Company Information
- Mergent Online
Detailed company information including 15 years of financial statements. Note: This database will be retired June 30, 2025 and replaced by Mergent Market Atlas. We will offer links to both resources until that date.
- Statista
Easy to use statistics search engine with access to more than a million statistics and facts. - ProQuest One Business
A comprehensive business database containing millions of full-text items across scholarly and popular periodicals, newspapers, market research reports, dissertations, books, videos and more. Includes the full text of the Wall Street Journal. Formerly called ABI/INFORM Collection - Gale Business Insights: Global
Detailed company and industry profiles including SWOT reports, market share reports, and financial reports. Thousands of company histories and industry essays from Gale's core business collection. Case studies, scholarly journals, and business news for deep research coverage of global economies. - Nexis Uni
Replaces LexisNexis Academic.
More than 15,000 news, business, and legal sources from LexisNexis—including U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating back to 1790.
What About Private Companies?
Since private companies don't have to share their financial information, it is not available to find. Some databases have estimates, or maybe a couple of data points gleaned from articles. This guide includes article sources for companies, which can be helpful, but if you are looking for more information, here are some USF databases that you can use to find the very limited information available on private companies.
- PrivCo
Registration Required. See "more" for access information. PrivCo.com is a source for business and financial research on non-publicly traded corporations, including family-owned, private equity-owned, venture-backed and international unlisted companies. - Nexis UniSelect the Find a Company button below the search box. Click the search box, type in the name of your company, and then use the pull down menu to select All Private Companies which allows you to search for any information available on your private company.
- StatistaSometimes there are charts and graphs on private company sales, revenues, and trends. Use the search box to search your company.
- Gale Business Insights: GlobalClick the button that says Browse all Companies, then do a search for your company name.
- Data Axle Reference Solutions
Click on US Businesses, then do a Quick Search by typing in the name of your company. In the company report, look for location sales volume.
Industry Descriptions and Overviews
- IBISWorld
Great information on industries in the US and global economy. Each Industry Report includes overviews, data and statistics, market share, competitive landscape, major companies, outlooks and more!
Tips for IBISWorld:
US Industry Search:
Use a keyword or phrase for your US industry search. Start big: transportation.
Browse the list of results for useful reports.
Use other keywords for your topic to find additional reports. For example, for a taxi or shuttle service, search the word: taxi, and also try the word: shuttle, to see what other different industry reports come up. You can view the entire report or use the iExpert Summaries to get just the highlights.
China or Global Industry Search:
Click on either China Industry Reports or Global Industry Reports to see what industries are available. iExpert Summaries are not available for China or Global industries. - StatistaEasy to use statistics search engine with access to more than a million statistics and facts.
- Business Source Complete
You can use Business Source Complete to find industry profiles. When you are on the main search page, look to the right of the screen for Industry Profiles. Click there, then click on "By Title, Subject, & Description" under the search box to search for your industry by keyword. - ProQuest One BusinessTo find industry reports, first do a search in quotation marks on: "first research industry profiles." Once you are on the result page, click the Reports link under the Source type section on the left.
- SIC: Standard Industrial Classification Manual
This classification precedes the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as a source of the U.S. industrial classification scheme. - NAICS: North American Industry Classification System
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. - Nexis UniTo find industry reports: First, click on Market Insight near the top of the screen. Next, under Grouped Resources, click on All Industry Reports, and type your search words into the main search box. Finally, click the magnifying glass to find reports.
Country Reports and Information
- EIU Viewpoint
Country profiles and economic reports, current economic events for nearly 200 countries or economic territories. - Europa World
Europa World is the online version of the Europa World Year Book, the indispensable source of information on world-wide affairs. First published in 1926, the year book is renowned as one of the world's leading reference works, covering political and economic information in over 250 countries and territories, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
- globalEDGE
Click on the name of your country, then click on “Culture” for information on culture and doing business in the country you are studying. Or, use globalEDGE to learn more about a country's economy, trade, political climate, and more. - Country Commercial GuidesPublished by the International Trade Association (ITA) Use the pull down menus to select your country name, then use different sections on doing business in your country. Then, use the menu on the left or the topics in the center to view information. A good place to start is the Doing Business In section, and the Business Travel section.
Business Culture
- Commisceo Global
Scroll down the screen to use the Country Guides to find information and customs for your country. - globalEDGEClick on the name of your country, then click on “Culture” for information on culture and doing business in the country you are studying. Or, use globalEDGE to learn more about a country's economy, trade, political climate, and more.
Citing Your Sources
Whenever you do research, you will need to cite the information sources that you use. Most business scholars use APA style. Here are some tools that can help you with this task:
Gleeson Library's guide to citations: How? Why? When?
- APA 7th Edition Citations for Business SourcesAn excellent guide to using APA 7th edition style for popular business sources. Scroll through the guide to find an example for the business source you are using in your research. Compiled by librarians Naomi Schemm, Marcia Dellenbach, Zachary Grisham, Marianne Hageman, Natalia Tingle, Matt Trowbridge, and Amanda Wheatley
- Citing Business Databases in APA: Michigan State University GuideThis guide was created to help with citing some common business databases
- Citing Business Databases from the University of North Carolina at GreensboroThis guide has some additional business database examples in APA style.
- MLA Business Citations: Youngstown State UniversityScroll down the page to see citations for specific business web sites, reports, and databases cited in MLA style.
- Purdue OWLOur favorite style guide web site is the OWL from Purdue University.
- RefWorks
RefWorks allows users to create personal databases to manage, store, and share the information citations/references. Users can automatically insert references from their database into their papers and generate formatted bibliographies and manuscripts in seconds. See our RefWorks Guide for information about creating accounts, adding references, and using add-ons.
Getting Help!
There are several ways to obtain assistance with your research. Read on!
You have your very own librarian! She is Penny Scott, and you can contact her for help.
Her contact information is: email: plscott@usfca.edu * phone: 415-422-5389
It is best to email ahead, or make an appointment, to make sure she is available! Appointments are available virtually via Zoom, or in person, and are great for groups or individuals. If you don't see a time that works for you, email Penny.
If Penny is not available, or any time you need help, you can always get help, just Ask a Librarian!
You can also take a look at our Research Guides on many topics!