Hard to find revenue information for private companies?

Question

I can not seem to find information on any of my competitors. They are not located in the USA, and I was only able to find one company on Hoovers (Japanese company), I can not justify the cost of a Hoovers report.
Common sites that will not work for me are:

http://finance.google.com/
http://hoovers.com/
http://money.cnn.com/
http://www.idexec.com/
http://www.zapdata.com/
http://www.onesource.com/

I need strategies for obtaining this information, preferably without cost. How did you find vital statistics on your competition? Are there any strategies that might help? Should I ask their CEO to give me this information, will it work?

da_hal: Thanks for your answer, unfortunately this was the first thing I tried – none of them seem to supply this kind of information on there websites.

muncie birder: haha...

Thanks guys, I was able to find some useful information via press releases and gathering enough information to make some mildly useful estimates on my biggest competitor. I guess this thing is mostly wishful thinking on my part. But you’re right; at least they don’t have any information on me.

Answer 1

That is why they are called private companies. Would you willingly tell your competitors what your sales are and margins? Being private has its distinct advantages. You might try bribing the IRS for the information. It will be on their tax returns. It would be better to do that through a 3rd party so that you can deny knowledge of it should the act come to light. Another source of the information would be an insider in the accounting department or data processing department of the company. A low level employee that would relish having a few hundred extra dollars to spend.

Dumpsters are also a great source of information especially those situated on the premesses of the company in question. Again, using a 3rd party, is the best approach.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Hard to find revenue information for private companies?
I can not seem to find information on any of my competitors. They are not located in the USA, and I was only able to find one company on Hoovers (Japanese company), I can not justify the cost of a Hoovers report.
Common sites that will not work for me...

Answer 3

In the US, private companies are not required to make their financial information public. There is absolutely no advantage for them to provide this information without being required -- so you are out of luck.

Countries that take their legal systems from British Common law are likely to have the same rules regarding reporting information. Other countries may or may not have laws about reporting financial information. But even if they do, their accounting laws are very different from British Common Law countries to the point that you will not find their information very useful.

Your only solice is that they can't find informtion on you -- unless you ar giving it to them (or are public).

Answer 4

Depends what the business opportunity is. What are you selling? I admire anyone who wants to start up in business. But please don't make the mistake that just because it is Internet-based then this will require any less hard work or any less capital than any other type of business. Too many people don't consider this and the business ends up getting shelved because it is too expensive or too much hard work. Good luck with your venture though. I hope it works out for you.

Answer 5

http://www.manta.com
Revenue information on U.S. companies is free, and international company reports are very affordable.

Give it a try...

Answer 6

the best way to get info about your private competition is the market and the customers. your customers are most probably your competition customers too. get close to your customers and try to squeeze out from them as much infor as u could

Answer 7

usually i just go to their website and download their annual report.

Answer 8

if you need to find any business address online you can find it on city directory here http://placesuggest.com/