Good Places to Start
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Hoover's Company Records (via ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowBrief description, history, sales, competitors, etc.
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Standard & Poors NetAdvantage This link opens in a new windowNetAdvantage now includes private companies as well. The information on private companies is generally on a directory level, that is number of employees, revenue and address information.
Free Directories on the Web
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The Real Yellow PagesSearch by name or by a combination of business category and U.S. city. Links to web sites can also help with researching the companies.
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Forbes America's Largest Private CompaniesForbes provides brief profiles of over 200 of the largest U.S. private companies (over 2 billion in revenue). Profiles include revenues, number of employees, address, web site, brief description, top officers, brand names. The list can be sorted by name, rank, state, industry, revenue, or number of employees.
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Google MapsA simple search such as: hardware stores Ann Arbor
Can result in a map showing locations of businesses, links to company web sites, and reviews from customers. -
LinkedIn Company DirectoryBrowse companies by name or industry to find LinkedIn profiles for companies.
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Thomas Net (Thomas Register)This extensive directory of North American industrial firms can be searched by product or service, company name, or brand name. Brief directory information often includes the company Web site and sometimes includes a full online product catalog.
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MacRAE's Blue BookUse this industrial directory to search by product to find manufacturers, distributors, or suppliers of industrial products and components. Or search for an industrial company to find brief info, certifications, and products.
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PanjivaEMU does not have a subscription to the full product, but you can use this to find names of manufacturers that supply specific products.
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Better Business Bureau - BBBSearch BBB directory to see if there are customer complaints about a company.
Articles
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ProQuest One Business This link opens in a new windowArticles from major business periodicals, the Wall Street Journal, and academic journals.
Tip: Click on Company Reports to search for specialized reports.
Brief Instruction Video: Using ProQuest PowerSearch -
Business Source Elite This link opens in a new window
Thousands of full-text business journals, company profiles and reports.
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The Business JournalsAt this site you can search across periodicals about small business in a number of U.S. cities. It doesn't cover any Michigan cities, but does include Business journals for Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, LA, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC., many Florida cities, and several smaller cities.
Great for Background Info!
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International Directory of Company Histories
Call Number: REF (2nd Level) HD 2721 .I63Essays on companies discuss history & recent developments.
Esearch - Books & Ebooks
Special Directories @ EMU Library
hard copy only
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National Minority and Women-owned Business DirectoryCall Number:
REF HD 2346.U5 N34Use to identify businesses that are at least 51% owned by minorities. Entries include address information, lines of business, # of employees, sales, certification information, and codes for type of minority owner.
State Governments
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State Business Filings DatabasesOften a state offers a free online database with limited info on the companies that are incorporated in that state. This web page links to sources for each state.
In many cases, you may find the amount of info on a company in these state sources disappointing. Sometimes the only info is the date incorporated and the name of the business owner. Also, businesses sometimes operate under various trade names and may be listed only under the official name in the state government source. -
Michigan Business Registry PortalThis service allows you to search by company name to find more information about Michigan companies. Not every business in Michigan is required to be licensed by the State of Michigan. This database includes only those businesses that require some sort of license.
See also:
Many researchers will look for info on the industry when researching a private company.
Research Tips
Unlike public companies, private companies aren't required to disclose financials and other info--so it can be difficult to find detailed info on private companies. It's even more difficult if it's a small private company.
Beware: It is difficult to find high quality info on private companies. Even though the sources listed here are "better than average quality," sales figures and other private company info are often wrong even in these sources.
Large Private Companies
Try Hoover's and Business & Company Resource Center. There may also be many articles in business periodicals. If the company competes with public companies, they could also be mentioned in the public companies' SEC filings. Well-known private companies may be found in the International Directory of Company Histories or books on the company may be found in the library catalog.
Small & Medium-Sized Private Companies
Try looking for articles in ProQuest One Business and Business Source Elite.
If it's a Michigan company, also try the Michigan specific sources listed under the Michigan Companies tab.
For retail companies that compete locally, you may be able to use free web "yellow page" directories to identify competitors.
Consultants
Consulting Firms can be particularly difficult to research. The print Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory at the EMU Library may often be the only source of info you can find.
