A business record is a document or note that is created as part of the daily activities of a company. They can include any number of details including information about clients or projects to who is responsible for bringing desserts to the corporate potluck. Business records may be requested as part of a legal case or as part of an internal investigation.
Many private and government companies make a range of business records online. There may be offices where interested parties are able to access the same data in hard copies.
Certain states, like Texas maintain an index of all fake name statements filed with county clerks. These files usually contain the addresses and names of the owners. These indexes do not necessarily indicate that the businesses are engaging in illegal activities. They’ve simply not paid their annual fee to register fictitious names.
Credit ratings are another common source of information for businesses. They are available from a variety of government as well as private organizations. Dunn & Bradstreet, for instance, is well-known for its DUNS numbers which assist in identifying the millions of companies. There are other private companies that create directories of businesses that typically include information such as the city of the company’s headquarters as well as address, the name of its principal officers, and the type of business it engages in. These directories are useful for studying competitors or potential clients. They can also give an overview of a company’s health and stability.