indicates a resource for which access
is restricted to current Rensselaer students, faculty and
staff, and walk-in users of the Libraries. If you are accessing
such a database via a non-Rensselaer Internet Service Provider,
you will be prompted to use your RCS
ID and password or library account to log in.
Sample Plans & Guides
- Business plans for dummies. Folsom Ref Area HD30.28 .T575
1997
- How to write a business plan. Folsom Ref Area HD30.28
.M3839 2002
Trade Publications
- Excellent source for locating both background and recent
information.
Newspapers
- Excellent source for locating both background and recent
information.
Market Share
Definition
- Ratio of revenue of company's product or product line to
the total market revenue for that product or product
line.
- Expressed as a percentage.
- Can be computed for local, state, national or
international level.
Finding Market Shares
Competitors and Ranking
Competitors
Rankings
-
Fortune
Ranking articles included in January, March, April and July
issues
-
Gale Business & Company Resource Center
- Search by company or ticker symbol. Includes both
private and public companies. Special Directions: Search
by company name or ticker symbol. Select company that
matches. Click on "Rankings" tab at top. Tabs will appear
for "Business Ranking" and "Market Share."
Trade Associations
Trade associations can be a great source of information.
Target Market
Financial Statements
Financial Reports
See Company
Information Look Up to locate sources of financial
statements, that is, 10-K and Annual reports.
- How to read a financial report : wringing vital signs out
of the numbers. Folsom Ref Area HF5681.B2 T733 2004
Income Statements
A formal statement of the elements used in determining a
company's net income; also called a profit and loss
statement.(1)
Balance Sheets
A published statement of a company's financial position at a
specific time, usually at the end of its accounting period.
(1)
Cash Flow
The movement of cash as it comes in and goes out, or cash
received minus cash paid out. Income and proceeds from
operations, investments, and financing usually are reported in
the consolidated statements of cash flows which are part of the
company's annual report. (1)
Financial Ratios
These ratios show the relationships between two items from
company's or industry's financial data. They can be used to
evaluate a company and compare it to the industry.
Traditionally, financial ratios have been classified into five
main categories: liquidity, leverage, turnover, profitability,
and market value. (2)
Annual Reports
Audited document required by the SEC and sent to a public
company's or mutual fund's shareholders at the end of each
fiscal year, reporting the financial results for the year
(including the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow
statement and description of company operations) and commenting
on the outlook for the future.(3)
Colette O. Holmes, Management Librarian, Rensselaer
Libraries, Troy, NY
Acknowledgements
(1) The Portable MBA Desk reference. 2nd ed.(Wiley,
1998.
(2) R3 = Ratios, Ratings & References. (Reference and
User Services Association, American Library Association,
1996)
(3) InvestorWords.com
