- Personal interviews. It can either be a group survey or a depth interview. Group survey is mostly used by big businesses as a brainstorming tool to obtain information on new products and product modifications. Depth interviews are done with a ready made checklist.
The "secondary" data are those that are already organized and compiled for your own good. Examples include studies and reports done by trade associations, government agencies, and other business industries. You can take advantage of this useful information. This is categorized into three different areas.
- Public sources such as public libraries, business departments, and governmental departments. This is the most cost-effective way of finding information. It can be sometimes provided as free with lots of better information to offer.
- Commercial sources such as trade and research associations, financial institutions, corporations being traded publicly, and banks. This can be costly since association fees and subscription fees are involved. However, it will cost less if you hired a team to research and collect the information for you.
- Educational sources. This source of information is sometimes overlooked. However, more research is conducted in polytechnic institutes, colleges, and universities compared to a business sector in the community.
The steps to success always start on the basics. Just choose the best market research technique that will meet your business needs.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Lincoln Sample Business Plan Outline
By Lance Winslow 
If you are looking for a partner, funding, angle investor or venture capital you will be asked for a business plan. Even if you are not in need of capital in the formation of your new business endeavor you will still be glad you prepared a business plan to help you prove to yourself that you have the right stuff and that the business is economically viable. The first step in the creation of your new business will be making a customized business plan. Please use this outline as your template to insure you do not forget anything important. This is a business plan format and outline I had created after reading over ten business plan books and taking the best of each of them and putting them into one outline. I give this to your freely and wish you great success in your new business. It is the great entrepreneurial spirit and the entrepreneur that build this great nation, glad to see you are one of us
BUSINESS PLAN
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. Form Of Business
B. Introduction
C. State Of Technology
II. OBJECTIVES
A. Goals
1. Market Share
2. Sales
3. Customer Service
B. Statement Of Purpose
III. COMPANY ANALYSIS AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
A. Location
B. Background
1. Accomplishments
2. History
3. Strengths
C. Local
1. Trends
2. Business Climate
D. Position For Growth
1. Future Of Industry
IV. MARKETING ANALYSIS
A. Marketing Strategy
1. Customer Markets
a. Types
2. Government Markets
c. Agencies
d. Divisions
3. Non-profit Markets
f. Organizations
2. Risk Considerations
a. Politics - Special Interest - Government
b. Competition - Profiles
3. Inventory
a. products
b. Supplies
c. Purchasing
4. Equipment
a. Layout
b. Type
5. Sales
a. Tactics
b. Pricing
c. Promotions - Advertising
6. Media
a. Fundraising
b. Newspaper
c. Radio
B. Demographics
1. Scope
2. Segment
3. Surveys - Etc.
4. Markets To Exploit
5. Types Of Customers
C. Distribution
1. Customer Service
2. Delivery
3. 1-800 Number
4. Flyers
V. MANAGEMENT