Before starting to research a company, you should find out what type of company it is. There are three types:
- Public company: ownership of your company is publicly traded through a stock exchange
- Private: a small group of individuals privately owns your company
- Subsidiary: another company owns more than half of your company
If your company has a Wikipedia article, it will usually include which type of company you are researching. A quick Google search or a look at the "About Us" section of a company's website are also quick, easy ways to find this information.