Business and Investment Resources
Premium Resources | Personal Finance | Company Information | Investing Small Business
Reference copies of Morningstar & Valueline are available in print at the Questions Desk and may be used in the Library. You must leave your library card or a current ID with staff.
Premium Resources — you need an MPLD card to access these databases.
AtoZdatabases — AtoZdatabases is a premier reference and marketing database including 30 million business profiles and 220 million residents. Ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, finding friends and relatives, and much more! Requires MPLD card.
Financial Ratings Series Online — Using a quick and easy search screen, you will have immediate access to Financial Strength Ratings for more than 21,000 Banks, Credit Unions & Insurance Companies. Plus, get investment ratings for more than 6,000 stocks and 16,000 mutual funds. Requires MPLD card.
Illinois Public Records — provided by Record Information Services. Scroll through Chicagoland’s public records — real estate transactions, mortgages, foreclosures, and more. Keep an eye on housing values in your community and help safeguard your biggest investment — your home. Sort by name, city, zip code, and more. From home: Click on this remote link. You'll be asked to enter your library card number. Requires MPLD card.
Value Line — the library has an individual subscription that may be used by one patron at a time. The staff at the Questions Desk can help you log in to the website. Requires MPLD card.
Websites
Shah Center for Corporate Training - and the Illinois Small Business Development Center, McHenry County College - training and assistance for area businesses and individuals. Services range from one-on-one counseling for entrepreneurs to customized on-site employee training seminars.
Personal Finance
Annual Credit Report – This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
MYMONEY.GOV – free resources and tools for making more informed financial decisions.
Company Information
NAICS North American Industry Classification System — The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
SEC Security & Exchange Commission Next Generation Edgar System — find free company information from the Federal Government.
ThomasNet — Formerly known as the Thomas Register, this is a comprehensive directory of manufacturing companies in the U.S.
Investing
Bank Rate.com — mortgage rates, home loans, refinancing, credit cards, CD rates with personal finance advice.
Big Charts — free features include current and historical stock quotes.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange — offers the latest market news and futures market data.
CNN Financial News — a service of CNN, Fortune, & Money.
Forbes Best of the Web for Investing — information on investing, choosing a broker or advisor, alternative and Asian markets, etc.
Investopedia — basic investing tutorials, articles and a dictionary.
Motley Fool— provides financial solutions for investors of every kind.
SIFMA Investing in Bonds.com — Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association — information about bond markets and prices.
Small Business
Business.gov – the official business link to the U.S. Government.
Illinois Corporate Name Database — You may search the Corporate/LLC Database by file number or name.
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity — Business development.
SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business— the Service Corps of Retired Executives, consists primarily of retired business professionals offering advice, and counseling. Advice for small business loans, business plans, and business consulting. Training and workshop information is available.
Small Business Administration — programs and services for starting and managing a small business.
State of Illinois Business Portal — information on all aspects of starting and running a business in Illinois.
External links may be used as starting points in your research and are not intended to be exhaustive lists of all available external sites related to these topics. The library does not endorse or profit from these websites and external links are provided for use at your own discretion. For suggestions, comments, or to report broken links, you may contact the Web Team.