Use students Get in touch with the marketing department of your local college or university and ask if there are marketing classes or individual students who might be interested in working on a market research project. Call the SBDC and ask about the Small Business Institute. These projects are often welcomed by students as a way of gaining experience or special course credits. In addition to saving you money, working with students could also net you fresh ideas about ways to design and conduct your market research. When contacting the college or university, direct your request to the business administration or marketing department.
Reference librarians are one of the great untapped resources for small business owners.
Your public library has a wealth of facts and figures available through various industry directories, government abstracts, and other reference guides. Visit the reference section and speak with the librarian. Explain as precisely as possible what you're looking for, and this person will be able to direct you to the appropriate resources. Some local public libraries will not have the depth and breadth of business information you're looking for. If that's the case in your area, try the library of your local college or university, which tend to have this type of data.