The library provides access to a wide variety of data sources. However, the amount of information available will vary by type of company:

• Determine the type of company is public or private.
• Location – U.S. or international?
• Required information – Confidential?
  • Clients, suppliers, competitors and operating costs are a few examples of information that companies consider proprietary information and rarely disclose.

Business research on companies may involve:

• Obtaining contact information and description of a company. 
• Researching company news, company leadership, competitors, and history.
• Researching the company's products, markets or business lines. 
• Looking at a company's strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats (SWOT analysis). 
• Retrieving financial data to decide whether to invest in or do business with a company.
• Preparing for a job interview.

Once you find the company information you need, you may want to put the information into a larger perspective by obtaining information on the industry in which your company is involved.