Growing Your Business
GUIDE: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS > PART ONE
Drive Profits through Market Research and Planning
Know what your customers want and make it easy for them to buy what you sell.
Completing basic research — like market research — can save time, money and a lot of trouble. To sustain a real business, you have to:
- find people who will be willing to pay for your product or service (and there have to be enough of them to make it worth your while) – research market potential using census data and demographic databases
- deliver the services or manufacture the products – research production options using business databases
- know who you compete with – research competitors using business databases
- understand whether your products are unique or proprietary – research patent filings
The Missouri Small Business Development Center offers a Guide to Developing a Marketing Plan.
The Small Business Administration provides an online tool that allows small business owners to see how their companies compares to the competition. Research your competitive edge by checking out the SBA’s Size Standards Tool.
Contact the following KCSourceLink Resource Partners for more assistance with marketing.
SKIP TO PART TWO: EXPORTING TO EXPAND SALES
Basic Research
Digital Sandbox KC
Specializes in: Market Research
Grain Valley Partnership
Specializes in: Market Research
Mid-Continent Public Library Culinary Center
Specializes in: Market Research
The Black MasterMind Group Charitable Foundation
Specializes in: Market Research
Blue Valley CAPS
City of Gladstone, Missouri - Economic Development Department
Great Plains Technology & Manufacturing Cluster
Hispanic Economic Development Corporation of Greater Kansas City
K-State Technology Development Institute (TDI)
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Kansas City Kansas Public Library
Kansas City Public Library - Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Kansas Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team
Kansas Small Business Development Center at JCCC (SBDC)
Kansas Small Business Development Center at KU (SBDC)
KU Innovation Park
Lawrence Public Library
Miami County Economic Development Department
Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC)
Missouri Department of Agriculture
Missouri Department of Economic Development - Kansas City Region
Missouri Enterprise, Kansas City and Northwest Missouri
Missouri SBDC at Northwest Missouri State University - St. Joseph
Missouri SBDC at University of Missouri Kansas City
Northland CAPS
Piper School District
If your organization has a problem, or a project that’s No. 10 on your “to do” list, give it to our students. They're ready for real world learning.
Square One Small Business and Workforce Development Services by Mid-Continent Public Library
The Freelance Exchange
The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center
Well Well Marketing
Marketing Plan
Digital Sandbox KC
Specializes in: Market Plan Development and Training
The Black MasterMind Group Charitable Foundation
Specializes in: Market Plan Development and Training
Well Well Marketing
Specializes in: Market Plan Development and Training
ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council
GUILDit
Hispanic Economic Development Corporation of Greater Kansas City
K-State Technology Development Institute (TDI)
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS)
Kansas Small Business Development Center at JCCC (SBDC)
Kansas Small Business Development Center at KU (SBDC)
KU Innovation Park
Miami County Economic Development Department
Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC)
Mid-Continent Public Library Culinary Center
Missouri Enterprise, Kansas City and Northwest Missouri
Missouri SBDC at Northwest Missouri State University - St. Joseph
Missouri SBDC at University of Missouri Kansas City
Nonprofit Connect
Northland CAPS
SCORE
The Freelance Exchange
The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center
Women's Business Center of Kansas City
GUIDE: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
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