01. Basic Information

1.1 Location of headquarters (address, phone, fax)?
1.2 URL of company web page?

Spend some time and get to know the company web site. The scope of the web site will likely vary by the size of the firm.

Businesses must register with the Secretary of State office in the state they are located. Search Systems provides a meta search for all states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada. The best way to proceed is to choose “Corporations and Companies” and then select the state or province where the firm is headquartered. This will bring you to one or more corporate directories. This may vary by state or province. You can also search by state or province alone and explore all the possible information that is collected.

Open Corporates provides access to public records on privately held firms worldwide.

The Dunn and Bradstreet Report on your firm may contain additional information. You will need to purchase it from D&B.

UMass Resources (for UMass students only)

Business Source Complete provides general information on privately held firms, and depending on size, also provides a Medtrack or Market Line report.

Mergent Online provides more comprehensive information on privately held firms. Check “D&B Private Company Database” on the home page and make sure to click “full private company report” under the reports tab.

Directory of Venture Capital & Private Equity provides some basic information on executives, fund size, industries and portfolios.