The great thing about these tactics is that they are all free.
- Make a Call.
- Check the Company Website.
- Do a Little Social Media Digging.
- Conduct a WHOIS Domain Lookup.
- Read the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Reports.
- Search State Databases of Registered Businesses.
- Contact Local Business Licensing or Regulatory Agencies.
Probably the best way to check out a business is to visit the Better Business Bureau website. You can look up a business by business name, address, city, state, ZIP code, phone number, website or email address. Clicking on the business link displays a report about that business.
To check if a company is genuine, read online reviews from other customers and clients to see if people are saying the company is a scam or untrustworthy. You can also try checking the company's website to see if it has a legitimate phone number and address listed.
Basic information about members of a company's current board of directors can be found in standard directory resources such as Mergent Online or Orbis. Use Corporate Affiliations. After searching for a company, select a year of interest from the Historical Data drop-down box to view historical board information.
Your ABN is included in your Tax Invoice or any letters the government sent to your business. Check if you have any physical documents at home or in your office.
Depending on the size of the business and the owner's preference, the business owner can be called anything they want; the most common names for business owners are business owner and chief executive officer. The CEO is the go-to person that stands with the rest of the owners, but is the face of the ownership.
Business licenses are public records that can sometimes be accessed for free online. A business must register with the state in which the business is located in order to obtain a legal business license.
All states have an online location where you can check the status of any corporation registered in that state. Information provided can include the name, date of incorporation, registered number or ID, and current standing. To check the status of a company, click the link next to the state in which it is incorporated.
Looking up a domain name on is very simple. All you have to do is enter in the web address you want to look up and presto – all the information you wanted will appear. For example, if you look up the website address for the WHOIS site, you will find out some important information.
Shareholders (or "stockholders," the terms are by and large interchangeable) are the ultimate owners of a corporation. They have the right to elect directors, vote on major corporate actions (such as mergers) and share in the profits of the corporation.
How to Verify Someone's Business License
- Business-License Lookup Basics. Depending on the industry, a business will often have several licenses, from the local to federal levels.
- Check a Federal Agency's Website.
- Check a State Agency's Website.
- Check a Local Agency's Website.
- Request It From the Company.
- Use a License-Verification Service.
To check your business name details through the Business Names Index:
- Step 1 - Go to ASIC Connect search.
- Step 2 - Select 'Business Names Index' from the drop down box in the top right corner.
- Step 3 - Enter the ABN or name of the business you're looking for.
- Step 4 - Select your business name from the list.
Answer
- Mergent Online: Click on the D & B Private Company Database box to search for privately held companies.
- Hoover's: To search for a company, click on Advanced Search. Type your company's name into the Company/organization search box and press Search.
- Business via ProQuest.
- Regional Business News via EBSCO.
And to help you do that, we've outlined the most important steps you need to follow to create a captivating company profile.
- Identify the Profile's Purpose.
- Decide on a Style.
- Tell a Story.
- Outline Your Mission Statement.
- Keep a Clear Format Throughout.
- Write the Company History in Chronological Order.
- Include Testimonials.
In some cases, you might even find the names of officers and others in upper management.
- Call the company.
- Check the company's Web site.
- Search Better Business Bureau reports.
- Search the state's database of registered businesses.
- Query business information search engines and social networks.
Find the cost of goods sold on the income statement. On the balance sheet, locate the value of inventory from the previous and current accounting periods. Add the inventory values together and divide by two, to find the average amount of inventory. Divide the average inventory into COGS to calculate inventory turnover.
