Not all company information may be researchable, depending on the type of business; where they are located, or the information they choose not to disclose:
Business entity types - Publicly traded, privately owned, or subsidiary:
- Publicly Traded - These are companies whose ownership is dispersed in shares of stock which are freely traded on a stock exchange or over-the-counter market. More information is available about publicly traded companies, as they are required to provide financial statements and other documentation to government organizations and regulators.
- Privately Owned - Typically owned by one individual or a group. Not publicly traded on a securities exchange. Private businesses are not required to disclose any information to the public.
- Subsidiary - Subsidiaries are owned or controlled by a parent or holding company and usually do not report financial or operational details, but defer to the parent company reports instead.
Location - U.S. or International:
- Country and local government regulations, business transparency practices, and language will determine the amount of information available.
Non-Available Information:
- Proprietary information, such as clients, suppliers, competitors, operating costs, or trade secrets, are a few types of information that may not be available or are rarely disclosed about a company.