Business banking statements..public doc?

Having watched the apprentice a while ago during the interviews i remember one of the interrogators informing one of the girls that to obtain a public document such as business accounts is easy.

Is this true?
How does one go about doing this?
Are the companies you are researching informed of this?
Will it cost me anything?
Will it show details of government grants which have awarded to the firm?
Any other info please?

The reason for me to do this is i want to check a successful firm who I wish to compete with.

 

If you have a stock broker, or if you just get an online broker account you can access that information. You can also try Yahoo Finance and they may have that available without registration for any accounts. THis is SEC filings, detailed earnings info, etc. Is that what you were looking for?

 

detailed accounts of companies are confidential and not available to the general public.

listed companies have to disclose certain basic information to general investors.

this includes their P&L account, balance sheet details, cash flow statements etc.

such information is available in annual reports of companies.

not sure about laws in your country, but in India, companies have to disclose details of government grants that they are getting.

if a company is not listed, it will be difficult to get details about its accounts.

 

This is easy task.
You can ask their company accountant about their financial status.