The research question
A useful company check starts with a specific question. You may need to confirm the identity on an invoice, understand a customer's finances, or investigate the background of a potential partner. Those questions require different information. Use this lesson to turn your concern into a clear research request before choosing a product.
Start with the decision
Write one sentence describing the decision the research will support. For example: “We need to establish which legal company is offering these services,” or “We need background information before appointing this distributor.” Avoid starting with a product name. A clear question helps you explain what would make the research useful and what would remain unresolved.
Then identify the subject. Gather its legal name, country, registration number if available, and any relevant trading names. Keep the company named in the proposed agreement separate from its parent, sister companies, and brand. If that distinction is unclear, make identification part of your request.
Match the question to the information
AsiaBIS Company Report provides corporate registration details through an online profile. Credit Report adds financial statements and a credit score. Online Standard provides the broader research scope of DD Standard through the profile's sections, including financial statements but not the Credit Report's score.
Delivered DD reports offer four research depths: Lite covers background and adverse media; Basic adds corporate registry research; Standard adds litigation and regulatory screening; Enhanced adds reputational enquiries. A report concerning a company does not automatically screen its associated individuals. Specify those people separately if they are relevant to your decision.
Choose access after choosing scope
Use online access when you want to read the purchased information on the company profile. Choose a delivered DD report when you need Word or PDF content for a document workflow. Delivered Standard and Enhanced include Online Standard access; Lite and Basic are delivered reports only. Buying online information does not provide a delivered DD report.
For an illustrative example, a business owner confirming the company named on a quotation could start with registration information. If the unanswered question concerns the principals' business history, repeating the same company check will not answer it. Ask about the relevant individuals and the appropriate additional scope.
Finish with a useful brief
Send the subject identifiers, your decision, the questions to investigate, and your deadline. Mention any known concern without presenting it as an established finding. Ask what the proposed scope cannot answer. The best starting order is one whose coverage you understand, with a clear route to further research if necessary.
What to take away
- Begin with your decision and the exact subject.
- Research depth and delivery format are separate choices.
- State unresolved questions before ordering additional checks.