Company Research

Background Information

Directories

If your company is not listed in one of these, do not forget to search local or regional telephone books, locate the company’s web site, or use a web directory such as Bigfoot.

Company Profiles

These resources are ideal starting points when you are trying to find a quick snapshot of a company, and they provide good background information for more in depth research. Information generally includes: address, telephone number, annual sales, number of employees, CEO, year founded, and type of business.  Some may provide additional information (such as Hoover's) including a brief history or key financial data.

Company Histories

Begin with the International Directory of Company Histories.  If your company is not listed, search the company's web site, look for books that are corporate histories, or locate articles about the company. The sources listed in the Company Profile section may also help.

Financial Data

The sources listed below will give you financial information for publicly held companies.  For private companies, finding financial information may be difficult or impossible to find.  Check the company’s web site for information.  Some private companies provide an annual report, and this may be linked from their web site.  Hoover’s Handbook of Private Companies will provide financial information for companies included.  If this fails, search for articles.

Journal Articles

ABI/INFORM Global
Business Source Premier
LexisNexis Academic

Web Resources

Business Directories

Utah Department of Commerce Business Entity Search

Internet Domain Name Database

Marketing Communications (Advertising World)

WHOIS database (Network Solutions)

BizWeb

Yahoo! Business and Economy: Directories: Companies

Telephone Directories on the Web

Investment/Profile Resources

For a quick profile of a public company's financial position, use one of the following:

AnnualReports.com

Yahoo! Finance

CBS MarketWatch

Reuter’s Investor  (formerly Multex)

Associations and Organizations

The Better Business Bureaus Web Server

ASAE's Gateway to Associations (trade and professional associations)

GuideStar (non-profit organizations)

International Chamber of Commerce

United States Chamber of Commerce: Chamber Directory

World Chambers Network