Depending on the type of business and the nature of products handled, a business can be big or small, low profile or high profile. For businesses which are many centuries old, like construction or hotels, the procedure for registration is well defined. On the other hand for newly developing sectors like the internet companies, the level of awareness is very low, so registration and other procedures for the business remain unclear. These results in problems locating a business, and an advanced business search may be needed to find information about a business.

In some countries a single person cannot register a proprietorship business and since a majority of businesses in the countries are sole proprietorships, these businesses cannot be registered. The name of a proprietorship business need not be unique, but the sole owner of the business, will be responsible for all the legal formalities. On the other hand partnerships and limited liability companies are registered, often with the registrar of companies and have to file their accounts with these companies periodically as specified. This makes it comparatively easy to trace the company, and get information about the key personnel as well as the financials of the business.

An advanced business search can be conducted online to find information about a particular business. For certain types of companies, especially technology related, it may be easy to find information online by using search engines, as these companies may invest large amounts on their website and online presence. It is also relatively easy to find information about a business with a high profile and well connected owner, compared to a small startup, trying to find new customers. A vast majority of small businesses fold up within a few years of starting up due to a variety of reasons. A business that has been in existence for a longer time will have a larger number of customers as well as vendors, who can be contacted for additional information.