Steps in Doing Company Research
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Locating information on companies can be complex or simple depending on the depth of information sought, and whether or not the company is
public or private. In conducting a search, be sure to check a number of
sources to ensure that the data located is accurate.. Follow the general steps
below when conducting company research.
Iff you are looking for an
address or phone numbers, the best place to start is with the Address and
Phone Books page. If you are looking for more information, move on to
the Company Profiles and Background section below. If
you need financial details on what
you know to be a public company, move on to the Financial
Information section below.
If you are looking for more information than an address or phone
number, then start with the resources on the Company
Profiles page. The type of information contained within these
resources will vary from source to source. They may include address
and phone number, chief officers, product information, sales and
employee figures, other basic financial information, and a brief
history.
If a detailed corporate history is needed, refer to the Company Histories page. Sometimes these resources will indicate that your company is a
subsidiary, a division, or a parent company. If this occurs you
may need to find out more information about the structure of your
company. If your company is a subsidiary or division, your research
may need to include the parent corporation. Research Databases: Academic Lexis-Nexis provides company profiles for public companies and basic information on private companies. Business & Company Resource Center also provides company profiles for public companies and basic information on private companies. Print Sources: LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations (formely: Directory
of Corporate Affiliations)
Financial InformationNow that you have some basic information, it is time to find out how well the company is performing. To do this, refer to the Sources for Corporate Financial Data page. Business publications offer a wealth of financial information on publicly-held companies, but locating information on privately-held companies can be difficult. The same can hold true for subsidiaries of publicly held companies. This page will help you find financial information resources for both public and private companies.
Company Activities and NewsNewspaper and journal articles can provide extensive information on companies such as: research and development, mergers and acquisitions, advertising, marketing and more. Articles are often the best way to locate information on private companies. For help finding newspaper and periodical articles, go to the Business News page.
Other Company Research GuidesIf you need more information on doing company research, use these resources or check out the Guides to Doing Business Research listed on the Internet Resources page.
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