# How do I find the owner of a business **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900 "2005-12-31T23:36:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/1 "2005-12-31T23:36:31Z")
A friend of mine had a bad experience with a business. I would like my friend to send a letter to the owner but I don’t believe the staff gave us the owners real name. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/2 "2005-12-31T23:39:51Z")
Polite phone call to the office asking only for the owners name and address so you can mail some confidential “information”. Be as creative if you want if you get resistance. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/3 "2006-01-01T02:19:41Z")
If it’s a small individually owned business in a stand alone building the state tax database will list the real estate property owner which may be the business owner. Also IIRC some states have licensure information on businesses online with the ownership entity listed. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/4 "2006-01-01T04:06:21Z")
> [@MannyL](#): > > A friend of mine had a bad experience with a business. I would like my friend to send a letter to the owner but I don’t believe the staff gave us the owners real name. I assume the business is in New Jersey like your location, right? If so, [here’s](https://accessnet.state.nj.us/home.asp) the page for New Jersey corporation info; go to the bottom and choose the option ‘Business List Search’; follow the prompts from there w/ the name of the business. If the business is registered w/ the state for tax purposes, etc, their info should be there. If there are different people listed, the one who’s the president is likely the owner as well. If there’s only a registered agent listed, they’re likely the owner. If it’s not New Jersey, try [this page](http://http://www.residentagentinfo.com/) for the other states; their prompts are usually easy enough to follow. Lemme know if you need more guidance, I do this _all day long._ ( I just realized how awful it is that I have that address memorized.) ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/5 "2006-01-01T07:17:26Z")
Yes the business is in NJ. The business is in a shopping mall so I wonder if calling the mall’s offices would help. I would explain the whole situation here but I only have hearsay information and she was threatning them with a suit (which I believe is groundless). I have a way with letter writing to get concessions from businesses and want to help her with the letter. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/6 "2006-01-02T03:03:03Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > … try [URL=http://http://www.residentagentinfo.com/] This link needs to be revised by a moderator. it has two of http:// ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-the-owner-of-a-business/337900/7 "2006-01-02T08:10:54Z")
> [@tygerbryght](#): > > This link needs to be revised by a moderator. it has two of http:// Oh my, how embarrassing for me… :o Preview means testing the link as well, how could I forget?? What an ass I am. [Fixed link](http://www.residentagentinfo.com/)