Finding information about any company can be tricky at times, but it's even harder to research privately held companies. This is because, unlike publicly-held companies, privately held corporations aren't required to divulge their business information or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If you've never done company research before, how do you know what steps to take or where to look for information on privately held companies? There are actually a number of guides available online that will take you through the "Research on Privately-Held Companies Basics." Through these various resources, you'll learn where to go for company information, which you may need for a variety of reasons:

1. If you are interested in a career or have an interview at a privately held company, it's a good idea to do company research first to be prepared.

2. Before trying to sell products or services to privately held businesses, always research the company to gain an understanding of its business and how best to market to it.

3. If you are an investor, it's critical to do research on privately-held companies that offer investment opportunities before handing over any money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out college library websites for the best tutorials on conducting company research

When a college student needs to do research, the first place he or she heads is the campus library. Because of this, college libraries usually have staff who teach students how to do research, and many make these tutorials available online. You'll find that many schools, from community colleges to prestigious universities, offer free online tutorials on how to research a company.

I recommend: Johns Hopkins University's Sheridan Libraries has a guide specifically dealing with private company research. The William and Joan Schreyer Business Library at Penn State offers a wealth of sources for company information. Finally, Moraine Valley Community College publishes an online company information research guide, with links to both print and Internet sources.

Visit websites with links to resources where you can find information on privately held companies

Instead of a step-by-step tutorial, some websites get right to the nitty-gritty by simply providing links to sources of company information. These are great if you already know exactly what you are looking for and just want to find the information quickly.

I recommend: Resumagic.com provides an excellent list of websites with public and privately held company information. The Virtual Chase's comprehensive research guide covers everything from court records to public opinions, and even gives access to helpful articles on conducting company research.

Sign up for a workshop or seminar that will teach you how to research privately held companies

Sometimes taking an online workshop, or webinar, is the best option, as it allows you the opportunity to learn hands-on while being able to ask questions. Keep in mind there are registration costs to take research seminars but they may be tax-deductible.

I recommend: Register for the 90-minute web seminar, "Researching Privately-Held Companies," through ShareTraining. The Office of Continuing Education at Simmons College teaches search strategies for company research in an online workshop, as well.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you discover that doing research on privately-held companies is too time-intensive or you're having trouble finding information, keep in mind there are numerous research businesses that will do the work for you for a fee.

If your company has a product or service to sell, you must be able to quickly and efficiently locate information on privately held companies, which will point you to the most likely prospects for your goods and services. Among other things, this will help you build viable mail and call lists. So in addition to finding out who your prospects are, you'll also need to locate valuable, yet often well-guarded, financial and contact information for those prospects.

While privately held companies are often quite secretive about their business information, there are ways to penetrate the corporate "wall of silence." Private company research can be done in various ways. Yet the greatest boon to researching the privately held company has been the advent of the Internet, which places all the information you need right at your fingertips. Some places you'll find information on privately held companies online include:

1. Company websites

2. Online business directories

3. News sites

4. Online trade or professional journals

5. Online business journals

6. Websites specifically intended to help you research privately held companies

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use reference sites that offer information on privately held companies

Some of these websites offer information only for companies within a particular industry, while others take a more comprehensive approach, providing research on privately held companies in a broad range of industries.

I recommend: Reference USA and Hoovers provide research on privately held businesses in many different business classifications, and ThomasNet offers info specifically on manufacturing companies.

Visit how-to sites that take you step by step through the company research process

Some websites will lead you through the entire process of finding information on privately held companies, providing links to many different resources that you can use in your research.

I recommend: Polson Enterprises provides a wealth of information on researching an industry or specific company on its "Market Research, Industry Research, Business Research" webpage.

Try sites that aren't aimed specifically at business to business research

Many individuals have reason to research privately held companies. Two examples are job seekers and investors. So, be sure to take advantage of the private business research information you may glean from these sites, as well as those aimed at business-based researchers.

I recommend: About.com and Quintessential Careers are two websites aimed at job seekers, which offer a great deal of helpful information and resources for doing research on privately held companies. BusinessWeek offers investing and stock research, categorized by company and industry, for investors or business people interested in the viability of a privately held company's financial position.

Check websites that provide data on the largest privately held companies for comparative info

Many websites rank the top 5,000, 500, or 50 privately held corporations or companies. These sites provide info that can help put things in perspective for you as you seek information on the medium or small privately held businesses you need to research.

I recommend: Inc.com offers its Inc.5000, which it refers to as "The Fastest Growing Private Companies in America."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you research privately held companies, be sure to use a number of different online resources. Doing so will help you build the most comprehensive informational profile for the business.

Get research on privately held companies education and training to maximize search results and establish yourself professionally as someone who can dig out details. Learn different programs and other resources that assist you in your research.

Develop strategies to use when you research a company and keep current in modern research techniques by familiarizing yourself with a variety of offerings. To do all this you might want to:

1. Attend a college that educates you in business research for a publicly held company or a privately held company.

2. Obtain research on privately held companies education and training from online educational offerings.

3. Attend seminars to learn more about company research techniques.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to research privately held companies by getting a degree specializing in research

Consider getting a research degree to give you an edge over competitors. Degrees in research as well as degrees in business require hands-on experiences in using research tools, letting you know your best options for finding out information on privately held companies.

I recommend: The University of Pennsylvania offers three levels of research degrees. Learn how to research privately held companies through your class offerings while earning a Master of Science degree, a Master of Arts degree or a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Education Portal describes the benefits of getting a degree in specific areas in details. It describes the intricacies of holding a bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, which includes courses in research methods and offers a list of educational institutions where you can obtain the degree.

Use online educational offerings to learn how to research privately held companies

Educate yourself and earn a degree from home focusing on business. Learn how to maneuver through the business world by using tools to research and analyze other companies, including privately held ones.

I recommend: Berkley College offers students an opportunity to obtain a degree in business through online offerings. It teaches students research techniques in addition to other business concepts. Walden University prides itself in its flexibility in educational offerings. It offers customizable programs, so students have the option of focusing on areas such as business and research.

Use workshops and seminars to educate yourself on getting information on privately held companies

Attend workshops or seminars where you get hands-on experiences and training for research techniques. Learn how to maximize private company research techniques to gather the most current and applicable information possible.

I recommend: The University of New Haven offers a series of workshops delving into the intricacies of research. Learn how to dig through periodicals, databases and Internet resources to garner information on privately held companies. The Helen Brown Group offers 90-minute seminars of personalized training online with an expert who shows you the ins and outs of research. It offers a seminar geared specifically to researching privately held companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Network with other professionals to discuss private company research techniques and tools.