Local business and economic information

Kansas City is a great place to start a new business or develop a long-term career. Research local industries and businesses to find markets for your product or service, or find companies in need of your talents and skills.

Directories

• Directories can give you more than basic contact information. Business directories will also include a business' estimated annual sales, number of employees, years in business, and business square footage.
• With an electronic directory you can identify the number of competitors a particular business has by conducting a search based on line of business, NAICS code, geographic location and/or business size.
• Some directories are specific to an industry. Thomas Food & Beverage Marketplace [1] is a three volume directory in which you can find product suppliers, refrigerated haulers and just about any other business involved in the food industry.
• Two of the most heavily used directories for researching local companies are:
• ReferenceUSA [2] an online database accessible through the Library's web page. (Library card is required to access from outside the Library.)
• Sorkins' Directory of Business & Government [3]

Articles

Even with their expanded information, directories do not tell you all you need to know. Often it is the smaller companies that you want to learn more about, companies that are not covered in the nationally read magazines. You need to turn to those magazines and newspapers that are written specifically to cover local news.

• The Kansas City Business Journal [4], a weekly newspaper, has the most extensive coverage of Kansas City businesses. The paper's website [4] allows you to search for news items. You will need to use the library's microfilm holdings of the newspaper to read the full article.
• The Kansas City Star newspaper is searchable going back to 1991 by using Newsbank [5] (Library card is required to access from outside the Library). The Star is a good source of information regarding local businesses, local industries, and the economy
• Each month Ingram's [6] features area business leaders and events. You will also find in this magazine, articles of interest to local business people. The current issue can be read on their website [6]. The current as well as older issues are available in the Library.
• KC Small Business Monthly [7] has articles of interest to small business owners. Read the current issue either online [7] or by coming into the library. or in print at the library.
• Flourish [8] is a monthly magazine for business "women on the leading edge."
• Annually, the Kansas City Star publishes the Star 50 [9] which highlights the largest fifty companies in the Kansas City Metro area.

Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses

There are several online listings for minority- and women-owned businesses in the city.

• Missouri Minority/Women Business Enterprise Program [10]
• Disadvantaged Minority and Women Business Enterprise [11], Kansas City, MO
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Business Directory [12] allows you to limit your search by minority and/or women business enterprises

Statistical Sources

• Mid-American Regional Council [13] (MARC) has placed on their web page demographic, economic, labor and other statistical information related to the greater Kansas City area.
• Missouri Economic Research and Information Center [14]. This site has state and county economic data. You will also find at this site occupational and industry studies.
• Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City [15] provides updated economic data.

Entrepreneurs

Junior Achievement of Kansas City has a Greater Kansas City Hall of Fame [16] which gives brief biographical information on some of the major entrepreneurs of Kansas City.

Historical Information

The Missouri Valley Special Collections [17] of the Kansas City Public Library (Central Library) has extensive historical information on Kansas City businesses and entrepreneurs.

For additional information, contact an H&R Block Business & Career Center librarian by phone, 816.701.3717, or by e-mail, bcc@kclibrary.org [18].