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Health & Fitness

Get the Competitive Edge with a Free Online Marketing Directory

Are you a small business owner interested in scoping out the competition in your area? With your Hennepin County Library card* and an Internet connection, you can use the database, “ReferenceUSA,” to get detailed information on more than 12 million businesses and 120 million consumer households in the United States, all for free.  (Don’t have a card?  Simply apply for one online.  There is no cost.)

“ReferenceUSA” not only provides basic information like business names and contact information, but also details on hours of operation, franchise and product information, number of employees and computers, sales volume, expenditures, and stock market ticker symbol. Check out these tutorials for a primer on getting started with the database.

Access “ReferenceUSA” here, or through our library website by selecting “Databases A-Z” from the left-hand menu and scrolling down to “ReferenceUSA." Additionally, the Small Business subject guide,  our librarian's small business blog, and the Business & Investments subject guide link to more reputable business and marketing resources.

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As always, Golden Valley librarians are available on site and by phone (612-543-6375) to assist with your research.  You may request additional assistance by phone, text, IM, or email reference through our Hennepin County Library “Ask Us” service.  Contact information for Ask Us is on the website.

*Please note that all databases on the library website, including “ReferenceUSA,” are only available to Hennepin County residents.

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