How to Make Sure a Company Is Legitimate

Contributor

By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(40 Ratings)

When you consider doing business with a company, you want to know its track record and that you'll have recourse if there's a problem.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Telephones
Dun & Bradstreet Subscription
Hoover's Memberships
DSL Lines
Internet Access
Notebooks
Pencils Or Pens
Computers
Notebooks

Step 1

Find out if the company has a legitimate address and business phone number.
Step 2

Stay away from a business that uses a post office box as its corporate address and can only be reached by leaving a message on an answering machine or with a call-center operator.
Step 3

Find out if the company is registered with a major business directory such as Dun & Bradstreet (dnb.com) or Hoovers.com. You can verify this information on the Internet.
Step 4

Find out if the company is licensed by the state.
Step 5

Ask if the company is a member of any professional association. You can verify its membership by contacting the organization directly.
Step 6

Look for TRUSTe certification on a Web-based business's home page. Other organizations also specialize in certifying, rating and reviewing Web-based businesses. View their sites for information.
Step 7

Check the company's complaint record with your local consumer affairs department or state attorney general.

Comments

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