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
Try searching for home-based business or home office and terms like trends or research or statistics to narrow your search.
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.
- Jean, M., & Forbes, C. S. (2012). An exploration of the motivations and expectation gaps of mompreneurs. The Journal of Business Diversity, 12(2), 112-130.
This exploratory research supports the existence of entrepreneurial expectation gaps and highlights the need for these expectation gaps to be explicitly considered in future entrepreneurial research. Limitations, applications for practice and theory and directions for future research are also discussed.
- Myrie, J., & Daly, K. (2009). The use of boundaries by self-employed, home-based workers to manage work and family: A qualitative study in canada. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 30(4), 386-398.
This qualitative study used grounded theory methodology to explore the experiences of 30 self-employed, home-based workers in Canada. Using boundary and work-family border theories as central theoretical constructs, this research examined the extent to which workers used boundaries to manage work and family, the nature of these boundaries, and how they were negotiated by the workers and their families.
- Roberts, L. P., & Robinson, P. B. (2010). Home-based entrepreneurs, commercial entrepreneurs and white-collar workers: A comparative study of attitudes toward self-esteem, personal control and business growth. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 23(3), 333-353.
This study compares entrepreneurial attitudes toward perceived personal control of business outcomes, self-esteem and business growth in a random sample of 544 home-based entrepreneurs, non-home-based (commercial) entrepreneurs and white-collar employees in Alberta, Canada.
Business Source Complete / Business Source Premier
Created by Ebsco, this database contains quarterly reports on major industries in 175 countries, including Canada. Includes Datamoniter company profiles, market research reports, 5-year forecasts and SWOT analyses, as well as information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business, and much more. Contact your local public or academic to determine if you can get access. UBC affiliates and in-person library visitors can learn more about this resource and how to access it here.
- Working Smarter - Any Time, Anywhere. (2016). Management Today, (6), 31-32.
The article focuses on working from home and offers information on several websites that can help indiciduals to have their home-based jobs. It mentions the creation of a more agile business units with more cross-functional teams and more matrixed working environment. It discusses the concept of "gig economy" and the need for a more flexible net security.
- Scott, J. (2016). Support for the 'solopreneur'. Central Penn Business Journal, 32(22), 4-5.
The article focuses on networking group Hershey Entrepreneurs' Resources and Support (HERS) at Derry Township in Pennsylvania. It mentions the experience of home-based business owner Laura Barta who admits the need for other peoples support and business ideas. Most members of HERS are independent women entrepreneurs who need advice and business ideas especially during business struggles.
- Montini, M., Walsh, C., Brown, T., Streeter, D., Stroh, P., & Vickers, M. A. (2016). Dear Home Business. Home Business Magazine: The Home-Based Entrepreneur's Magazine, 23(3), 12.
The article presents several letters from the readers of the periodical related to home businesses including the examining of conversion rate to measure their success online, importance of innovations in business and the guidance for return on investment (ROI) to improve event effectiveness.
Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA)
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.
Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA)
Provides access to general and specialized business information, current events, and reference materials, including popular and academic journals. Excellent for tracking trends for your specific product or industry.
- Lincoln, M. (2015, Jun 13). Can I run my business out of my condo?; practicalities. National Post.
Even if the board or management gives you the green light to operate a home business, your lawyer must review all the condo documents to confirm the information you receive is correct.
- Women changing face of small business. (2013, Oct 25). Dawson Creek Daily News.
Over the past decade there has been astonishing growth in the number of Canadian women who are leaving the traditional workforce to join the emerging trend of female home-based entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy and represent an emerging economic force according to a recent snapshot of Canada's labor force by Statistics Canada.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.