Small Business Resources and Workshops
Business and Career Librarian
Our Business and Career Librarian, Sam Bardarik, is available for research help. You can contact her at sbardarik@ccls.org, 610-344-5947, or click this button to schedule a one-on-one consultation.
Featured Business Databases
Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA)
Search millions of private and public businesses for information on competition, business demographics, and target markets. Reference Solutions step-by-step guides, webinars, and training materials are available to help you better understand how to use the search features and produce a strategy at home, on the go, or at the Library.
Access Reference Solutions from anywhere using your Chester County Library System card.
Gale Business Insights: Essentials
Offers in-depth coverage of businesses, including company profiles, industry profiles, products and brands, financial reports, company rankings, histories, and full-text periodical articles. Business Insights: Essentials offers robust online tools for analytics.
Access Gale Business Insights from anywhere using your Chester County Library System card.
Business Plans Handbook
Search this series for examples of real-life, successful business plans. After logging in to the database, go to the Business collection listed on the left and then click on Business Plans Handbook.
Access Business Plans Handbook from anywhere using your Chester County Library System card.
Business Programs
The Chester County Library provides programs on business topics with emphasis on helping small businesses succeed in a dynamic economic environment.
In Person: Leanstack Canvas—Business Plan on a Page
Tuesday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Chester County Library, Burke Room
Leanstack Canvas is a 1-page business plan template that helps you deconstruct your idea into its key assumptions. It replaces elaborate business plans with a single-page business model. Business plans take too long to write, are seldom updated, and almost never read by others, but documenting your hypotheses is key. Leanstack Canvas solves this problem using a 1-page business model that takes under 20 minutes to create. Sign up now to create a business model that will be read by more people, be more easily updated, and let you focus on building your business - faster. Please register online.
In Person: Finance Basics for New Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, June 7, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Chester County Library, Burke Room
Financing is one of the most important components to starting and maintaining a business. The number one question that most new business owners ask is how and where? This seminar will dive into finance options and creative ways to secure financing for business owners. Please register online.
Virtual: LinkedIn 1: Profile Basics
Saturday, June 17, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Zoom
With over 900 million users, LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly popular professional social media platform that is not just for jobseekers, but is a critical networking tool as well as a professional electronic rolodex. At this session, you will learn some best practices, tips, and tricks you need to know to enhance or modify your LinkedIn profile. Registration is required. Please register online.
In Person: Marketing Basics for New Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, June 21, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Chester County Library, Burke Room
Marketing Basics – a Survey of all the Marketing Topics you MUST consider if you’re planning or starting up a new business. With leads for where to get more information and how to get a free SCORE Mentor. Please register online.
Visit our Calendar of Events to view additional upcoming business programs.
Looking for even more? Visit the calendar for free programs offered by community organizations.
Sign up for email updates about business programs and resources at Chester County Library. View past updates here.