Investigator's Toolbox

Books
Corp. Intel.
Credit Bureaus
Schools_Alumni
Databases
SS_Dvr._Lic._#'s
Listservs, etc.
Map Sources
Medical Sources
Megasites
News Sources
Criminals
Copyright
Locate Them
Docs_Law_Etc.
State sites
Vital Statistics
Weather Info.

Resources for Researchers

Company Locators

Depending on the depth of information that is needed, business research is best spent in the library. Besides the large selection of books and sources renewed annually, databases and news sources are also going to prove helpful in your research. The business sources, whether text based or database are extremely expensive, but very useful if your trying to locate information on a privately held firm, or a foreign company.

Competitive Intelligence
Designed to help the investigator locate competitive intelligence information on companies.
Australia Business Research
Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Excellent fee and free database.
Better Business Bureau
Business Reports include time in business, complaint history, and information obtained through special Bureau investigations. Charity Reports include information on the group's background, current programs, governing body, fund-raising practices, tax-exempt status, and finances.
See also The Metropolitan New York Better Business Bureau.
The BigBook
Search for 11 million companies by name, location, type of business, or combinations. Name, address, telephone number and business type given. Includes a detailed map, with a zoom-in feature to the city block level.
Big Yellow
Find over 16.5 million businesses across the USA via online yellow pages.
ComFind Internet Business Directory
The Largest Global Business Directory on the Internet
Companies Online
Allows users to search for companies by name, location, or industry. Provides phone number, ownership structure, ticker symbol, and link to company home page.
CorpTech Directory of Technology Companies
Provides descriptive information on over 40,000 U.S. high technology companies, including many small, privately-owned computer software and hardware firms, and many biotechnology firms. Also provides Company's Internet address and links to stock prices and charts, SEC files and news headlines.
Crain's New York
A plethora of information and statistics on New York business and economy.
Dun & Bradstreet
Includes News & Views and Business Trends section containing recent articles, press releases and survey results. One can also search millions of U.S. companies and receive Business Background Reports for a fee.
EDGAR
From the EDGAR Database you can retrieve SEC filings (including 10K's, 10Q's, Annual Reports and Prospectuses) for approximately 3,500 U.S. public corporations. Made available through the EDGAR development project at the NYU Stern School of Business.
Fortune Magazine
Contains many Links to Fortune lists organized by country, industry and company.
Fortune 500 list
Fortune Global 500 list
Hoover's Online
Contains the Corporate Directory which can be searched by Ticker Symbol, Company Name, Location, Industry and/or Sales. This database profiles publicly listed U.S. company's traded on the three major stock exchanges and more than 1,200 of America's largest private companies. This site also has many links to other useful resources.
101 Industrial Register
U.S. & International manufacturers, distributors & service providers
Quicken
Provides stock quotes as well as book reviews, articles, and information on investing. In the News section at the site, users can read the latest news about favorite companies by entering the ticker symbol.
StreetLink
Latest quarterly reports from many public companies, also includes press releases.
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
Directory of American manufacturers.
Wall Street Research Net
Type in the company name or stock symbol and WSRN will retrieve links to their home page, current stock quote, stock graph, SEC filings, press releases, company news, Yahoo company profile, and more.
NAIS: Business Intelligence Links
An annotated list of business links that is created by and for investigators.
Switchboard: The Internet Directory
If your just trying to locate the business itself, try the phonebook. This, or the phone directory should help.
Database America Home Page
Small fee for business reports, but a powerful and easy database to search through.

Associations

Many associations will sell, or list their membership affiliations, publish extensively, and will also lead you to the experts.

Professional Associations
Yahoo's list of over 100 Professional Associations.
SourceBank
With increased news coverage of business and economics, FACSNET provides information on the private sector. Through special Mini Homepages, which include company and association profiles, sources online, position papers, and links to press releases. Organizations in SourceBank appear through a membership fee.
American Society of Association Executives
ASAE hosts the Gateway to Associations Online - a decent start when trying to locate associations of a particular specialty. ASAE also hosts 6 other searchable databases ranging from convention centers to Worldwide executives.
Reporter's Cardfile by FACSNET
An address book of think tanks, advocacy groups, and special-interest organizations.

Secretary of State and U.C.C. listings

Great for locating businesses within an individual state.

States - National Association of Secretaries of State
AZ - Corporation Commission

AZ - UCC

FL - Division of Corporations

GA - Secretary of State Corporations Division

ID - Secretary of State's Office UCC Division

IN - Corporations & U.C.C. Databases

IA - Corporation Search

KS - Corporation Search

KY - Secretary of State UCC Search

KY - On-Line Business Database

LA - Corporations Database

LA - Uniform Commercial Code Section

MD - Companies Directory

MD - State Department of Assessments and Taxation

MN - Uniform Commercial Code Division

MO - Secretary of State Internet Information Services

NB - Secretary of State

NJ - Secretary of State Registration Database

NC - Corporation Names Directory

NC - Uniform Commercial Code Research

NV - Secretary of State Corporation Database

OH - Uniform Commercial Code Filings

OR - Secretary of State Corporation Division

RI - Secretary of State

TX - Secretary of State-Uniform Commercial Code Section

UT - Division of Corporations and Commercial Code

VT - Business Registry

VT - Business Registry Database

VT - Uniform Commercial Code Registry Database

VA - State Corporation Commission

WA - Business Records Database

WV - UCC Filings

WY - Corporate Database

WY - Registered Entities

See Also:

Credit Agencies
Get their credit report.
News
Corporate executives, employment ads, new product information, complaints, any noteworthy change.
Databases
The ultimate source for business information will be Lexis-Nexis and Dialog. Check with some of your local and academic libraries to see who has this search capability.

Updated: 7/11/99

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