Private Company Information: Competitors

E-services select the competitors listed in their reports. Some try to give one competitors for each major product line; some just look at one or two product lines. As a result, each service can show different competitors on their lists.

While searching for private company competitors, public companies may show up on the competitors lists along with private companies.

To compile your own competitor's list select one of the databases that covers private companies. Start by selecting the appropriate industry code (NAICS/SIC CODES) for your target company.  Next choose one or more of the possible modifiers--sales range, revenue range or employee range.

Selecting a specific geographic location can also be way of compiling a list of competitors.

Business Insights: Essentials – Use this database to research and analyze companies and industries around the world. It has content needed to explore a global business landscape: extensive reference content from Gale’s core business collection, easy-to-use company fundamentals and investment research reports, industry rankings, profiles, market share data, company histories and more. Provides journal/news coverage of both industries and companies.

Gives comparison charts/tables for Employees, Employees over Time, Revenue, Sales per Employee, Sales per Employee Over Time. Click on Compare Companies on Home page. Once on new page, click on the Add/Remove box, lets you type in company name.  Can add up to 6 companies at a time.

Bizminer -- Offers industry financial analysis benchmarks for over 5,000 lines of business and industry market trends on thousands more. Their market analysis reports are available at the national and local levels down to the zip code.

Types of reports:  Industry Financial Profiles, U.S. & Local Market Research Reports, Area Demographic Profiles, Sole Proprietor/Startup Profit & Loss and Local Market Vitality Profile.

Hoover's Academic - basic company information for US and International public and some private companies. 

Type company name into the search box and select the company from the search results. This will direct to a company page. Under Company Index there is an option for Competition; hovering over will give you two choices, select Competitors List which will direct to a list of largest competitors in the industry.

Can also look up the industry if you have the SIC or NAICS code. Type in the code, directs to search results page that will list companies and people in the industry as well as a list of industry and related industries to choose from. Choosing an industry directs to industry page where a Company List and a list of Top Companies in the industry can be found.

Data Axle This business phonebook from across the U.S. can also show key employees and some financial information.  It is very good for data on small private companies.  It is the only way to find information on the various locations of a company.  A great feature is the ability to do a Custom Search that can be used to set up a customized directory or determine competitors.  Data can be downloaded into Excel.

From Home page select U.S. Businesses and type in company name (works best for private companies or local businesses, i.e.: search for McDonalds, the results are  15,000+ all are franchise location not corporate headquarters). Click on name of business, takes you to page that will have a list for Competitors Report (last link under Quick Links or at bottom of page). The competitors will be listed by geographic proximity to searched for company.