in Mount Prospect by providing a package of innovative economic development resources. Tools to help ensure business success in Mount Prospect – education, mentoring, marketing opportunities and contact with successful existing business owners – will be available through this program.
For more information, contact Nellie Beckner (Mount Prospect Village Hall) at 847-818-5312.
Databases
Subscription databases are accessible from within the Library or if noted, at home or remotely with a registered MPPL library card. Click Here to view our Databases
The following sites are Free Web Resources
General Resources
Associations & Organizations
Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce (Village of Mount Prospect)
SCORE (Chicagoland Chapter)
Small Business Association (United States Small Business Administration)
Business News
CNBC on MSN Money (Microsoft and NBC)
Crain’s Chicago Business (Crain Communications)
MSN News (MSN)
SEC Investor Information Site (U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission)
Business Portals
Commerce Clearinghouse [CCH] Business Owners Toolkit (a Wolters Kluwer Business)
Illinois Real Time Corporate/LLC Information Search (State of Illinois)
Company Research
The Directory of Online Annual Reports (Annual Report Service)
SEC Filings & Forms EDGAR (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
Directories and Marketing
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers (Thomas Register)
Advertising World : a marketing communications directory (University of Texas at Austin Department of Advertising)
Legal
Everyday Law for Everyday People (Nolo)
FindLaw for Business (Part of the West Group)
EPA Small Business Gateway (Environmental Protection Agency)
Illinois Business Forms (Cyberdrive Illinois: State of Illinois)
Small Business
Startup & Development
Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity – DCEO)
SBA Small Business Startup Toolkit (United States Small Business ADministration)
SBDCNet (National Information Clearinghouse)
Small Business Help: kits and free news (AllBusiness.com)
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Business in Illinois (State of Illinois)
Illinois Small Business Development Center at Harper College (Harper College)
Business Plans
BPlans.com (Palo Alto Software Inc.)
Business Owner’s Toolkit (Commerce Clearing House)
Franchising
Franchise Finder (Franchise Solutions, Inc.)
Franchise Handbook (Enterprise Magazines)
Finance and Investment
Investment Sites, Stock Symbols, and Quotes
Big Charts (Market Watch)
Financial Planning Toolkit (Commerce Clearing House: Wolters Kluwer)
News, Quotes, Research (Microsoft Money)
Pink Sheets
Ticker Symbol Lookup (Yahoo Finance)
Exchanges Online
NASDAQ
New York Stock Exchange
“How to Read Stock Tables” (New York Stock Exchange)
Learn How to Read Financial Reports (IBM)
Research Guides
Small Businesses Can Get Help
Marketing Resources
Jobs and Career Development