Building an acquisition target list from public records

Commercial databases are convenient and incomplete, especially for small owner-operated companies. Public records fill much of the gap.

Where to look

• Secretary of state business filings: formation date, status, officers.
• Trade licence boards: licence class, issue date, qualifying individual.
• Permit records: where a contractor actually works.

How to combine them

Match records by name and address, remove duplicates and keep the source for each fact. A list you can trace is a list you can defend in an investment committee.