Limitations in Private Company Research
Private companies can be very difficult to research. They are not required to release as much information to the government as publicly traded companies are, which limits access to financial activity and business operations.
Recommended Library Tools
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
Full-text articles from thousands of scholarly business journals, magazines, and trade journals from the fields of marketing, management, accounting, finance, and economics. - Gale Directory Library This link opens in a new window
Provides access to Gale's Brands & Their Companies (2017) and Ward's Business Directory of US Private & Public Companies (2011). - Reference Solutions This link opens in a new window
Directory information for over 80 million businesses in the U.S. and Canada, customizable by type of business, geographic location, size of business, and sales. Data also available on more than 270 million consumers.
- Regional Business News This link opens in a new window
Regional Business News provides full-text to more than 290 regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces.
Government Resources
- EDGAR Company FilingsPrivate companies with over $10 million in assets and stock held by over 500 owners, those that have made a public debt offering, and those raising equity may have filings with the SEC.
- Secretaries of StateWebsite listing Secretary of State websites for all 50 states. Level of detail about private businesses will vary by state.
