Run a Business

Check out available resources that walk you through the basics of running a business. Whether you want to research your competitors or determine how to price your goods and services, CCPL has you covered.

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Research Your Competitors

As you plan your business, take some time to research your competition. Studying each competitor can teach you a lot about your business. It never hurts to emulate what your successful competitors are doing right while also avoiding their occasional mistakes.

Gain insight into your community's business landscape through CCPL's collection of business databases. Find information about thousands of public and private companies, and view records that contain contact information, stock prices, financials, market share, rankings, competitors, company history, and more. Click here to view the business database resources CCPL offers. 

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Before you begin, take time to find the SIC and NAICS codes for your industry. The U.S. government developed these two code systems to group similar businesses together into industries to study. Business research publishers borrowed these codes for their own use, and you’ll use both when conducting industry research.

The Standard Industrial Classification, or SIC code, was the first system used. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) unifies industry classification for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It officially replaced the SIC code in 1997. You can search both the NAICS Code manual and the SIC Code online.

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Business Books to Help You Grow

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The-1%-windfall-:-how-successful-companies-use-price-to-profit-and-grow-/-Rafi-Mohammed.
The 1% windfall : how successful companies use price to profit and grow / Rafi Mohammed.
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The-art-of-pricing-:-how-to-find-the-hidden-profits-to-grow-your-business
The art of pricing : how to find the hidden profits to grow your business
Business-:-the-ultimate-resource.
Business : the ultimate resource.
Back-to-business-:-finding-your-confidence,-embracing-your-skills,-and-landing-your-dream-job-after-a-career-pause-/-Nancy-McSh
Back to business : finding your confidence, embracing your skills, and landing your dream job after a career pause / Nancy McSh
Small-business-/-by-Eric-Tyson-and-Jim-Schell.
Small business / by Eric Tyson and Jim Schell.
Business-brilliant-:-surprising-lessons-from-the-greatest-self-made-business-icons-/-Lewis-Schiff.
Business brilliant : surprising lessons from the greatest self-made business icons / Lewis Schiff.

Setting a Price

One of the most important topics for a small business owner to understand is pricing, and CCPL offers resources to help you figure out what to charge for products or services.

The Business Source Premiere database includes definitions of pricing concepts, book chapters that describe the pricing process, and trade journal articles about pricing. A valid Charleston County Public Library card is required to access this database.

Next step: Tailor Your Business

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