Business: Company Profiles

The information you will find on a company depends upon several factors.  Before you begin your research, ask yourself these questions:

1.  Are there variations of the company name?
Different research resources may use alternative spellings or abbreviations of a company name.  Some databases require a ticker symbol to find company information.
2.  Is the company public or private?
It is usually easier to find information on public companies, but you might find information on private companies in our resources.
3.  What about the company's "family tree"?
Is it a parent company?  Division of another?  Foreign-owned?  Family-owned? 
4.  Is the company newsworthy?
Companies tend to be in the news when they want media attention, when they are performing extremely well, or when they are having problems.  Even a small private company may be considered newsworthy by local press.
To get help with these questions, start with a directory listing or company profile.

Adapted from Williams, T. (n.d.) Company Research Tips. Butler University. Retrieved from https://libguides.butler.edu/c.php?g=34071&p=217007