Business Administration Resources

Public vs. Private

When searching for information about companies, it is important to know whether the company you are searching for is a public or private entity. Knowing this will help you get a sense of how much and what kind of information you will be able to find.

In terms of research, the main difference between the two is how much information is available to the public. Public companies are ones that are required to file certain documents and data with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). When researching public companies, you will be able to find financial information, how they are organized, annual reports, and more. Private companies, on the other hand, are not required to submit the same files to the SEC and usually are required to report very little information to state governments. There is much less publicly available information about these firms especially if they are very small and fall into a niche industry. It is also important to note that information about a private company may not be available because they do not want the public to know much about them.

In general, keep in mind that when you are researching companies (especially private ones) you will likely not find all of the information you want or build a complete picture of the company. The information you need will come from multiple places that you will need to piece together like a puzzle. Think creatively when researching and keep an open mind when exploring resources -- you never know what you might find.

Start with questions

Before you begin searching for information about your chosen company, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I already know?
  • This can include things like the company's name, its location, size, products and services, and anything else you know about it.
• What exactly am I looking for?
  • This question will be informed by the answer to the previous question and your assignment. Knowing what you still need will help you determine where you should start your search and what information might satisfy your need even if it is not a perfect fit. Remember, you will have to piece together information from multiple places to learn about your company.

If you are not sure what you are looking for, ask yourself if you already know about or want to find out about the following topics:

• Competitors
• Strategy
• Industry placement
• Products and/or services
• Organization
• Executives
• Financials

General search tips

• When searching for a company's name, do not use inc., co., company, corp., corporation, etc. in your search terms unless it is necessary.
  • News and other sources will sometimes leave off that portion of the company's name, making it difficult to find sources when you include inc. or corp. in your search.
• Search for executives' names instead of the company's name.
  • You may find interviews with the executive(s) where they discuss the company, its practices, strategy, or other information that will not appear in an official report, directory, or similar source.
• Use the database's Index or Thesaurus tool.
  • This can help reduce the number of results by limiting to ones that are about the company instead of the company just being mentioned in the source. This may also be helpful if the company uses an acronym or has gone through name changes.
• If you are getting too many results, limit them by date or publication year.

Ask a Librarian

Don't hesitate to Contact a Librarian if you are having difficulty finding relevant sources.