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Company Searches International provides Business Reports on all registered businesses in the USA and Financial Reports on all companies required to file.
The Full Company Name and Full Address are required to undertake a search. We can check to see whether the company is quoted by just the name but we do need at least the State of registration for any companies that are not quoted.
Financial Information
Quoted Companies
Company Accounts
We have a number of quoted company annual reports in house. If not in-house we can obtain the report from a correspondent in the UK.
10K/10Q
We have a number of 10Qs and 10Ks in house. If not in-house we can obtain a copy from a correspondent in the UK.
Briefly a 10K contains
- Directors
- Subsidiaries & Associated Companies and their performance
- Company Structure
- Future Plans
- 5 Year Financial Summary
Companies Registered in Michigan or Arizona
We can obtain the Balance Sheet and possibly the Profit & Loss. This information is obtained directly from the State Registry and times can vary.
Business Reports
These a general company profiles based on the most up to date information available at the registry and other sources. They are provided on a three speed service.
Contents of Business Report
Identity, Legal Status & History
Ownership & Management
- Directors
- Vice-president
- President
Activities & Operations
- Related Companies
- Activities
- Locations
- Number of Staff
Financial & Public Record Information
- Sales & Finance
(for unquoted companies this will give an estimated sales figure for one year only and general overview of how well the company is doing.)
A Summary & Credit Opinion
- Payments - looking at half a dozen creditors
- Banking Information
- Summary
Principal Business Types
Corporation
There is basically only one type of corporation although various styles are used; Corporation; Corp., Incorporated and Inc. all mean the same. It is not necessary to show any of these on a company letterhead or trade style.
A Corporation is a limited liability company. In general, states do not stipulate a minimum number of shareholders or a minimum share capital. Shares may be freely transferred. The liability of shareholders is limited to the amount invested.
General Partnership
An association of two or more persons who operate a business for profit. Partners have unlimited personal liability for all partnership debts.
Limited Partnership
An association of two or more persons, one or more of whom must be a general partner with unlimited liability and one or more of whom is a limited partner with liability limited to his capital contribution.
Branch of a Foreign Corporation
Responsible for all the debts of the branch.
Joint Venture
Often formed by two corporations for a specific short term purpose.
Sole Proprietorship
An individual where liability for all debts is unlimited.
General Information
The United States does not have a centralised registry instead, companies file at 1 of 50 state registries. Most companies register in the state that they are trading. In this way there is no limit on companies that are unrelated filing with the same name in different states. The exception to this is that a company cannot be incorporated using a name in common use and doing business in the same state. Each state operates separately, there is no uniformity as to the information provided to the public.
N.B. Foreign Companies registering in USA tend to register in Delaware, as this is the easiest state in which to register.
Company Accounts Filing Requirements
Financial information must be filed by the approximate 12,000 companies that are publicly held and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, Regional Exchanges i.e. Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and the National Over the Counter Market. Local laws dictate that corporations in the states of Michigan and Arizona must file. A few regulated industries such as airlines and utilities also must file operating information.
In effect, most companies do not give more than a sales figure or range. The largest U.S. credit agency only obtains balance sheets on approximately 15% of the private companies.
U.C.C. (Uniform Commercial Code) filings are the only document made uniform in all states. They are filed with the Secretary of State of each state to record a secured interest, where assets are pledged as collateral on loans, notes, leases on chattel items as opposed to real estate. Most secured parties are bankers, finance houses, leasing agents or holders of various types of notes.
Corporations Registered in Michigan or Arizona
Only balance sheet available
Quoted Companies
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) lists all US Quoted Companies in alphabetical order.
Obligation to file a 10K document every year and 10Q for three quarters of the year. Some quoted companies issue their financial information independent from the 10K in the form of an Annual Report.
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