Maintaining accurate records can help you assess the condition of your business. Without them, you can’t quickly detect trends, calculate ratios or make plans for the future. Also, you need these records when you file tax returns, and to back up the information you report in your financial statements. These include income (profit and loss) statements as well as balance sheets.
The majority of states have departments of corporation or secretary of state offices that require businesses to submit an official statement of ownership. The majority have put these documents online. You can search for these documents by company name and most websites will provide the list of officers or directors, addresses, and other details about the company. Some private companies or firms compile directories of businesses. These directories can list the headquarters city as well as the city in which a company is registered. They usually include contact information as well as the chief officer or the officers of the company, and a brief profile about the type of business with which the firm is involved.
Many cities require any person who wishes to do business within their city to be registered. These documents are available on the internet. Some counties have fictitious names of companies, in which the top officers of a partnership as well as their addresses are listed. Certain states maintain a master list of all business names that are fictitious. States, the secretary of state and corporate departments have made these online.