# Business owners name **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507 "2001-10-19T22:11:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![poohbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@poohbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohbear)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/1 "2001-10-19T22:11:05Z")
Is there any way to find out the name of the owner of a business? It’s a small business, and I can’t get there to get a card or anything, and don’t want to call. No, I’m not a stalker, it’s just a long story. Is there a web site maybe? Thanks in advance for any help Poohbear ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/2 "2001-10-19T22:12:41Z")
Uh, if you want us to tell you if a particular business has a website, it might help if you gave us the name of the business. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/3 "2001-10-19T22:30:00Z")
There may be a licensing requirement for the business. That’s one way to find the owner. But 2 things are needed: name of business and jurisdiction (city/state). For example, here are the requirements for the state of Wyoming: [http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/sbdc/starting/licensing.html](http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/sbdc/starting/licensing.html) The site gives clues on where to look for that state. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/4 "2001-10-19T22:36:32Z")
Doh! I assumed you meant the business’ own website. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/5 "2001-10-19T22:37:08Z")
Call 'em. If you don’t want to identify yourself, make up a name. Try these lines: “Hi, I’m Fred/Mary/Spot. I met the owner the other day, and he was a really nice guy. I forgot his name; could you tell me?” “Hi, This is Fred/Mary/Spot calling from FredCo/MaryCo/Spot&Associates. We owe \ a refund, but we need the name of the owner. Could you give it to me?” etc. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-owners-name/88507/6 "2001-10-19T22:44:47Z")
If the business is incorporated, you can get full documentation from the State government where it’s incorporated. If it’s not incorporated (or if it uses a name other than the name it’s incorporated under) it has to file a DBA (“doing business as”) form with every county it operates in. You could call your county clerks office and see what it takes to go through their DBA records. They’re open to the public, but some aren’t computerized so they’re a pain to review. YMMV, but that’s how it works in the jurisdictions where my businesses are located.