Searching Tip: Google the firm, the names, street view the business address

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January 12, 2024

by a searcher from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management in Newtown, PA 18940, USA

I don't know if this is common knowledge since I'm learning as I go but in case solo searchers are not doing this stuff, here is what I've learned. Google everything you can find in the CIM/CBR.

I was looking at a business that looked great on paper until I discovered (using Google, Linkedin, and my state's business entity lookup) that the seller's son had opened exactly the same company a few miles up the road. I've found several businesses with questionable affiliations which if nothing else allow for pointed questions pre-LOI.

I was looking at a different business and discovered most of the employees were related to the owner via bloodline or marriage. This took a bit more Googling work than normal but it was like a thread on a sweater that I just kept pulling.

I have not found anything to cause me to walk on street view but I have stumbled into interesting aspects of consideration as a result. Maybe everyone is doing this already and saying "welcome to the club" but I thought I'd share anyway.

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Reply by a searcher
from Western Illinois University in St. Louis, MO, USA
I also try to triangulate things using the following tools: 1) Secretary of state business search website to see who all the officers are, home address, and search for other entities the owner is tied to. 2) https://radaris.com/ to see someone’s age and family 3) Buy a background checks on a site like intelius or similar.
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Reply by an intermediary
in Dallas, TX, USA
Simple and Effective - thanks, Justin!
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