You might need to know who the owner of a company is but aren’t in the mood to call the company. Perhaps you’re thinking about investing and want to do your research, or you’re thinking about starting a business and want to know who your competitors are. Whatever the reason, we’ll show you how to find a small business owner contact information and also a website for business owners in just a few minutes for free.
Because it is more difficult to find information about a small business owner, this how-to article focuses on them. However, you can use these sources and methods to find business owner information for large private companies as well.
How to Find the Owner of a Business for Free
If you’re wondering who the owner of a particular business is, it’s not always pretty clear how to find out. That information is usually not displayed on the company sign! Fortunately, regardless of the size or type of business, there are various free methods available to find the owner. These options include contacting the company directly, searching online databases, and even utilizing government resources.
#1. Contacting the Company
1. If it’s a small business, go inside and ask who the owner is.
If the company is small, there is a better chance that the owner will be working there. Go inside and ask any employee if you can speak with the owner. If the owner is not present when you enter, ask the employee for the owner’s name and contact information. If the business is small enough, the employee may even know the owner.
2. If you have the company’s phone number, call it and ask for the owner.
The business’s phone number could be listed online, in an advertisement, on a promotional flyer, or even in the phone book. When you call, be sure to state your name and why you want to find out who the owner is.
3. Check the company’s website to see if the owner is listed.
Check the About Us or Contact Us pages of the website to see if they include the owner’s name and contact information. You can also look through any testimonials listed on the company’s website to see if they mention the owner by name.
#2. Looking Online
1. Look for the company on an industry search engine or social networking site.
Certain search engines and social networks cater specifically to businesses rather than ordinary users. Look for the name of the small business on one of these websites and see if you can find the owner for free and any other information they have about the business.
Zoominfo and Ziggs are two of the most well-known business search engines. LinkedIn is the most popular social networking site for businesses and businesspeople. It’s worth noting that on some sites, such as LinkedIn, you may need to use advanced search options to find a specific business by name.
2. See if the company is listed with the Better Business Bureau.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, non-profit organization that strives to provide consumers with as much information about a company’s reputation and quality as possible. If the company is listed on the BBB’s website, the listing will most likely include the names of the company’s senior executives and possibly the owner.
3. Check to see if the company has an account on popular social media.
Enter the name of the company on Facebook, Twitter, or another social media site. If they have a page dedicated to the business, look to see if the owner’s name is listed. For example, if the business has a Facebook page, the “About” section of that page may include the business owner’s name and contact information.
4. In a search engine, type in the business name and “owner.”
If you can’t find information about the business owner elsewhere, simply typing the business name into a search engine may lead you to a website you hadn’t considered visiting. This is essentially a shot in the dark, so use it only if all other options have failed.
#3. Making Use of Government Resources
1. Look up registered businesses in your state’s database.
Every state publishes some information about the companies that have registered to do business there. Navigate to the business entity or corporation search page on your state government’s website to see if the business is listed there.
2. If applicable, contact your state’s industry regulatory agency.
If the type of business requires a specific license or certificate to operate, a state regulatory agency will keep records on each business under its jurisdiction. Call the agency and find out the information about the business owner to see if they are willing to provide it for free.
3. Call the local agency in charge of business licensing in your area.
A variety of agencies at the local or city government level may compile information about local businesses. One of these organizations might be able to provide you with information that the state government cannot. License inspection, business permit, and occupancy agencies are examples of this type of local agency.
Website To Find Business Owners
Here are some websites where you can find business owners:
#1. LinkedIn
I’ll start with LinkedIn because it’s a business-oriented social network. LinkedIn now has over 433 million registered users, with 40% of them logging in every day. Every day, LinkedIn receives 45 billion page views. To get started, you should clean up your profile. Adding a photo increases views 14 times, and listing some skills has a similar effect.
#2. Facebook
Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, and it is most likely the most important for B2C businesses. At the time of the last count, Facebook had over 1.79 billion monthly active users and over 60 million business pages. The average Facebook user spends one-sixteenth of their waking time on the site. That equates to 50 minutes per day. So it is a good place to find information about small business owner.
#3. Hashtags on Twitter for Business
Twitter has no formal group structure, but communities do form around hashtags. Some of these hashtags have specific times when “members” are online and tweeting, which is useful for starting conversations. Groups range from general business communities to those focused on specific trades and locations. The more general the hashtag, the larger the potential audience.
#4. Instagram
According to a recent study, 82% of customers conduct research before making a purchase. Today, photography-based Instagram is a visual invitation to come in and see for oneself, especially if you’re marketing to younger demographics.
#5. Bing
Bing is Microsoft’s search engine, with slightly more users than Yahoo. Also, Bing Places for Business is a website where small business owners can find local listings. Because Internet Explorer is the default web browser on every Microsoft computer and Bing searches, it’s worth your time to configure your business information for Skype, Office, Xbox, and Surface tablet users.
#6. Yahoo
Although Google is the undisputed leader in search, Yahoo is still used by 1 billion potential small business customers each month. Why? It’s a personal preference for some. Others, particularly Firefox web browsers, have it set as the default on their machine.
#7. Foursquare
Foursquare has a devoted fan base of 55 million monthly local small business users. They check in, share their location, and leave advice for others to follow. Without a complete Foursquare profile, SMB owners miss out on valuable user-generated information about their businesses. So it is a good place to find information about small business owner.
#8. Google My Business
Shoppers use the most popular search engine to find information about the owners of a business as well as directions to nearby stores. For anything. It’s the web’s main thoroughfare. According to Google, 50% of all mobile consumers who conduct local searches on Google on a given day visit the businesses they seek.
#9. YP.com
According to the digitally re-imagined Yellow Pages website, 60 million people still use its directory to find business owners. It is completely free to claim your company’s “yp Profile.”
#10. Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has endorsed marketplace trust. It is the most popular website for reporting scams and other quackery. It is completely free to have your business listed in the nonprofit organization’s database. Simply search for your business, and if it isn’t listed, follow these steps to add your business to BBB. Highly recommended for small-town law firms.
#11. GlassDoor
Customers may inquire about how a company treats its employees. Any type of research in this area will lead interested customers to GlassDoor, the most popular review site for businesses and employees. GlassDoor is another resource for local business owners to be aware of, with over 700,000 companies reviewed over 33 million times.
#12. BizJournals.com
A searchable directory of local private businesses is also available in the nationwide local business publication. It serves 43 major markets in the United States, each with its own website and news.
#13. Chamber lists
Your city’s Chamber of Commerce is an extremely valuable local resource that is frequently overlooked. The Chamber’s website serves as a hub for events, news, and networking, as well as a business of local businesses and members.
#14. Manta
Manta, an established online listing community, welcomes 1,000 new businesses to its small business directory every day. This site is recommended not only because it is simple to add your company profile to Manta but also because its long-standing presence provides significant SEO benefits.
#15. CitySearch
CitySearch is a website that can help you find small business owners in your area. Furthermore, CitySearch prioritizes fun with a voting system, award badges, and special deals. Restaurants, attorney offices, and hair salons are all recommended by locals.
#16. CitySquares
CitySquares was founded to assist consumers to find small business owner information in their neighborhoods. Businesses can use the platform to reach out to more potential customers by creating a free profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the owner of the business?
A business owner is a person in charge of the operational and financial aspects of a business. A business is defined as any entity that produces and sells goods and services for profit, such as an e-commerce store or a freelance writer.
How do I find the owner of a LLC in NY?
Using the Secretary of State’s Website, you can look for a business entity (Corporation, LLC, or Limited Partnership) in New York. The only way to perform a lookup is by Name; when doing so, use as many matching keywords as you can because the database will pull all matching records.
How do I find someone's business?
Directory Assistance: Dial 411 to see if a public listing is available (fee may apply). You can use an online directory or a search engine like Google. To see what information is available, enter the Defendant’s name, address, or phone number.
How do I find out who owns a property in NYC?
You can look up property records and ownership information online, in person, or by calling a 311 representative. ACRIS is open to property owners in all boroughs except Staten Island. Visit the Richmond County Clerk’s website to search for documents pertaining to Staten Island property.
Related Articles
