When researching a company, it is essential to identify its type, such as whether it is public, private, a subsidiary, a nonprofit organization, or another category, such as a government-owned corporation or partnership.
Public companies sell shares (stocks) to the public and, if listed in the U.S., are required to submit financial statements and annual reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For non-U.S. public companies listed only in their home countries, similar reporting requirements apply with their respective regulatory agencies. These requirements generally make public companies easier to research than private companies.
Private companies do not offer publicly traded stocks and, as a result, are generally not required to disclose as much information to regulatory bodies or the public. This limited transparency often makes them more challenging to research.
Before starting your research, identify the type of information you need. This could include:
Being specific about what you need will help direct your research to the most relevant resources. There are many guides and books available that offer both overviews and in-depth explanations on business information and research methods.
If you encounter unfamiliar terms, concepts, or abbreviations during your research, you can refer to the resources below for help.
Business Law-Focused Study Aids can help you get started when entering business and law research. For example, the West Academic Nutshell series provide simplified summations of a variety of legal topics:
- Corporate Finance
- Banking and Financial Institutions Law
- Investment Adviser Regulation
- Business Associations
- The Law of Corporations
