**Start with these basic steps to business research **
- Is your company-
- Publicly traded or privately owned? You'll find more information on publicly-traded companies' requirements to file statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Look for a ticker symbol (unique identifier for a stock). Google company name, search the database Mergent Online. See Find the Ticker.
- Try the following databases to locate a company profile: Business Insights: Essentials, Mergent Online,
- Check the company website for news and publications links, but review this information critically. The company's website is a marketing tool, typically used to showcase company accomplishments.
- Search library business databases for current articles, legal action, and product news.
- Company financials. Annual reports are useful, but remember, these documents are directed to shareholders and typically emphasize positive achievements. Look for form 10-K documents and interim financial statements filed with the SEC for more objective information. Find them on EDGAR and in library databases (Mergent Online or Business Insights: Essentials, for example).
- Identify company strategies, usually stated in "Item 1. Business" of the 10-K.
- Locate industry profiles and identify your company's competitors (IBISWorld).
See Where to find it in a Database, a chart indicates which databases to search for specific types of information (industry reports, articles, SWOT analysis, etc).
