How can I find private or small company information?

Answered By: Coleen Neary

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2023 Views: 49

Private company shares are held by a small group of investors and are not publicly traded. Private company are NOT regulated by the SEC, so they are not compelled to disclose the same information.

Private company research is trickier than public company research. Company website, directories and news stories may be the main sources. All 50 states make some level of corporate and business filings available online.

Try contacting the company as they might be willing to share information. Also do a web search to locate the company.

Here are some tips:

Some websites have an About Us or Investor Relations tab where you might find some useful details about their financials or operations.
Check for press releases or a news section for information about company financials and activities.
Try searching the company website. Search: financials
Look for Annual Reports on the company website or contact the company to see if one is available.

Using Library Databases

The library's business online databases contain profiles of private and public companies. The private company information is limited but may include sales and employment estimates or reported data.

Private company information can turn up in news stories or articles. Searching articles may help in locating information about a company's new products and services to financial figures.

Business Source Complete

Use to find company news:
1. In the first search bar, type in the company's name.
2. To do an even more specific search, change the drop-down menu to show CO Company Entity.
Nexis Uni

Formerly Lexis-Nexis Academic, it contains company profiles and more. Keep in mind that not all private companies will show up, and when they do, there will likely be limited information available.
1. Select Company Dossier from the upper-left menu
2. Search for the company by name or ticker.
3. Select the correct company, and once in the dossier, navigate throughout using the menu on the left.

Need Help? Contact the Library.

See Also: Finding Company Information