Verify the company's name before beginning a search. Use a business directory to make sure that you have the complete company name and its correct spelling (make sure, for example, that the company is named "Delta Air Lines" and not "Delta" or "Delta Airlines"). Business directories also provide basic information about a company, such as its name, address, and telephone number. Often, they also include financial and other information.
Business Directories:
Europages- European companies and their products
NASDAQ, NYSE, and AMEX Listed Companies
IQS Directory: listing of manufacturers and suppliers serving industrial market in US and Canada
Company Profiles:
U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)- Search in the EDGAR Company filings by typing the company's name into the search box.
Business Source Complete- Over on the far right, there's a box (Browse) with options to look at company information, profiles, industry profiles, and market research reports. The company information and profiles links should be the most helpful.
ABI/Inform Collection- Once you're on the main page, click up at the top where it says, "Browse." You can look at any of these sources to find market/ industry reports, commodity reports, and even company reports through the Report Collection.
When it comes to researching private companies, privately owned companies are not required to report financial or officer information to the public. For this reason, reports about private companies may not contain the same level of detail or accuracy as public companies may.