Define the research boundary
The SBA separates demand, location, saturation and alternatives. Write inclusion and exclusion rules before collecting logos; a map that quietly changes scope cannot support a clear decision.
U.S. SBA research questionsHow-to guide
Market Mapping: Make the Boundary Checkable
Market mapping starts before the boxes and logos. Pick a decision, define which organizations count, check the evidence for each one, then group them into a map your team can challenge. The free worksheet and category editor below give you a first draft; they do not discover every company or verify a market for you.
Workspace
Define the boundary, log sources, then make the map
Name the buyer or field, product problem, geography, inclusion and exclusion rules. Add candidate organizations with source links and checked dates. The worksheet and map drafts are separate browser-local files; copy only verified names into the manual map.
Step 1 of 2
Define the boundary and log your sources
Start blank. Your rules and candidate rows are working notes, not verified market facts. Check a source before placing each name on the map.
Candidate source log
Record possible participants and unresolved questions. The map editor below does not automatically import or verify these rows.
Candidate 1
Candidate 2
This worksheet stays in this browser when storage is available; it is not encrypted, shared with the map editor or checked against a live company database. Review sensitive notes before exporting.
Method
From research to a decision
- 1
Write the decision and explicit inclusion and exclusion rules for one buyer problem, geography and snapshot date.
- 2
Log each candidate organization, possible role, source URL, checked date and uncertainty; include substitutes when they solve the same buyer job differently.
- 3
Group checked participants in the free map editor, export the worksheet and map, then test any apparent gap with intended buyers.
Example to adapt
For a hypothetical U.S. software market serving small manufacturers tracking facility energy use, you might test measurement, reporting and audit-service categories after checking each product’s official site. These are example buckets, not findings about that market.
Make the first draft useful
Use aggregate context honestly
NAICS provides a U.S. statistical industry classification. Census Business Builder can provide industry and geography context and a tailored report, but these sources do not verify every named vendor in a custom map.
Census Business Builder guideCheck company roles at the source
Official sites, published accounts and market research can support a participant entry. SEC EDGAR helps for public filers, not every private company. Keep the URL, checked date and unanswered question beside the role.
UK government: competitor information sourcesChoose by the question
Which map matches the question?
| Map format | Use it when… | Relevant resource |
|---|---|---|
| Company-category map | You need to see which checked organizations play which role in one defined field. This page’s free editor makes that kind of map. | Open the map maker |
| Two-axis positioning map | You need to compare two attributes. Label scores as assumptions unless buyers have actually been studied; an internal plot is not measured perception. | Open the two-axis maker |
| Prospect or talent map | You need B2B account or candidate sourcing data. This category editor does not supply a CRM, contact database or recruitment search. | Read the distinct B2B use case |
Common question
Does an empty map category mean there is an opportunity?
No. It shows what your current research has not filled. Ask intended buyers whether the missing option solves a problem they would act on, and check whether you excluded relevant substitutes or companies. Treat the map as a dated working model, not proof of demand.
Compare specific buyer alternatives in a matrixKeep exploring
Related workflows
AI Agents Landscape
Map AI agent apps, frameworks and infrastructure for one workflow. Edit categories, verify entries and export a working landscape. AI drafting is optional.
Market Map: Build a Clear View of a Market
Organize companies by buyer need, see where categories overlap, and publish an editable market map.
Market Analysis Tools by Research Task
Match market questions to Census, Trends, Analytics, ITC, EDGAR or direct research. Use a free selector and export an evidence plan before mapping companies.
Market Landscape: Map Industry Participants by Role
Define a market boundary, group organizations by role, and export an editable landscape. Free manual map; optional AI suggestions need verification.